8/3/12

More than 20 million pounds of goods are donated to Goodwill stores every year, and the items range from clothes to books to furniture. But there are also things that Goodwill refers to as "rogue" items, which are wacky, weird and wild. While it may seem cruel to donate those items to Goodwill, the company takes them gladly, since collectors will pay a pretty penny for weird stuff to add to their collections. So even if something is strange to you, it's fundraising gold to Goodwill. Just remember: If an item is soiled, broken or recalled for safety reasons, dump it in the trash, not in the Goodwill donation bin.

8/2/12

Permanent markers have become commonplace at home and in the office. Unfortunately, all it takes is one person neglecting to put the cap back on for a marker to dry out completely. Instead of tossing it, you can try to resuscitate the marker by filling a cup with rubbing alcohol and placing the dried-out marker inside the cup, felt tip down, to soak for about 10 minutes. This helps remove dried ink and brings the permanent marker back to life.

8/1/12

If you brew a cup of coffee each morning and wonder what to do with the cold java at the end of the day, consider giving a pick-me-up to your plants. Acid-loving plants like azaleas, evergreens and rose bushes love the coffee. You can also mix your old coffee grounds into soil or add it to compost for a nutritional boost. Try adding cold coffee to your watering can when you water your indoor plants.