When you buy new skin care, makeup or other beauty products at stores, you’ll often receive free samples or even free full-size products as part of a loyalty club. If you have a stash of unused beauty products at home, why not donate them to help women in need? The nonprofit Project Beauty Share connects donated new products to women who need them. All items must be new, and among the items needed are makeup bags, moisturizers, soap, fragrances, personal care items (like deodorants), clean makeup brushes, hair care products and nail polishes. Learn more at projectbeautyshare.org.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It’s important to brush your teeth, but did you know your toothbrush can actually make you sick? A wet toothbrush can harbor cold and flu germs, picked up when you were previously ill. To prevent re-infecting yourself, take a few steps to keep your brush clean during cold and flu season. The easiest way is to drop the head of the brush in a small cup of antibacterial mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide; this will be enough to kill germs. You can also boil your brush for three minutes or toss it into the silverware compartment of the dishwasher.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us like to donate used clothing to charity as a way to reduce waste and give back. When donating, be sure to launder clothing prior to bagging it up or dropping it off; use a fragrance-free detergent so recipients who are sensitive to fragrance won’t be affected. If you have a lot of a particular type of clothing (e.g. kids’ clothes), try to sort them to help the charity save time. Mark the bags with descriptions like “kids’ coats,” “T-shirts” and “bedding.” And be sure to check all the pockets; charities like Goodwill report many people accidentally leave credit cards and photo IDs in clothing they donate.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION