Ever wonder what to do with shoes you pack in your suitcase when you travel? One way to keep your clothes free of dirt, debris and chemicals is to upcycle plastic shower caps, which you can often get for free at hotels. Simply wrap the shower cap around the bottom of shoes before packing into the bag. It will create a barrier that protects your clothes from any dirt that might be on your shoes.

Ever get a greasy stain on clothes and worry that simply washing it in the washing machine won't do the job? One might think to grab laundry detergent and try to spot clean the stain, but don't: Most detergents are super concentrated and designed to work with water. They have very strong stain-fighting enzymes that, when applied directly to clothes, can create more damage and noticeable wear. Instead, reach for the best grease-cutting soap there is -- dish soap. It's gentle, works to break up stains and won't harm fabrics. Just spot treat, let it soak and wash in the washing machine.

After a light snowfall, take a look at your roof in the morning as the sun rises to see how energy efficient your home is. If the snow is already melting, that means heat is rising to the attic's roofline and melting the snow. This means one thing: a poorly insulated attic. If the roof still has an even coating of snow all the way around, it means your home is efficient and your attic floor is airtight and well-insulated. Sometimes you can even see clear patterns where heat is escaping and warming parts of the roofline, which will give you a clear guideline where leaks are and where you need to add insulation.