Got a bunch of apple peels from making a few homemade apple pies? Use the peels to get your metal pots and pans sparkling clean. Caked-on grease, debris and other burnt-on messes can be released with the power of peels. Just toss a handful into the pan and add a few inches of tap water. Then simmer the mixture over low heat for about 30 minutes. The caked-on mess will begin to dissipate because the acid in apples peels will attack it, all without scrubbing or chemical cleaning products. And when you're done? You can compost the cooked peels.

Many of us know not to place a refrigerator next to a heat source like an oven, but did you know you should also avoid a sunny spot in your kitchen? Since radiant heat that comes from the sun through your windows is warm, when the sun's rays hit your refrigerator, it, too, warms up. If your refrigerator warms up, it needs to work extra hard (using extra energy) to keep things cool and frozen inside. By avoiding sunny spots or drawing the blinds down to block sun from hitting your fridge, you can save energy.

The most-used appliance that has the shortest lifecycle is the coffeemaker. The reason why is simple: They get used often, and they are usually left on for hours at a time. To maximize the lifespan, clean it by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar in the coffeepot, and run it through the whole process, as if you were brewing a pot of joe. This removes trace minerals and buildup inside. Then run a whole pot of regular water to remove the faint taste of vinegar. If you can, don't allow a freshly made pot of coffee to sit on a burner all day long; this wastes energy and wears out the machine.