The easiest way to save energy when using your washing machine is to always use cold water; it helps protect the clothes, and today's detergents are designed to work more effectively with cold water. By not washing with warm or hot water, you can save 4 percent off your total household energy bill. Also, always err on the side of using less detergent rather than more. Using too much detergent can actually clog your machine and force it to work harder to remove the excess suds.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do you have a cat? Here’s a useful tip to make double-duty of kitty litter at home. Smelly trash and recycling bins can be hard to clean and deodorize, but you can make the job easy by simply pouring new kitty litter into the bins and letting them sit inside. The porous nature of litter will absorb the odor quickly and make the bins smell much more fresh. When it’s time to refill your cat’s litter box, just use the litter from the bins.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Another reason to ditch wasteful paper towels: They can harbor germs. A study by the Laval University in Quebec City showed that bacteria can thrive even on unused towels! The pulping process itself at factories that make towels can often be contaminated, spreading germs like the Bacillus spore right onto the towels. While no illness has been linked to paper towels, this is just one more reason to skip single-use towels and go with reusable ones.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION