Do Just One Thing

According to NSF International -- the leading authority that "manufacturers, regulators and consumers look to for public health standards" -- the spatula is one of the dirtiest tools in your kitchen, because wood and rubber varieties have scratches that hide E. coli, yeast and mold. To fix this, be sure to wash (and sanitize) them in the dishwasher using the top rack. For rubber varieties with wooden handles, you can separate the wood from the plastic and just wash the top part. Or, according to NSF, use metal spatulas, which tend to be the cleanest.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you live in a cold-weather climate where deer reside, there are things you can do to help them and things you should avoid at all costs. Feeding deer is one of the worst things you can do, especially giving them new food that isn't normally part of their diet, like alfalfa hay and corn. Unfortunately, new food "shocks" their system, and they are more likely to die if they overeat it. Instead, when you prune ornamental bushes and trees, leave the tender branches in piles where deer can find them. They'll eat what they want and will be able to digest it, since it's part of their normal diet.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A great way to donate and have your books reused and read is to give them to prisoners who are behind bars. The website PrisonBookProgram.org can connect you with local organizations that help provide books to prisons they serve in the U.S. and Canada. Some common tips when donating books for prisons: Give paperbacks only, since most prisons will not accept hardcover books. And the types of books in demand range from vocational (plumbing, welding, house framing) to yoga, business books, equipment-free exercise, and novels from popular authors.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION