8/18/12

During the summer months, our electrical grid is often strained during the hours of 3 to 7 p.m., when air conditioners are running at their peak. You can help relieve the strain on the grid by not running household appliances during that time. If you run your dishwasher, washing machine or dryer early in the morning or late at night, you'll also save money: Peak-hour electricity costs more since the electric companies pass the extra costs onto you.

8/17/12

Fluffy towels can, over time, become a breeding ground for smelly mildew that is impossible to remove. No matter how much you launder your towels, they will still have a not-so-fresh scent. Before reaching for chlorine bleach, head to your bar instead. Spraying a little vodka on dingy towels will kill the bacteria causing the smell, won't discolor towels and will help them stay fresher longer.

8/16/12

One of the biggest mistakes we make when cleaning burned-on messes on cookware is that we soak the pan overnight. The problem? Cookware is slightly porous, and soaking causes pans to warp out of shape. My secret to cleaning pots and pans is simple. Allow the cookware to cool to room temperature. (Never throw a hot pot under cool running water to rinse them off.) Fill the pots or pans with diet cola, and simmer them on the stove for 15 minutes. The acids in diet soda will eat away at the mess and leave you with a sparkling clean pan.