Household answers for the United States
Each question has a short answer. The link opens the full card, then the official page.
How do you dispose of used household batteries in the United States?
Waste batteries can be recycled or taken to a household hazardous waste collection point. In most communities, alkaline and zinc carbon batteries can go in the household trash, and the Environmental Protection Agency still recommends a recycler or the local solid waste authority.
How do you dispose of a fluorescent light bulb in the United States?
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends local recycling for compact fluorescent lamps, fluorescent bulbs, and other bulbs that contain mercury, rather than regular household trash.
How do you dispose of leftover paint in the United States?
Leftover paint can contain hazardous ingredients and needs special care when you dispose of it.
How do you dispose of old medicines in the United States?
When household medicines are no longer wanted, use a drug take-back program. Do not flush expired or unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs unless no take-back option is available and the label specifically instructs you to flush them.
How do you dispose of used engine oil from a household in the United States?
If you change motor oil at home, put the used oil in a leak-proof container and do not spill it.
How do you dispose of an old electrical appliance in the United States?
Delete personal information before you donate or recycle an old electronic device, and remove the batteries so they can be recycled separately.
What do you do if you lose a United States passport while overseas?
If you lose a United States passport abroad, report it online and the Department of State cancels it within 1 business day.
How can a U.S. national register an overseas trip with the United States?
If you are traveling outside the United States, you should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
How do I apply for a passport in the United States?
The State Department says a first-time adult applies in person with Form DS-11 at a passport acceptance facility, with a paper proof of citizenship, a photo ID, and a photo.
What papers do you gather for a child's passport in the United States?
The State Department says a child under 16 applies in person with both parents or guardians, on Form DS-11, with a paper proof of citizenship and a photo ID for each parent.
How do you renew a passport, including faster service, in the United States?
The State Department says you can renew by mail on Form DS-82 when you can send your most recent passport, it was issued in the last 15 years when you were 16 or older and valid for 10 years, and it was not lost, stolen, or damaged.
How do you report a lost or stolen passport in the United States?
The State Department says you report a valid passport as lost or stolen right away, and that report cancels it even if you find it later.
How do you request a replacement birth certificate in the United States?
The CDC says the federal government does not distribute birth certificates. You request the copy from the state, city, or territory where the birth was registered. New York City is listed apart from the rest of New York, and each office's notes are on the official page.
How do you get a marriage certificate or a marriage licence in the United States?
USAGov says a marriage licence allows you to marry, and a marriage certificate proves that you got married.
What are the federal holidays in the United States?
Federal law sets these public holidays for federal employees: New Year's Day, the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
How often do I check the tyres on a car in the United States?
NHTSA says to check the pressure of every tyre, including the spare, at least once a month, when the car has not been driven for at least three hours.
How do I know when to change the oil or the coolant in the United States?
The FTC says to follow the maintenance schedule in the owner's handbook for the kind of driving you do, including the oil and the coolant.
How do I keep a garage from doing work I did not agree to in the United States?
The FTC says to get a signed written estimate before the work starts, naming the fault, the parts, and the labour charge.
How do I apply for a driver's license in the United States?
USAGov says you get or renew a driver's license through your state or territory. You start by selecting that state or territory. That office sets the test, the papers, and the fee.
What do I do after a car accident in the United States?
The Postal Inspection Service says you always report the accident to your insurance company and call the police to file a report.
When must I report a car accident to the California DMV?
The California DMV says every driver must report an accident to the DMV within 10 days if any person was injured or killed, or if the property of either party had over $1,000 in damage.
When does a car need a smog check in California?
The California Bureau of Automotive Repair says a Smog Check is required every other year to renew registration.
Does the United States have one national car inspection?
The EPA says inspection and maintenance testing is done by state and local agencies, and the program varies from area to area.
When does a car need an inspection in New York?
The New York State DMV says a vehicle must be inspected every 12 months, and again when ownership is transferred.
When does a car need an inspection in Texas?
The Texas Department of Public Safety says that as of January 1, 2025, a non-commercial vehicle no longer needs a safety inspection before registration.
Does Florida require an annual emissions inspection?
Florida repealed the annual emissions inspection rules because they were obsolete. The law that gave the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles authority for those rules was repealed, so the department no longer has authority to perform motor vehicle emissions inspections.
When does a car need a safety inspection in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania driver's manual says a vehicle must have a safety inspection at an authorized station every 12 months.
When does a car need an emissions test in the Chicago or Metro-East area of Illinois?
The Illinois EPA says the emissions program covers the Chicago and Metro-East St. Louis areas. Most gasoline passenger vehicles from 1996 and newer are inspected after they are four years old.
What should I consider before getting a pet in the United States?
Before you adopt, the CDC says to match the animal's lifespan, size, food, housing, exercise, and veterinary care to your household, and to decide who will care for it.
How do I choose a dog in the United States?
The CDC says to match a dog's attitude, temperament, size, and activity to the family, and to the time you have.
What should I check before I pay a pet seller in the United States?
The FTC says to search the seller's name with words like review, scam, or complaint. Only a scammer says you must pay with a gift card, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer. The same page says to consider a local rescue or animal shelter, where you can see the animal.
When does a dog seller need a USDA license in the United States?
The USDA says a retail sale of a dog, including an adoption for a fee, needs a license when the buyer, the seller, and the dog are not in the same place.
What is pet insurance in the United States?
The NAIC says pet insurance is a property and casualty policy. Companies usually sell accident-only cover, accident and illness cover, or wellness cover. Most exclude a condition the pet already has, and many wait before the policy starts to pay.
What should I do if my pet gets sick in the United States?
The CDC says to contact a veterinarian if you think your pet is sick. Regular visits, vaccines, deworming, and flea and tick control are what the page names to keep the pet healthy.
What does a dog need to enter the United States?
Every dog entering or coming back to the United States must appear healthy, be at least 6 months old, have a microchip, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
What should I do during an earthquake in the United States?
Ready.gov says to drop onto your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
What do you do if you smell gas in the United States?
Ready.gov says if you smell gas, or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone out quickly.
What should I do in a flood in the United States?
Ready.gov says to evacuate if you are told to, or move to higher ground or a higher floor.
How do you charge a lithium-ion battery safely in the United States?
The U.S. Fire Administration says use the original charger or a certified replacement, and skip a cheap copy.
How often should you test a smoke alarm in the United States?
The U.S. Fire Administration says test a smoke alarm every month. That is the same for a 9-volt battery, a sealed 10-year battery, and an alarm wired into the house. Replace a 9-volt battery, and the backup battery on a wired alarm, at least once a year.
How do I prepare for a natural disaster in the United States?
Ready.gov says to plan your exit, keep a go-bag, and keep half a tank of gas, and the kit includes local maps plus copies of identification, insurance, and bank records.
How often should you replace a smoke alarm in the United States?
The U.S. Fire Administration says replace a smoke alarm 10 years from the date it was made.
Where should a smoke alarm be in the United States?
The U.S. Fire Administration says put a smoke alarm inside each bedroom and sleeping area, and outside each one, and on every level of the home, including the basement.
How do I prepare my home for a wildfire in the United States?
Ready.gov says to clear leaves, debris, and flammable materials for at least 30 feet from the home.
How do I register to vote in the United States?
Vote.gov says that once you register with your state or territory, you can vote in national, state, and local elections.
What is a will in the United States?
A will is a written document that says who should receive your property and who should handle your estate after you die, under your state’s published rules.
Why do people make a will in the United States?
Published guidance usually says a will can make clear who inherits specific property and who manages the estate.
What happens if someone dies without a will in the United States?
When someone dies without a valid will, state intestacy laws decide who inherits and in what order.
What do you tell Social Security when someone dies in the United States?
Social Security says a funeral home generally reports a death in the United States, so the family does not usually have to report it.
How do people usually make a will in the United States?
Most people use a licensed attorney, a court-approved self-help route where one exists, or a published statutory form in states that allow it.
How is a will different from a power of attorney in the United States?
A will takes effect after death and says who inherits and who administers the estate. A power of attorney lets someone you choose act for you while you are alive, often for finances or health decisions, under published state forms and limits.
Where should a will be kept safe in the United States?
There is no single national office that holds every will. Keep the original signed will where the person who will handle your affairs can find it, and tell that person where it is. A copy helps you review it.
What is probate in the United States?
Probate is the court-supervised process that validates a will, pays lawful debts, and transfers property after someone dies.
Other languages: Español, Español (España), Français, Français (France), 中文, Tiếng Việt, Deutsch, Italiano, 한국어, Nederlands, Português, Português (Portugal), हिन्दी, العربية
Household
The library is always free. Official answers for the home, then the official page. Not advice.
Not legal advice. Always consult a professional.
*Salvo and Vault access require a subscription.