Next time you paint, don't throw your solvents away. Using them only once is a waste. After cleaning paintbrushes and tools with paint thinner or mineral spirits, most people get rid of the solvent. That's unnecessary, wasteful and hazardous. Recycling the solvents is the way to go. It saves money, time and our planet to some extent, too. Pour the solvent into a jar after soaking brushes clean and let it sit for a day or two. The paint will settle into a sludge at the bottom; the remaining thinner on top will be clear. Carefully pour it off into a second jar, seal and save for use another time or two. Save the sludge jar also -- adding to it until it's full. Then take it to a hazardous waste disposal site. Never pour paint or solvents down the drain. And that's the On The House tip for today.