Once they're dry, they're great for catching dust, not just moving it around. Place a large empty flowerpot on the porch and patio to serve as an outdoor trash can. It will save trips indoors and make it handy for kids to toss things like wrappers and paper cups. Try using rubber gloves to open tough jars. It works better than most jar openers.
Windowsills tend to attract a lot of dirt and grime.
They're much easier to keep clean if you apply a coat of auto wax to keep dirt from sticking. A bar of ordinary bath soap does a great job of removing laundry stains. Keep one near your washer and rub it into soiled collars, cuffs, and spots before washing. Use refrigerator magnets to post basic stain information on the side of your washer. It will be handy when you need it.