Don't Throw It Out: Recycle, Renew, and Reuse to Make Things Last

Be Planet Friendly! What should you recycle, renew, and reuse? Practically everything! Is there a gadget graveyard in your house? Want to get the most mileage out of your electrical appliances? Tired of having to choose between paying high prices for repairs or good money for a cheap replacement? Well, no more! These savvy secrets help you make the most of your purchases-and your money-by making things last longer and work better. You'll discover:-More than a thousand ways to maximize the value of everything you own, from furniture and fishing reels, to cell phones and ceiling fans, to iPods and earrings, and much more-Practical, money-saving ideas for making things last longer-from giving batteries staying power to keeping a washing machine in top condition-Fix-it-fast tips for making simple, inexpensive repairs when belongings go on the fritz-Learn how to say good-bye to possessions when it's time, whether by recycling, donating, selling, or tossing Don't Throw It Out is packed with ideas to help you extend the life of your treasured possessions and keep your still-usable household items out of the landfill when you've decided you no longer need them.

Be Planet Friendly!

What should you recycle, renew, and reuse? Practically everything!

Is there a gadget graveyard in your house? Want to get the most mileage out of your electrical appliances? Tired of having to choose between paying high prices for repairs or good money for a cheap replacement? Well, no more! These savvy secrets help you make the most of your purchases-and your money-by making things last longer and work better. You'll discover:

-More than a thousand ways to maximize the value of everything you own, from furniture and fishing reels, to cell phones and ceiling fans, to iPods and earrings, and much more

-Practical, money-saving ideas for making things last longer-from giving batteries staying power to keeping a washing machine in top condition

-Fix-it-fast tips for making simple, inexpensive repairs when belongings go on the fritz

-Learn how to say good-bye to possessions when it's time, whether by recycling, donating, selling, or tossing

Don't Throw It Out is packed with ideas to help you extend the life of your treasured possessions and keep your still-usable household items out of the landfill when you've decided you no longer need them.

Publishers Weekly

This densely packed compendium from Yankeemagazine takes recycling to the level of extreme sport. Whether you're trying to get that last smear of ketchup out of the bottle, make your cell phone last longer or find a second use for an old terra-cotta pot saucer, this book will explain how. Written in a cozy style, it covers every room in the house as well as outdoor sports and hobbies, lawn and garden, the home workshop and motor vehicles of all sorts. Got some old gardening gloves? Reuse the fingers to cover scissor points or make tiny drawstring bags. This book has Make It Last tips to maximize an item's life span, Fix It Fast tips for repairing in a hurry and Pass It Along tips to get rid of stuff you don't want but can't bear to throw away. For the truly fanatical, each chapter has a "Domestic Challenge" quiz. Just about anyone will find many of these ingenious, imaginative and practical hints useful, but with suggestions like saving old bath rugs for moving heavy appliances, readers trying to simplify their lives with feng shui may want to pass on this one. (Dec.)

LORI BAIRD has been helping readers solve everyday problems for more than 10 years. She has written and contributed to many books, including Rodale’s Cut the Clutter and Stow the Stuff and Yankee Magazine’s Vinegar, Duct Tape, Milk Jugs, and More. She lives in Astoria, New York.