6/22/12

No need to be too picky when donating clothes to charity. Only about 10 percent of donated clothes ever end up for resale in thrift shops; the rest are sold to textile recyclers. Ripped jeans, way-too-faded T-shirts and other worn-out clothes are recycled into cleaning cloths and other industrial items by these recyclers. They pay organizations like Goodwill and the Salvation Army a fee for the old clothes, which adds up to a significant amount of money for their charitable works. So clear your closets with a clean conscience.

6/21/12

A waxy situation: If a burning candle drips melted wax all over your tabletop or sofa, don't stress. Let the wax cool completely then chip off the excess with the edge of a credit card. Place a paper towel on top of the remaining mess, and place a warm -- not hot -- iron on top of the towel; it'll melt the wax, and the towel will absorb it. Repeat until the mess is totally gone.

6/20/12

Buying home accessories from antique shops, thrift stores and flea markets is a simple and economical way to decorate your home and be green. But many people worry about bringing in dust mites, bedbugs and allergens that may be lurking inside old fabrics and hard-to-clean accessories. One way to "detoxify" them is to place them inside a plastic bag and freeze them overnight. Allergens will die, and your vintage find will be a clean one.