3/2/10

Do you have a shower curtain and a liner? Most shower curtain liners are made from PVC, polyvinyl chloride, which gives off harmful gases the second you hang it up in your bathroom. Instead, think like you're in a hotel and get a nylon shower curtain; it's waterproof and machine-washable and not made from PVC. The best part? When it looks dingy, just unhook it and wash away. ... Good as new!

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.