Imagine you find a piece of wooden furniture at a thrift shop or flea market that’s perfect for your home, but there’s a dent in it. There’s no need to pass on it when you can cover it up and make it look as good as new. Whether it’s a scratch, a mark or a deep dent, all you have to do is light a candle and drip melted wax into the blemish. When the wax cools, buff it with a microfiber towel to polish it to a smooth finish. Then use a furniture marker that’s the same color as the stain on the furniture to color the wax. In minutes, it’ll look like there was never any damage.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you’re looking for another reason to quit smoking (beyond your health and wallet), here’s one: It’s a detriment to wildlife. It’s estimated that nearly 25 percent of all roadside trash is cigarette butts. Many of these butts end up in aquatic habitats, where they leach chemicals into the water. When fish get the chemicals into their bloodstream, they get transferred to the wild animals that eat the fish. Research shows that cigarette butts are also among the top risks of poisoning to household pets. For help quitting, visit tobaccofreelife.org.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

There’s nothing wrong with using a drive-thru window to pick up a quick meal from a restaurant or a prescription from your pharmacy. But if you’re waiting for your order for more than 30 seconds, you’re not only wasting fuel, you’re releasing unhealthy emissions into the air. According to the Sierra Club, sitting in your idling car for more than 30 seconds wastes more gas than turning off your car completely. If you use a drive-thru, go up to the window and turn off your car. Even restarting it in less than a minute is better for both fuel economy and air quality than idling.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION