If you've just squeezed a bunch of lemons to make a batch of lemonade or salad dressing, don't toss the rinds into the compost just yet. Instead, fill a large stock pot with water and squeezed lemons, and bring it to a boil. Turn off the heat and soak white fabric items like T-shirts, napkins and socks, allowing them to sit in the lemony hot water for an hour. The high amount of citric acid will brighten whites and remove stains. Just drain, wash and dry in bright sunlight to give your whites an extra boost.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Many of us keep a pitcher of water or juice in the refrigerator. But if you leave that pitcher uncovered, do one thing: Look for a lid or place a small plate on top to cover it. A refrigerator will draw moisture from uncovered liquids, which forces it to go into a "no-frost" mode. This makes it work harder and use more energy. A simple rule of thumb is: The less moisture inside your fridge, the less energy it uses to do its job.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

You don't have to be a resident of a community in order to join a local public library. This is a great thing to do if you're going somewhere for an extended vacation. Instead of buying new books and bringing them with you, you can join the library at your vacation spot and check out books for free. When you're done reading them or your vacation comes to an end, just return them. This is a great way to avoid lugging heavy books, and it lets you be a little more green when you travel.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION