8/4/12

Here's a simple and smart way to upcycle your old orange peels: make them into an eco-friendly household cleaner. Fill a glass jar with white vinegar, and place the peels from three to four oranges inside the jar. Let it sit for seven to 10 days, strain the liquid and use the orange-infused vinegar as an all-purpose cleaner around the house. It's safe for all surfaces, and it smells great too.

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.