Do Just One Thing

12/13/13

Here’s a smart way to upcycle an old bath towel to save energy at home: Use it as a draft dodger. Roll the towels into a tight sausage shape, and tie string or rope at the ends and in the middle to keep it secure. Jam it along the base of a door or window, and it will keep chilly drafts at bay. And here’s another simple idea: Cover your ironing board with an old towel before ironing. The soft surface will protect clothes, speed up the ironing process and is easily removable in case you need to wash it.

12/12/13

Since 2005, office supply store Staples has been accepting old ink and toner cartridges for recycling and rewarded customers with $2 in store credit for each one. Now there’s no need to visit a store to recycle. Visit Staples.com, and you can recycle your used ink and other toner cartridges through its online recycling program. It’s simple: You can recycle up to 10 cartridges at a time, and Staples will provide a free prepaid shipping label to ship the store the cartridges. And you still get the $2 reward for each item you recycle.

12/11/13

Here’s a simple way to create a fire starter to get your wood-burning fireplace roaring this winter season: Save cardboard tubes from toilet paper and fill them with dryer lint and shredded paper, like brown kraft paper or junk mail. Roll the tubes in a sheet of scrap paper and tie each end with natural twine or jute. Place the package under the wood in the fireplace and light the ends; the slow-burning fire starters will give a constant flame to the firewood so it has a chance to catch.