Do you want to raise money for your favorite charity and find a good home for lightly worn shoes? The company Community Recycling makes it easy; visit their website at communityrecycling.biz, download a free shipping label and request free shipping boxes. Then organize a shoe drive: Fill up the boxes, send them to the CR sorting facility, and they’ll send you a check for your recycling efforts to benefit your nonprofit. In the few years of the company’s existence, over 4,000 groups have earned more than $1 million dollars. The shoes are distributed to people in need all over the world.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Got ants? There are two easy ways to get them out of your house. First, mix 1/4 cup of peppermint castile liquid soap with a quart of water. Spray the minty, soapy mixture at entry points throughout the house where you see ants. Soap and peppermint is a combination ants hate. Next, take a look at your indoor houseplants, because unfortunately, the damp soil is the perfect environment for ants to nest. This may be the spot where all those ants are coming from. If they are, repot the plant in sterile soil and scrub the original pot clean.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you sprinkle Epsom salts into the bathtub to help relieve sore muscles, save a few tablespoons to help give your plants a boost, too. Epsom salt is made up of hydrated magnesium sulfate, which is a mixture of magnesium and sulfur. Plants love these minerals, and giving them Epsom salt helps boost the color of their leaves and creates stronger and bushier flowers. Just add two tablespoons of the salt to 1 gallon of water, allow to dissolve and water away.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION