Ridwell is a Seattle-based startup that collects hard-to-dispose-of items for reuse, like clothing, batteries, and multi-layer plastics. If you sign up for a subscription service ($18 a month), every two weeks Ridwell will pick up your filled bags and replace them with empty ones. Right now, they service a handful of major cities (listed here). They haven’t yet it made it to San Jose, California but I signed up for their waitlist and was alerted to a free craft supply pickup. I happily donated yarn, papers and ribbons to support our local teachers. I recommend signing up if you’re interested in bringing this service to your neighborhood. — CD

I had neglected my one-speed bicycle for years, resulting in a badly cracked saddle. Instead of immediately buying a replacement, I opted to give an 8-inch by 11-inch Leather Repair Patch a try since it was only four bucks. Although I suspect it isn't genuine leather, it doesn't matter much because my bike saddle isn't either. After cleaning the cracked saddle with rubbing alcohol, I removed the adhesive backing from the patch and securely applied it to the seat, neatly trimming off any excess with scissors. The outcome is significantly improved—it looks much better now. — MF

I ordered this honeycomb packing paper to wrap fragile dishware. When the roll arrived in the mail I was disappointed. It looks like regular kraft paper. But then I read the instructions. When you pull the paper, the cut pattern unfolds and turns it into 3D packing material. Here’s a video that shows how it works. It’s a lot cheaper than plastic bubble wrap and fun to use!  — MF

A really cool and clean way to hang pictures, mirrors, hooks, frames, devices, almost anything, onto a wall without damaging the wall (no holes, or torn paint) is with 3M Command Hanging Strips. It’s hard to explain how they work, but I’ve been using them for a decade and they really do work miraculously. The strips will adhere securely to the wall forever (even with weight), but when it comes time to move or remove them, they instantly let go with zero wall damage. They come in all sizes for different weights you are hanging. Super ideal for renters. — KK

I had no idea how useful this small and extendable LED flashlight by Vibelite would be when I bought it. We keep it out on a side table in the living room, which is a perfect place for it because we often need to fix something behind our TV or Wifi setup and I’m always searching underneath our recliner to find my dog’s runaway toys. I'm going to buy one more to keep in my basement. — CD

If you have high-speed internet service and want a cheap landline, try Voiply. We’re paying $9 a month for service. They’ll send you an adapter in the mail. It connects to your cable modem’s ethernet port. You connect your phone line to the adapter. It required no other setup or configuration. — MF

I have some legacy devices (like hefty flashlights) that use the old large D and C size batteries. I am done buying batteries. But I wondered if I could get one last round in rechargeable big batteries? Yes, indeed! They make rechargeable Ds and Cs! But you’ll also need a versatile charger. While I was at it, I also upgraded my Maglite flashlights to 10 times brighter LED bulbs. Brilliant! — KK

The price of natural gas has skyrocketed in California. Los Angeles has been experiencing relative bone-chilling temperatures at night. To combat this we are keeping our thermostat down, but our feet are warm, thanks to this electric heated foot warmer. You simply stick your feet into the plush sack and select one of three temperature settings. It has an automatic shut-off feature after 2 hours. — MF

My new door mat greets guests with a cheery message. The natural fiber welcome mat says: YOU LOOK GOOD. Visitors enter with a smile on their face. — KK

Hardly anyone makes luggage without wheels now. But for some crazy reason, most toilet plunger don’t have T-shape handles. The T-shape top allows you to plunge sinks and toilets with greater force and control. Do yourself (and your wrists) a favor, get a plunger like the Korky Telescoping T-Shaped Handle BeehiveMAX Universal Plunger. — MF

You can get a year’s worth of free delivery of food ordered online as an Amazon Prime perk. Amazon invested into Grubhub, so is offering free Grubhub delivery for a year if you have Amazon Prime. Sign up here. Took me 30 seconds. — KK

The Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme+ Stand Fan is the best (and most expensive fan) I’ve ever owned. I appreciate the weighted base that keeps it stable and the remote control so I can turn it off and on from bed. It’s quieter than other fans even though it’s powerful. — MF

I came across this lovely intention for preparing a meal in the The Creative Independent’s interview with Musician Regina Spektor. She shared that she has trouble sitting still and meditating, so this is an active meditation:

You decide something you dedicate the meal to. It can be peace in the world, or someone’s health, or anything that is stirring you at the time. Then as you cook, every little action of the cooking—washing, cutting, mixing—can be imbued with that dedication. You concentrate on that intention from start to finish and keep repeating the thought in your mind as you cook. In the end, every bite is filled with that wish.

—CD

We just got new bamboo flooring installed in our house, and before we rearranged the furniture, I put these reusable furniture sliders under the feet of heavy tables, couches, and credenzas. The bottom of the slider is thick felt and the top is grippy foam rubber. The sliders made it easy to move the furniture without marring the new flooring. They also have sliders that work on carpeted surfaces. — MF

Instead of taping or tacking a poster to the wall, use this inexpensive magnetic poster hanger frame. It comes with weighted magnetic bars to sandwich the top and bottom of the poster so it doesn’t curl when you hang it. — MF

Every evening for the past 20 years I do a short dip in our hot tub just outside our bedroom doors. The totality of my maintenance for the hot tub consists of adding one bromide tablet per week. That is all I do. Having tried different tabs over the years, the best ones are Clorox Spa Brominating Tablets. They give consistent clarity and have the least smell. The water is almost odorless. — KK

Half of our climate goals can be achieved by electrifying everything. This free book, Electrifying Everything in Your Home (PDF download), gives very explicit and useful instructions on how you can electrify your own home and life, even if you are a renter. Covers heat pumps, solar panels, electric vehicles, electric appliances, and more. It’s thorough. I found the section on electric heat pumps (which replace furnaces and air conditioners) particularly helpful because I could not find this kind of reliable actionable info anywhere else. — KK

The most useable flame lighter I have is a Bic Reach. This design takes your usual Bic flick lighter, and outfits it with an extended 1.5” (35mm) pipe that ignites the flame away from your thumb. I find those long butane lighters with a two-button safety switch to be both fussy and unreliable, but a regular Bic can’t reach where I want the flame, so this Bic Reach is just perfect for lighting candles, fireplaces, camp stoves, etc., reliably on the first try. It’s probably not what you’d carry everyday in your pocket, but perfect in the utility drawer. — KK

My mother-in-law got a new bed and the headboard was squashing the extension cord plugged into the wall. I bought this SlimLine Flat Plug extension cord with a right-angled plug and it solved the problem. It has a low-profile and the cord comes out parallel to the wall. Just what we needed! — MF

When we recently had an all-day power outage in my Los Angeles neighborhood, I used my Westinghouse WH2200iXLT Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator to power our computers, cable modem, Wifi system, refrigerator, coffee grinder, and fan. True to its name, this gas generator purrs. It ran quietly in the backyard from 7am until 5pm with temperatures reaching 90 degrees. — MF