It can be almost impossible to remove an ink stain from clothes when a ballpoint pen explodes. Here's a resourceful way to treat the stain and make your clothes look as good as new: Cover the stain in hand sanitizer. Clear, gel-based hand sanitizers are loaded with alcohol, which helps lift the stain from the fibers of clothes. Saturating the stain makes it easy for the stain to be removed when washed. Just allow the hand sanitizer to penetrate for at least 10 minutes before washing.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

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