Find new homes, purposes for unwanted items

DEAR HELOISE: This is the season when people get the organizing/cleaning-out bug. Please remind your readers to try to find users for the items they are discarding rather than simply sending them to the landfill.

Small hardware-store items in partially used packages or lumber can be valuable to any handyman. Charities and thrift stores would happily receive most kinds of items. Libraries welcome books for their used-book-sale fundraisers. Or seek out a local free recycling group online to find someone who will come to pick up your unwanted items, even if they need a little fixing up.

We all know that recycling is good. Finding new homes or new uses for things is even better. -- Peggy H., Hamilton, Ohio

DEAR PEGGY: You said it, and I'm happy to pass along your reminder. Remember: Recycle. Reuse. Repurpose. These are the three good R's to keep in mind, especially when cleaning out and cleaning up. Pass on to others the good things, and they will find the right home. -- Heloise

Cleaner recipe

DEAR HELOISE: I make my own cleaners to use around the house (I use a couple that I got from your column). So that I always remember what's in the mixture, I type up the "recipe" and attach it to the cleaning bottle. Now I always know how to make the cleaner, and it saves me lots of money! -- Carla, via email

Easy shine

DEAR HELOISE: When I don't have time to thoroughly clean my faucet handles, I take a facial tissue and shine them up. This makes chrome or stainless-steel fixtures shine like new. -- Kathy in North Carolina

Fast facts

DEAR READERS: Here are my favorite alternate uses for chopsticks:

n As a stake to support small plants.

n Use to pull cooked food out of a toaster oven.

n Use to hold my hair up.

n Wrap a paper towel around them and clean hard-to-reach places.

n Aerate plant soil with them.

-- Heloise

Handy sanitizer

DEAR HELOISE: I finally found my "lost" coffee mug at work but was chagrined to see that someone had been using it to hold ballpoint pens. I tried soap and water to remove the ink stains, but to no avail. However, there was a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby, and a squirt started to melt the ink instantly. -- Marsha in Little Rock, Ark.

Hints from Heloise is syndicated by King Features Syndicate. Send great hints to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; by fax, 210-HELOISE (435-6473); or by email, Heloise@Heloise.com.