The next time you're shopping at a warehouse club, consider adding some of these items to your cart to help support your local food bank. While food is the most important item to give to shelters, other items they desperately need may not be so obvious. Bulk-size packages of new socks are often needed; for homeless people, warm socks can mean the world. Canned fruit (other than pineapple) is appreciated, too; for some reason, food banks get an excess of canned pineapple. And basic toiletries, feminine products and even spices are appreciated, too.

Want to brighten clothes and remove stains without using any harsh chemicals in your washing machine? Grab salt from your pantry and add it to your laundry routine. The natural chloride in salt works as a brightener, protector and stain remover all in one. Just add a half-cup of salt to your laundry (in addition to your detergent) to give it a natural boost. You can also soak stubborn stains or dull fabrics in a saltwater solution overnight and then wash as normal. You'll notice a considerable difference.

An infestation of spiders, ants and beetles coming into your home during the winter months could be traced back to one source: firewood. Keeping firewood stacked up or in a basket by your indoor fireplace could be the source. With warmer temperatures inside your home, nesting insects inside the wood become active and flourish. Even keeping firewood by your front door could be a problem -- all insects need is a small crack to enter. Rule of thumb: Keep firewood at least 30 feet away from your home and covered with a tarp.