Now Here’s A Tip: Save money, be green

“”Here’s a simple tip both for saving money and helping out the environment: We all know that plastic cups are easy to misplace at a picnic. Invariably, you set your glass down, only to come back to a table filled with similar glasses. You can never tell which is yours. Take a permanent marker and put it by the cups. Then ask everyone to write his or her name on the cup before filling. There’s no mistaking!” — A Reader, via e-mail

“Every home should have a fire extinguisher, and I hope yours does. But do you know how old it is, or when it was last serviced? If not, replace it. Date the outside of the extinguisher with a permanent pen, and have it serviced yearly. They last, on average, 10-12 years.

“”Being a little bit of a maniac about clutter — both physical and visual — I have settled on a fantastic way to maintain chore lists for each family member without having multiple paper lists on the fridge or counter. I had a photograph of each family member laminated. They hang in a nice presentation on a lower kitchen cabinet. On the backside, with a dry-erase marker, I write that person’s daily or weekly chores. They have only to turn their picture around to see their jobs. I can also attach Post-It reminders for appointments there. It looks so much better.” — S.L.R. in Missouri

“”You can use white vinegar to polish your patent-leather shoes. Just dampen a cloth with straight vinegar, shine and wipe with a dry cloth. They look great, and it really restores that shine!” — D.L. in Tennessee

“”To freshen stuffed animals, wipe any dirty spots clean with a dampened towel, then put several together inside a pillowcase. Tie the case shut and add the pillowcase and a fabric softener sheet to the dryer. Fluff for 10 minutes on low heat, then remove. They look and smell great!” — L.E. in Ohio