Have metal hangers from the dry cleaner? Technically, they are recyclable in most curbside recycling bins (because they have a percentage of recyclable steel), but the reality is that most recyclers don't want them -- they can get snagged on recycling equipment. Most dry cleaners now accept the hangers and will reuse them. But you might want to hang onto a few: There are tutorials online of people using the hangers to make snakes to unclog drains. In a plumbing emergency, one wire hanger could come in quite handy.

Do you hoard the little bottles of fancy hotel toiletries like shampoo, lotions, soaps and conditioner when you travel? You might be sitting on a small pile of fundraising gold. Here's a simple way to declutter and raise money for your favorite charity: Ask friends and neighbors to give you their small bottles of unopened toiletries, then group them by brand and sell them on eBay. Many brands sell travel-friendly versions of their products online (some go for as much as $45 for five small bottles), so your eBay sale can help a buyer to both score a deal and support your favorite cause. If some of the brands aren't quite high-end enough, local shelters also accept them to give to people in need.

Many of us know not to flush old prescription pills and medications down the toilet, since pharmaceutical drugs can contaminate our water supply. But according to the Food and Drug Administration, you should also avoid disposing of old vitamins and herbal supplements this way. They, too, can contaminate our water supply and cause what they call "safety risks." Instead, mix old vitamins with coffee grinds and use a nonrecyclable container to dispose of them. You can also give a few multi-vitamins to household plants; they'll thrive from the nutritional boost.