Have some black T-shirts or jeans that have faded and could use re-dying? There’s no need to reach for chemical dyes when there’s an all-natural solution: coffee. Two cups of strong, freshly brewed coffee can reinvigorate black garments. Pour the coffee directly into the washing machine when the rinse cycle begins (making sure you have only black-dyed items in the machine). The coffee won’t stain the machine, and it’ll naturally dye your clothes back to a deep black. Be sure to hang dry the items after they’ve been through the wash.

One way to help save energy at home is to plant smart when it comes to landscaping around the house. Avoid putting in plants that can grow too tall on the south side of your home. These plants can block sunlight in the winter months, which means your home can’t take advantage of the ambient light and heat. And plant dense evergreen shrubs all around the house. They look good all year long and also naturally insulate to protect your home from the cold air outdoors.

When you think about fresh lemons, limes, grapefruits and oranges, it seems these citrusy fruits would love bright sunlight. But if you have a bumper crop of citrus at home, keep them away from sunlight to extend the life of the perishables. On a tree, the fruit uses the sunlight to grow and ripen. Off the tree, sunlight can quickly deteriorate the fruit. Store citrus in a cool place, like a refrigerator, where many varieties can stay fresh for several weeks.