One of the worst things to happen when you’re washing a load of laundry is finding out a new piece of clothing isn’t colorfast. The excess dye transfer to other clothes is nearly impossible to undo and can ruin a whole load of laundry. To check if a garment is colorfast, do this one easy thing: Wet a cotton swab and rub it on the seam of the garment. If the swab turns a color, your new article of clothing is not colorfast and should be laundered separately from everything else.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know more than 1 billion people all over the world suffer from diseases that are waterborne? The Lifestraw product is a modern drinking straw that removes 99.99% of waterborne bacteria and 98% of viruses when a person drinks water through it. To help get Lifestraws in the hands of people who need them, you can donate your old cellphones and smartphones to the LifeCell Project. They’ll recycle the devices and use the proceeds to buy Lifestraws for people in need. The organization will even send you a postage-paid label so it doesn’t cost you a thing to donate. Learn more at lifecellproject.org.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you are an animal lover with pieces of jewelry you wouldn’t mind donating to a worthy cause, consider the nonprofit organization Indigo Rescue. Since 1999, Indigo Rescue has been accepting jewelry -- whether it’s fine or costume quality –- and reselling it through a variety of events to raise money to help homeless cats and dogs. You can mail your jewelry to the organization, and you’ll receive a tax receipt for your donation. To learn more, visit their website at indigorescue.org.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION