If you have children who attend schools that require a uniform, consider donating the old unis to a local charity shop when your kids outgrow or replace them. The need is great; about 18,000 American public schools require students to wear uniforms. Your donation of gently used uniforms can help in a big way. And it's not just uniforms: Many schools require "regular" clothes like solid-colored polos, khakis, sweaters and pants as part of the dress code, so donate those items when you no longer have a use for them as well.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you have black-colored plastic reusable food containers or cooking utensils at home, it might be a good idea to toss them out. Recent studies have shown these products -- as well as children’s toys and grocery produce and meat trays -- have alarmingly high amounts of flame retardants in them. This is due to the fact that many of them are made from recycled plastics that come from electronics, which contain high levels of these toxic chemicals. Since there’s no way of knowing, you should replace them with safer alternatives like glass reusable containers and metal utensils.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Choosing the right paint color for inside your home is more than just making the right on-trend choice. If you live in a climate that tends to be hotter, light colors like white, creams and even light gray help reflect the sunlight and heat that comes through the windows. Even pastel colors are good options to keep the inside as cool as possible. To find the right shade, many paint brands have color guides that highlight a lighter color palette and what combination of paints works best together.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION