Does parking in the shade in the hot summer months make a difference for your car? Researchers in Phoenix tested the theory and found that cars in peak sun were significantly hotter than those in the shade. That’s obvious, but what’s interesting is that the sun-parked cars heated to temperatures that exceeded 160 degrees, which is when materials like car seats and dashboards can burn your skin. And when it came to cooling the interior of the car, a shaded car took just 12 minutes to cool down, while the car in the sun took 21 minutes. When it comes to long-term car parking, seek shade whenever possible.

If you like to grow fruits and vegetables from seed at home, what’s the best way to avoid genetically modified seeds? The good news is that most GMO seeds are limited to larger-scale farming, and those crops are mostly things like corn, soybeans, cotton and crops for sugar production. For home gardeners, the only chance you’ll buy GMO seeds is for corn or squash, so to be extra sure, look for certified organic seeds. Otherwise, the likelihood the seeds at your store are GMO is very low. You can also look up seed companies that have signed a Safe Seed Pledge, which lists seed brands that have promised not to sell GMO seeds.

Your washing machine is probably one of the hardest-working appliances in the house, so it makes sense to have it be as fine-tuned as possible. One important thing to check is to make sure your machine is balanced, meaning it’s on the ground evenly and does not wobble -- especially if you have uneven floors. Take the time to adjust your washing machine in the corners so it doesn’t shift or move easily. When you have an unbalanced machine, not only can it be loud when spinning clothes, it can also force your appliance to work harder and waste energy. This creates wear and tear, and it means the washer will break down faster.