We've been taught that plastic bottles that have a No. 1 and No. 2 mark on the bottom are recyclable, but there is one variety of plastic bottle marked with the No. 2 that should never, ever be recycled: motor oil bottles. The thick residue that remains in the bottle makes it nonrecyclable, and in fact, motor oil bottles that end up in the recycling stream are considered the biggest contaminant in the plastic recycling market. Toss those bottles into the trash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If your curbside recycling program accepts paperboard boxes from things like frozen dinners, you might wonder if the paper bowl or tray inside is also recyclable. The reality is, even if the paperboard insert is recyclable, you should not put it in your recycling bin because residual oils from the food make the paperboard totally contaminated. Even thoroughly washing it isn't enough to make it recyclable, because the oils soak into the fibers of the container. Flatten and recycle the outer box, but toss the inner components into the trash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

With winter weather lurking, many of us are using antifreeze in our car to keep the radiator going. But the active ingredient in antifreeze, ethylene glycol, is dangerous, toxic and unfortunately, very sweet-tasting. For animals, it can taste like a treat, but it can be lethal if ingested. First, avoid letting your family pet linger in the garage if that's where your car is parked. Look for leaks on the garage floor, and clean them up if you see them. And if you suspect your pet has licked up some antifreeze, take them to the vet ASAP.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION