You might think that because a coffee maker heats up water in its tank, all that scorching hot water is enough to kill the germs and bacteria inside. However, because the water never reaches a boiling point, it’s just under the temperature needed to naturally disinfect. But it’s easy to clean your automatic coffee maker. Just fill the carafe with a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar and run it through as if you’re making a pot of java. The acidic water will clean and disinfect. Run a clean pot of water to remove any residual vinegar, and you’re good to go.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

With spring around the corner, your outdoor window boxes and garden pots may still have last year's old potting soil inside. So the question is, is the old soil still good? If you are repotting a household plant, can you reuse the old soil? The answer is no, unless you are absolutely certain the soil is free of any disease. Since it can be impossible to tell, the best way to reuse potting soil is to sprinkle it in the yard, where the sun will have a chance to "bake" the soil, killing any disease. The soil eventually will blend right into the ground.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When storing leftovers in the fridge, there are a few easy tips to help you do it right and extend the shelf life of your food. Start by dividing cooked leftovers into smaller reusable containers; this will help them cool down quickly and prevent bacteria spores from germinating. Place new leftovers in the back of the fridge and bring older ones to the front; consume those in front and work back so the freshest stays cool longest. And never leave canned food in its original container; once it's open, metal can leach into the food.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION