3/1/10

When baking, don't preheat the oven too soon when making a batch of cookies. Ovens can be energy hogs, so it pays to prep first, then heat. Also, if your oven needs a good cleaning, use the self-cleaning function AFTER you've baked something. It's already heated up and will take less time for the function to run its course.

2/28/10

Instead of buying a piece of expensive home improvement equipment that will be hardly used -- like a carpet cleaner, power washer or paint sprayer -- why not rent it instead? Major chain stores like Home Depot and Lowe's rent out professional equipment to homeowners at a fraction of the cost. It's much easier returning it, rather than finding space in your garage for it to sit unused.

2/27/10

Keep your car smelling fresh and clean with a homemade air freshener. Fill a large tea strainer with either charcoal (the kind for the grill) or dried lavender. Charcoal is a natural deodorizer, so it will absorb foul fragrances. When it's left in a warm car, lavender will perfume the air with a soothing and pleasing scent. This is a healthy alternative to chemical-based, artificial car fresheners.