How many times have you seen a landscaping sprinkler system running at full power during a rainstorm? It's not because of a wasteful homeowner at all; it's because the sprinkler system is on an automatic system that does not know the weather. To fix this problem (and save water and money), have a rain sensor installed to your sprinkler system. The sensor determines whether enough rainfall has occurred in order to skip an irrigation cycle. If it senses enough moisture, it breaks the electrical connection to your sprinkler system so it won't turn on. It's easy to install and makes your sprinkler system more efficient.

Instead of using harsh paint stripper to remove paint from your hands or a nonporous surface, try this natural method natural instead: Use olive oil and salt to loosen dried paint and gently lift it away. Start by dabbing the area with a small amount of olive oil. Then sprinkle salt on top and use it as a gentle exfoliator. Add more oil and wipe away. Use a little soap and water to wash the oil mixture off. The oil helps lift the paint away from the surface, and the salt speeds up the process.

In the summer months, thunderstorms may mean relief to us humans, but it can be a scary experience for our pets. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has launched a free smartphone app to help pet owners. If your dog or cat goes missing (especially during a traumatic moment like fireworks or a thunderstorm), this app helps you take the right steps to find it. The app includes strategic steps to use when looking for your pet, a personalized missing pet recovery kit, a digital missing pet flyer that can instantly be shared across all social media channels and access to health records for your pet. Just search "ASPCA" in the app store and download for free.