An average household of four people uses about 12,000 gallons of water every year doing laundry. Cutting down on your washing machine’s water usage can help with water conservation and save you money. One of the easiest switches to make is to avoid the permanent-press cycle, which uses about 5 gallons of water during the extra rinse. And if you can’t wait to run a full load of laundry in order to maximize water usage, simply adjust the water levels to match the smaller load of laundry. These simple steps can save hundreds of gallons of water every year.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Houseplants must have enough sunlight to thrive. But how can you tell if they are getting too much or too little light? The answer is simple: Let the plants tell you. If the plant is leaning toward sunlight, stops producing flowers or has leaves that curl upward, it is in need of more light. If you see brown spots, yellowing leaves, or the leaves look scorched, it’s time to move the plant away from the direct light source.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When you don’t have the time to toss a pair of jeans in the washing machine or take sweaters and jackets to the dry cleaner, you can freshen them up with a DIY fabric refresher. All you need is a little baking soda, 2 cups of water and a few drops of essential oil mixed in a spray bottle. The baking soda helps naturally deodorize, and the oil leaves a faint, refreshing scent. You can also pour straight vodka into a spray bottle and spritz; it’ll kill any odor-causing bacteria on the spot.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION