Do Just One Thing

Instead of investing in a humidifier to help combat dry air in your home, all you need is a bowl of water. Placing a bowl of water in a dry room will be slower than a humidifier, but it does add moisture to the air. To amplify the effects of the water, place the bowl near heating vents or even near a window that gets sunlight; the warmth will help the water evaporate more quickly. And shallow bowls are better than deep, since more surface water has contact with air (making a Pyrex baking dish a good option).

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

What's one way to save $150 and 4,600 gallons of water a year? All you have to do is shut off the shower when you are shampooing and conditioning your hair. A typical shower accounts for around 17% of the average household use of water (second-biggest water hog in the home), so turning off the shower when shampooing for just one minute can cut down on both energy and water use, saving you money and water. And the best upside? You'll see the real benefit of deep conditioning when you let it do its job for the full 60 seconds, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Banana peels, dead leaves and grass clippings aren't the only things that can be added to the backyard compost bin. You can find compostable things in your own bathroom! Cotton Q-tips, facial tissues and cotton facial rounds can also be added. Any all-cotton or plant-based fiber cosmetic product free of plastic can be composted. And according to the makers of Q-tips, if just 10% of them were composted, we'd divert nearly 2.5 million pounds of trash from landfills with that one simple action.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION