It's tempting: You see those giant metal used clothing receptacles in parking lots of shopping malls, and you know how easy it would be to toss your clothes in there. But did you know that the majority of those donations bins don't actually help people in need but are really for-profit operations? A recent New York Times story revealed that not only are these collection boxes illegal, an eyesore and hazardous, they don't help the needy. Instead, the used clothing that is collected is often sorted and resold to thrift shops or in bulk overseas, where all of the proceeds are untraceable and likely to benefit individuals. If you want your lightly used clothes to help people, consider dropping them off at a reputable charity like Goodwill or the Salvation Army instead.

Did you finish the last dill pickle and wonder what you could do with all that leftover pickle juice in the jar? Use it to kill stubborn weeds. The acid in vinegar -- the main ingredient in pickle brine -- is an effective natural weed killer. For stubborn weeds that have long roots that are almost impossible to pull up by hand, pour the juice on top. Wait a few weeks, and watch them disappear.

Here's another reason to choose natural charcoal over charcoal briquettes, which have chemical additives like lighter fluid embedded inside: You can use them after you've grilled up dinner. Natural, additive-free charcoal has potash, a nutrient that plants love. After the charcoal has cooled off enough (about 48 hours after use), you can take the ash and spread it around the garden as a natural fertilizer. You can also mix it in your backyard compost bin to help increase the carbon content and create a richer compost. If you have larger charcoal pieces that didn't burn down into ash, mix them in with orchids to help them thrive, too.