A classic tip to winterize your home is to use caulk to seal up windows and prevent cold air from seeping in. But for some people, using a caulk gun can be both messy and complicated, and it can create windows that are eyesores when you’re finished. For the less DIY-inclined, try Mortite caulking cord. It comes wrapped up like small rope, and you just unroll, press with your fingers and -- voila! -- cracks, gaps and holes are sealed up. It comes in a variety of colors to match the color of your windows, too. The best part: It never hardens, so if you ever want to remove it, you just peel it off.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Preventing cold air from entering the house in the winter is essential to keep your home warm and to cut back on heating costs. One summertime staple -- a pool flotation noodle -- can be used to help block out drafts. For older homes that often have large gaps under doors, simply cutting open a pool noodle and sliding it onto the bottom edge of the door can do the trick. It’s soft enough to not scratch floors and flexible enough to slide back and forth so the door can be used. For exact instructions, look online for easy tutorials by searching “pool noodle draft dodger.”

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It’s believed that around 20 to 30 percent of the trash thrown out of a typical home is food waste. Composting is one of the best things you can do to cut down on waste (and create some beneficial mulch for your yard and gardens). But composting can also attract some unwanted pests, like rats and mice. In the cold months, compost is attractive because the decomposing waste is covered and warm. To make it less appealing to animals, keep it wet and turn the pile with a pitchfork or shovel at least once a week; you can also limit your composted food scraps to veggie trimmings, eggshells and coffee grinds.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION