When mice find open bags of bread, bowls of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter or cookie crumbs in cabinets, they'll come back knowing this is a source for food. But there are some not-so-obvious sources, too. Be sure to keep your dog's or cat's pet food sealed in an airtight container and not left in an open bag. Also, look at the yard around fruit-bearing trees near your home; fallen fruit can also lead mice to venture past the trees and into your house.

When it's time to give the bathroom a good cleaning, do it right after a hot, steamy shower. With a layer of steam on mirrors, faucets and countertops, you can use the moisture to your time-saving advantage by wiping it down with a microfiber towel. The microfibers will use the mist to cling onto dirt and germs, and it'll absorb right into the towel and leave a streak-free finish. Grout in shower tiles can be sprayed with white vinegar, which will work with the hot residual water to make scrubbing the shower a breeze. 

Seeing reusable shopping bags at the grocery store or farmers market has become the norm. But as more of us reuse and reuse the bags, it's important to make sure the bags that carry food home stay clean and healthy. Washing reusable bags helps prevent things like yeast and bacteria from growing inside and cross-contaminating your food. Ripstop nylon bags are the ideal choice; they can be washed in hot water, and if they get a tear, the hole will literally heal itself and stop ripping. Choose different-colored nylon bags to separate seafood, meat and produce.