To prevent clogs and deodorize sink drains, reach for a box of regular salt. Pour 1/2 cup of salt (coarse salt works best) down the drain, then pour very hot water after it. The salt will act as a corrosive to scrub the drain walls, and the hot water will help flush clogs down the drain while dissolving the salt. This process also naturally deodorizes, so any foul odors will be neutralized, leaving your drain clean and smelling more fresh.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Have you heard of "energy vampires"? These are devices and appliances that are plugged into an outlet and continue to draw electricity even if they are turned off or not being used. The latest statistics say that this unnecessary power drain costs Americans more than $19 billion a year. To help save electricity and knock a little off of your monthly bill, consider unplugging these top-5 energy vampires: desktop computers, televisions, cable boxes, speakers and microwaves.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

At the end of the year, many of us go around the house and replace the alkaline batteries in our smoke and fire detectors with fresh batteries. This is a smart idea for the health and safety of your family. But those batteries are far from dead and shouldn't be tossed into the trash. Save them and use them for other household items like remote controls, children's toys and anything else that uses batteries. Use them up until they are totally dead and then properly dispose of them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION