Daytipper Blog

The word WELLNESS is defined as 'the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, esp. as the result of deliberate effort.'

Here at Daytipper we thrive on making YOUR life better. After all, it's the tips that our parent's pass down and best friends share off the cuff, that really impact our lives.

For a practical collection of advice designed to make life better, please consider purchasing Daytipper's inaugural book: Tipped Off: 101 Insightful Wellness Tips.

Recent wellness advice that's come thru the Daytipper inbox includes:

Save time and exercise in the shower

Sometimes with our busy schedules it is hard to find time to exercise. Try doing squats while you are in the shower. They are easy to do when you are washing your hair, and you can probably do about a hundred or more. You tone your legs without having to take extra time out of your day. And I guarantee after a couple of weeks, you will see a difference.

Perhaps the ultimate in multitasking! I actually use my time in the shower to meditate and further relax my muscles. This is accomplished through a series of deep breathing and tense/release exercises.

Easy way to read on the treadmill

I like to read magazines on the treadmill at the gym as it makes the time go faster. I seem to always end up under one of the ceiling fans which would blow the pages, so I started bringing a wooden clothespin and pin the corners as I read.

Solid advice. I'm partial to a binder clip, but a clothespin will certainly do the trick to put an end to fluttering pages.

Use ice cube containers to store daily vitamins

I take a lot of vitamins and really got tired of taking one from each bottle every day. Since we have an ice maker in our refrigerator I have no need for the old ice cube trays I own. Once every 2 weeks I make up the tray with a day's worth of vitamins in each "cube" and it has made the process really easy now.

Sounds good to me, but I have a confession to make. While technically I might be considered a 'grown' man, I STILL have trouble swallowing pills. Not just horse pills, but even small little aspirin. I've gone the crushing-in-apple-sauce route, but that just gets old. Anyone have any other advice?

Who knew that letting your children log on to the Internet could motivate them to complete household chores with little push back. With Handipoints, that's exactly the case.

Started in early 2007, the startup allows parents to build a virtual chore chart. From making beds to taking out the trash - when items on the list are completed - children are rewarded.

They are issued “handipoints" that are redeemable for real-world items, such as small toys. Or they can be used to make purchases in HandiLand, a virtual world where kids can interact with other kids. (Communication is limited, allowing only 'canned' statements to be exchanged). From adopting and caring for fictional pets, to purchasing movies, parents determine the point system and/or the reward.

Now teaching responsible habits and doing chores can be fun. The environment is safe for kids and headache relief for parents. There are currently 150k users. What are you waiting for? Give it a try today and let us know how it turns out.

One of my favorite things about Daytipper is that the conversation doesn't end once you submit your tip. The conversation just begins! There are at least two sides to every tip. Let's take a look at what some Daytippers are talking about, and then we encourage you to jump in on the debate.

Anonymous says: Avoid dating a man with kids
If you are a single woman without any kids, should you date a man with kids? If you want to get serious and marry someday, it is best to avoid the man who has already been to the circus. He is not looking for wifey #2. You will never be their mom, and you will never be his wife. Find a single guy to marry and have your own kids together. Take it from someone who knows.

Please understand that when Daytipper publishes a tip, they are not endorsing the idea. The above tip is clearly a generalization that you can choose to agree or disagree with. For example:

Kevin from Lynchburg, Virginia says: Wow, how prejudiced. I'd have to say this qualifies more as a bigoted slam than a tip. Such generalizations are damaging to the progress humanity has made over the past 50 years.

But...

Amber from Norman, OK says: I'm single, but I know someone who went through what you just said. Sure, it sounds prejudice, but in some cases it is true.

We're up to 18 comments and counting. While the majority of folks seem to disagree with the "tip," it undoubtedly has generated a conversation. And when "bigotry" or "hatred" is concerned, isn't that a good thing.

We want to know what you think. Should women avoid dating a man with kids?

I wouldn't be involved with Daytipper if I didn't love dishing out advice. As any Dear Abby-wannabe would tell you, it's important to know your tip-giving limitations. Thankfully, I won't be sharing any 'what to do when you're pregnant advice.' For that, we turn to Team Mommy - some of Daytippers intelligent and brave child-bearing women.

Jennifer in Illinois says:

How to relieve pressure when pregnant
Get on your hands and knees. Let the top half of your body go down to the ground. Keep your bottom in the air. It helps shift the baby off your lower region and helps relieve the pressure down below.

Amy in Indiana says:

Use email to create electronic baby book
When I was pregnant with both of my children I opened up Gmail accounts for them and started sending them e-mails about my pregnancy. When they were born, I would update them periodically on how they were developing, what they were doing that was new, and what their favorite toys were. I hope that as they grow they'll enjoy looking back at their lives. And it's way easier than keeping a baby book.

April in Pennsylvania says:

How to prevent morning sickness and heartburn
When pregnant I had terrible morning sickness, heartburn and indigestion. A friend of mine made me some fresh mint tea to drink and it worked like a charm. Take a nice handful of fresh mint leaves and make a gallon of mint tea. Make it as sweet as you want it and drink it as often has needed to help with the morning sickness, heartburn and or indigestion. It works great!

Amy in Michigan says:

Make your jeans fit longer while pregnant
This tip was a life saver for me in my pregnancy. When your jeans get a little too tight, but you are still too small for maternity pants, loop a rubber band around the button on your pants and through the button hole. This will expand your waistline while still holding your pants up.

(Note: This applies to overweight folks too!)

Lauren in Texas says:

Heating pad alternative for pregnant women
Pregnant women aren't supposed to use heating pads because it endangers the baby. But there is an alternative option that works pretty well. Place a heating pad on a pillow for 15 minutes so it heats up the pillow. Now, use the pillow as a heat source.

Looking for more pregnancy tips? We've got plenty! Just search the site for "pregnant" and vote yours favorites up. Also, feel free to leave a comment below.

Spring has sprung! As the temperature across the U.S. begins to rise, millions of Americans will take to their yards and attempt to grow vegetables and flowers that will make the neighbors jealous.

Lucky for you, many of our DayTippers have award-winning green thumbs!

Create an organized plant book

Get a binder and put baseball card collector/protector sheets in it. Then when you buy a plant that has an information tag, put it in a card pocket. Makes an easy to read, organized, plant book.

Attract butterflies

If you would like to attract butterflies to your garden, there are only two requirements. First, plant nectar plants, which are flowers that provide food for adult butterflies. Butterflies seem to prefer the color red. Second, provide larval plants. These are the plants that caterpillars eat before becoming butterflies. Research which plants attract the butterflies in your area and soon you will have many of these beauties fluttering around your garden.

Splenda can rid you of ants

If you find that your backyard is crawling with ants (or any part of your yard for that matter) sprinkle Splenda along the path of the ants and at the entrance of the anthill and watch them disappear. The ants take the Splenda into their colony and something in the Splenda kills the ants.

I'm suddenly really glad that I don't eat Splenda. |

Vegetable oil on mower blades can cut wet grass

Instead of waiting for the lawn to dry, spray vegetable oil on your lawnmower blades. This will keep the wet grass from sticking to the blades. It’s an inexpensive fix if you want to mow before the grass dries.

Protect arms when gardening with old socks

Cut the feet off a pair of old tube socks (they probably had holes in the feet somewhere anyway) and pull them onto your forearms while you are gardening. It saves from too many pokes like from roses or bugs or allergies (which was this lady's case). Use this sock method to avoid having to wear a long-sleeved shirt when gardening.

Please let us know YOUR gardening tips. We'd also love to see your photos. E-mail us at podacst @ daytipper dot com. If you have a humongous tomato or beautiful butterfly in your yard, we'll share your picture with the world.

On the go? Fill your ears with the best and worst nuggets from Daytipper.com. Episode #7 of the Daytipper Podcast includes:

- 7 reasons why vinegar is liquid gold.
- Roll down your car windows for savings?
- Important Daytipper policy changes.

Download episode #7.
Subscribe to the podcast.

One tip that is red hot today is how to never forget where you placed the scissors:

Are you always searching for a pair of scissors? I take my favorite scissors and tie a string to them and hang them by a magnet on the fridge. The kids can't reach it and I remember to put it back in its place. - Anonymous

Great advice! Even though this tip resides in the household category, I would also find this useful at work. Many cubicles and desks are constructed with metal components. Perhaps keeping scissors within eye shot would keep my co-workers from "permanently borrowing" them.

What do you think of this tip? Vote here.

The impressive success of the Food Network and foodie shows like Top Chef is undeniable. But those aren't the only places to get culinary advice. At Daytipper, you might not get full recipes, but you can still get a full tummy.

Kitchen Mini-Adventures

These tips are not for the faint of heart. In fact, this first tip is making my stomach turn. How about YOU try it and let me know what you think:

TIP: Right after I married my wife, she got me to try ketchup on my broccoli. I thought it sounded repulsive, but I agreed to try it once. It was so delicious that I've been eating steamed broccoli that way ever since - including tonight!

If you're not in the mood to digest anything, why not try this application to keep food out of your mouth but on your face!

TIP: Here is an easy recipe for a homemade facial scrub. Simply grind 2 almonds and mix with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey. This scrub is natural, inexpensive, and suitable for all skin types.

Tired of plating up tacos that won't stand up straight?

TIP: Flip a muffin tin upside down to hold your tacos. The mini or regular size both work great and will each hold 3 tacos.

Everyone loves a steaming hot bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. But ever notice how the meatballs are sometimes few and far between?

TIP: I love spaghetti and meatballs but hate when the meatball falls back in the plate because they are too big. The solution? Make tiny meatballs that are not any bigger than a penny. It is the best way to enjoy the taste of the pasta and the meat in one bite.

And finally, the key to Italian cooking: perfect garlic!

TIP: Most Italian pasta sauces use garlic. People usually heat up a pan, add some onions, oil, and garlic as first step, only to later on see the garlic burn and disappear. When cooking sauces first use only 20% of the garlic in your first step and add the other 80% when the sauce is simmering. This will help the sauce better absorb the taste and you will be a true Italian cook.

Bon Appétit!

Let's take a journey through today's DayTipper inbox. These are tips that don't make the cut but are interesting anyhow.

THE GOOD

When interviewing a contractor or a serviceperson, try to bait them into talking negatively about the competition. As a general rule you don't want to hire someone who can't win the job on their own merit.

THE BAD

Keep windows down. Get more miles per gallon by rolling down your windows instead of using the air conditioner.

That might be true. But this tip is STILL rejected. Here's why. Keeping your windows down when driving allows air to enter your vehicle, creating a lag that will actually put more strain on the engine, thus hurting your MPGs.

THE UGLY

Never buy hangers again. Just save the ones you get from the dry cleaners.

Okay, here's the problem with this one. First off, these "free" hangers are normally the flimsy wire type; the kind that pull on your sweaters. Secondly, do you really think the hangers are "free?" The owner of the cleaners builds that cost into what he/she charges you. We suggest you return hangers to your cleaners. This could help keep down prices. Being a hanger hog means more have to be produced, therefore hurting the planet.

The other day we blogged about some tips that can help keep the planet green. Following suit, the U.S. Postal Service has announced a great new pilot program that will allow you to unclutter your home and keep our landfills safe.

Starting this week, small electronics and inkjet cartridges can be recycled by mailing them free of charge. Clover Technologies Group, a nationally recognized company that recycles, remanufactures and remarkets inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges and small electronics will foot the bill.

The “Mail Back” program helps consumers make more environmentally friendly choices, making it easier for customers to discard used or obsolete small electronics in an environmentally responsible way. Customers use free envelopes found in 1,500 Post Offices to mail back inkjet cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players – without having to pay for postage.

The pilot is currently available in 10 areas across the country, including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and San Diego, but could become a national program this fall if the pilot program proves successful.

Now that's a useful tip!

From salad dressings to washing windows, vinegar might just be the most useful substance on the planet. I've recently used the liquid gold at work. Why you ask? To kill gnats. Our office is infested with these tiny nuances. The only thing I have found to work is mixing vinegar with dish soap and leaving out in a shallow dish.

Let's take a look at what some DayTippers are doing with vinegar.

UNCLOG FAUCETS: Soak paper towels with white vinegar. Wrap around affected areas on faucet. Leave overnight. Remove paper towels and buff away remaining residue with an old toothbrush.

WASH DISHES: Use plain white vinegar in your rinse agent dispenser. Dishes come out spot-free, and there is no vinegar smell. Vinegar is less expensive than brand products and a greener alternative (read: no chemicals). Plus, you'll have one less bottle to store.

REMOVE STAINS: To remove coffee stains from clothing or other materials, dab area with cold water. Rub in a white or clear dish soap and rinse well. Then use one-part vinegar to three-parts water rub into stain and than launder normally.

SILENCE WIPERS: If your car has squeaky windshield wipers, fix them by wetting a cloth with some malt vinegar and then wiping the wipers with the cloth. This will remove any dirt and gunk on the wiper and make them run smooth again.

SUNBURN RELIEF: If you have ever had the discomfort of being sunburned, here is a quick and surefire way to eliminate the pain. You will need to purchase a bottle of Heinz Vinegar. Either dab the vinegar with a wet rag to the irritated skin, or add one cup to your bath water.

ELIMINATE ODORS: Everyone who handles fish knows how hard it is to remove the smell from your hands no matter how hard you wash. I always splash a little vinegar on my hands and rub it in good before washing. This works great but if you have any cuts on your hands it is going to sting a little.

How do YOU use vinegar?

Over the weekend I caught a television program that featured The Wheel by Revo Power. Basically, it's a front wheel replacement for bicycles that incorporates an engine. A "water bottle" holds 1 quart of gas and you can get around 200 miles per gallon. The Wheel tops out at 17mph. The company hopes to release the product in the U.S. sometime this year for approx. $600. I so want one! But in the meantime, here are some environmental tips available for voting on DayTipper.

- Anonymous suggests that you don't throw away your old movies on DVD or video tape. Instead, donate them to your local library. You'll get a tax deduction and your community will enjoy your generosity.

- Jessica in Twickenham, Middlesex wants you to make new use out of old rubber gloves. With a pair of scissors cut the gloves horizontally into a variety of bands sizes. The wrists make big ones and the fingers make small ones. They are stronger that store-bought rubber bands and do not disintegrate after a few months.

- Amber in Fredericksburg, VA urges you to transfer your coffee to a thermos after it's brewed rather than keep the pot on. You'll save electricity and your coffee will stay fresh.

- Lisa in Worcester, MA suggests that you reuse plastic snack containers (such as empty Jell-O snack packs) to start seedlings in.

- Brandee in Elmira, NY wants you to wash out your Ziploc plastic bags and reuse them. This will save you money and it also helps the environment.

Have a tip that will keep the planet green? Let us know about it!

Here at home, I'm gearing up to sell my place. While looking for real estate can be exciting and fun - it also can be VERY stressful. One of the most annoying parts is when the real estate agents stalk you by constantly "following up." I understand they are just doing their job, but that doesn't change the fact the I don't want to spend half of my life on the phone with these folks.

Here's a tip I've used in the past...

Set up a free phone number that you only use when dealing with real estate agents. There are two services you can choose from:

GrandCentral: Purchased by Google last year, the free service gives you a local number (area code of your choice) that you can forward to your real phone. You then have a choice to pick up the call (the caller ID will show your "fake" number) or let them leave a message. You can retrieve voicemail online. The only negative is that there is a bit of a wait to receive a number.

K7: This free service is purely for voicemail and fax. Just enter your e-mail address and you are an issued a phone number (a 206 Seattle area code). Voicemails can be retrieved using telephone prompts - or you can have the audio sent to your e-mail. If you do not use a number for 30 consecutive days, it's deactivated.

I know that the easiest way to handle annoying realtors is to simply tell them to go away. But for some of us, that's easier said than done. These free voice services give you more control and help you preserve the privacy of your primary phone numbers. They also help preserve my sanity.

With technology evolving at lightning-fast speeds, it's virtually impossible to keep up. Even the most shrewd Web 2.0 aficionado can't know it all.

A lot of times we hold back on sharing because we're scared we'll mention something that people already know and be greeted with "DUH!" Well, just in case you've been too busy living life, here are some of top tech tips from the pages of DayTipper.

O Cursor, Where Art Thou?

Stephanie in Indianapolis, IN is worried that she's going to see your cursor on the side of a milk carton. She says,

"If you want to go back to the spot you left off when you open a Word document, press Shift+F5. Word will take you back to the last place your cursor was in the document."

I'm not sure about you, but my family always seems to lean on me for computer help. Thankfully, having them reboot makes me look like a genius. But if there's a more serious problem, and they happen to not be local, you can still lend a hand.

Vasiles in Thessaloniki says,

"Crossloop is a freeware application which, if installed from both sides, can give you secure access to the other computer's screen, mouse and keyboard and give you the opportunity to take the matter in your own hands."

And just in case you're feeling nostalgic, Zhilong in Beijing wants you to know you can check out how your favorite Websites looked back in the day. Call it Web 0.5!

"Archive.org is a site where you can see what a webpage looked like months ago or years ago. It includes snapshots of 85 billion web pages archived from 1996 to just now. If you want to see how a website (eg. Yahoo, Google, MSN.com) was built up month by month, and how the companies' product portfolio or logo or CSS had changed over the years, this is the site."

And finally, one of my recent favorites, Letter Me Later. The free service (you can even try it before you go through the 30-second registration) lets you write e-mails with your existing e-mail address, and schedule delivery on the date - and at the time - you desire.

Keep those tech tips coming!

We have some important Daytipper news...

Effective immediately, DayTipper will pay $1 per published tip. Fear not! That means we'll be able to publish more tips and pay more people. Call it leveling the tipster playing field, if you will.

We understand that some of you will not be happy, primarily our top tippers. And we love you guys. But we really want to spread the wealth. Also, it's important for us to beef up content as we continue to grow the community.

The good news is, if your tip was accepted prior to March 9, 2008, you will still receive $3 if your tip is published.

Another major change is that we want to get payments into your hands faster. The best way to facilitate that is to move to a Paypal-only payout plan. (Say that fast three times!) We understand that this could potentially upset some DayTippers who prefer a check. However, as I'm sure you can understand, cutting individual checks for a fast-growing business is time consuming. In all honesty, we'd rather focus our efforts on bringing you the best advice on the Web. Of course, we still offer the option for you to make a charitable donation with your earnings.

We're realists here at DayTipper. After all, we're just a small group of guys trying to get a startup off the ground. These changes have been deemed essential in order to continue to grow the DayTipper brand. Thanks for your understanding!

Even though my age tells me I'm a full-blown adult, there's still a part of me that sides with the kids. For example, a few of the approved tips that have come into DayTipper recently have me feeling kind of bad. Almost like I want to warn kids what their sneaky parents are up to.

Cynthia in Corpus Christi, TX is definitely a tricky mommy! Here’s her advice:

Stay informed with this little trick. Next time you drive your kids and their friends somewhere, turn up the volume on their favorite radio station on the REAR SPEAKERS and listen. They'll talk louder to each other to be heard over the music, but you'll be able to hear everything. Kids may only tell you some things but they tell each other everything. It will give you insight into what things they are into or dealing with.

The question is: Do you really want to know?

Megan in Valparaiso, Indiana might not be the most popular mom come graduation time. While some kids will toss their caps and rip open iPods and get behind the wheel of a new car, she has some more practical advice:

High school graduates really don't need another picture frame or coffee mug. A great gift is a medicine box. Put a thermometer, cold medicine, ibuprofen, Band-Aids, and other essentials in it. They will love having medicine on hand while they are away at college.

It sounds almost like parents buying themselves some peace of mind!

This next bit of family advice from Eric in Nicholasville, KY is indisputably effective. However, as someone who watched mom throw away Barry Bonds rookie cards and assorted He-Man figures, it makes me wince.

Haven't seen your kid's floor in awhile? Tell them that they need to clean their room and put a box next to the door. Give them an amount of time to clean their room and tell them that whatever is still on the floor goes in the box and the box goes in your closet for a week. They'll test you on this so, parent, do your part and keep that box out of reach.

Perhaps one day I'll grow up...

We know you're busy, that's why there are three ways you can keep up with what's happening on DayTipper.com.

- Dive into the community! Submit, read, vote and comment on tips.
- Subscribe to the blog for a snapshot of what's happening on the site.
- Stream or download the podcast.

The podcast is produced twice a month are runs between five and 10 minutes in length. You'll hear the best, the worst and the funniest stuff that makes its way into the DayTipper inbox.

I host the show and would love for you to become part of it. To get involved by testing a tip, debating why a tip should not have been approved, or, if you just want to share some of your personal advice, drop us an e-mail at podcast @ daytipper dot com.

On episode #6 you will get advice on traveling with kids that includes a baking sheet. St. Patrick's Day drinking tips. And an answer to that question that has been burning on my mind: Does hot sauce equal healthy gums?

Download episode #6.
Subscribe to the podcast.

Every Friday on the DayTipper blog we will share some of your tips that did NOT make the cut! In fact, some of these are so outlandish, we're thinking that you owe us three bucks! ;-)

As always, feel free to speak out about any of these rejected tips in the comments section below.

Use a Rolling Pin to Level a Floor. At first glance this advice from an anonymous tipster seems solid. However, it's important to note that floors are often uneven because of an underlying layer. Depending of what the floor is constructed of, you could easily crack or severely damage the floor by attempting to smooth it out in this fashion.

Healthy Gums With Hot Sauce? We've heard of losing weight with hot sauce. Heck, we've even heard of using it as an antiseptic. But keeping your mouth fresh and free of Gingivitis? That's news to me. I'm no doctor, but it seems that the acid in hot sauce would wear away enamel... Sorry Paul in Orlando!

Rob the Post Office Blind. Saul from New Mexico thinks he has the Unites States Postal Service beat. His bizarre plan of mailing letters without stamps is not only flawed, it's illegal. The recommendation was to put the recipient's address as the return address, and use a non-existent address as the primary. Saul: We're not paying you three dollars, but we'll be kind enough to pretend none of this ever happened.

Every March 17th the Chicago River runs green and New York City gets covered in throw up. That means one thing: St. Patrick's Day is around the corner. Since many people like to drink in honor of the patron saint, let's take a look at some DayTipper advice that can keep those Irish eyes smiling.

1) Beer Belt. If you and your buddies plan to make beer your beverage of choice, go for the bottles! Using an awl you can punch 4 holes in each bottle cap, string together with fishing line and adhere the caps to a belt. I would recommend waiting until you sober up to use the awl...

2) Make it Memorable. For you "refined" types who plan to enjoy some wine, you might want to consider a cork collection. Simply grab a permanent marker, write the date and name of the even you experienced, and toss it into a bowl. This will make a great conversation piece and neat decoration.

3) Beer Town USA. Planning a St. Patty's Day away from home? Find bars and microbreweries anywhere with Real Beer.

4) Keep It Cold. Let's face it, some wine is more tolerable when it's cold. Use frozen grapes to keep your drink frosty, without diluting it with water.

5) Whoops! Red wine is a champ when it comes to staining rugs and clothes. Keep a bottle of Windex handy. The chemicals in red wine make it sensitive to ammonia.
If you get to the stain quick enough, it will turn from red to white.

If you do plan to drink this St. Patrick's Day, please do so with caution. Remember that moderation is your friend. Also, if you do drink a bit too much, load yourself up with water. A LOT of it. I find this keeps the hangover bug from hitting hard the next day.

Spring is around the corner which means there's a good chance you and the family will load into the SUV and take a road trip. For folks out there with kids, keeping children occupied is often a challenge. Just in case the DVD player breaks, here are some great backup plans, submitted by registered DayTipper users.

One thing's undeniable: Kids love magnets. In order to keep everything contained, place a bunch of magnets on a large cookie sheet or shallow baking pan. Your children will see the magnets easier and be a lot less likely to loose the pieces between the seats.

Another great distraction technique for children is to give each kid a disposable camera when you're taking a long trip. Not only will they be occupied calling the shots, but they will have something to document the trip after it's over. Also, you can include a map of your planned route and ask them to follow along. This will teach them basic geography and make them feel involved.

Other "interesting" travel advice on DayTipper.com includes: Throwing away old undies while on vacation, how to remove lint and simple packing advice.

Click on over and vote these tips up or down.

Fans of the 1991 Julia Roberts' movie Sleeping With the Enemy might recall that the abusive husband of Laura Burney used to demand that the bathroom hand towels were perfectly hung over the rod. Here's a tip that could have saved her marriage...

I am always picking up my kids hand towels in the bathroom. To stop this from happening, I put the circular curtain hangers with clips around the towel bar and hung a hand towel for each child (they picked their own color). This way they can dry their hands and the towels stays in place until I come get them for the laundry.

Unorganized hand towels don't really bother me, but dirty, muddy shoes on my sparkling wood floors do! Susan in Jemison, AL suggests...

With 2 kids and a busy husband, our sneakers can certainly take a beating in the dirt department. Before tossing, try this tip to bring them back to "good as new". Set washing machine on small load and "hot" water setting. Add normal amount of laundry detergent for small setting and about 1-2 cups of regular bleach. Toss in shoes with laces detached, wash, lay out to dry. They will come out almost good as new.

Personally, what I have found effective for leather sneakers that you are considering throwing out is the following. Soak them in the tub using cold water and Woolite. After a few hours, use an old toothbrush and give them a scrub. Insert a rag into each shoe (to maintain shape) and toss them into the dryer - sans laces.

Anyone else have any tips on salvaging old sneakers or shoes?

We have some good news for all of you DayTipper fans out there! As you know, we recently added the DayTipper podcast. And now we're breathing new life into the blog.

From here on out you can expect regular posts that will not only take you inside the rapidly-growing DayTipper operation, but will keep you up to speed on the great (and sometimes wacky) tips that flood our inbox.

We also want to hear from you.

Whether it's giving you a better understanding on how to get your tips approved, or calling out tips that you disagree with, together, we can share advice that will make life better for everyone.

I kindly ask that you subscribe to our RSS feeds.

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One tip that came in last week caught my eye. It was from Carol in Farmington, MI. Her idea is for anyone who has ever wanted to send a card to a friend or family member admitted to a hospital - but was scared the patient would by released by the time the mail arrived.

Check out her solution and vote on whether you find the tip useful.