When shopping for a new sofa, be sure to look beyond just the style and size of the sofa: Inquire about what kind of fire retardants were used in its construction. Many sofas contain polyurethane-based foam, which is a synthetic material treated with fire-retardant polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDE. This chemical has been linked to endocrine disruption, according to the Environmental Working Group, and should be avoided at all costs. When shopping, ask for PBDE-free or, better yet, upholstered furniture that has zero fire retardants. Instead, opt for sofas filled with cotton, wool or a feather blend.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do you love a cup of delicious black tea? Don't toss the used tea bags when you're done. There are myriad uses for the natural powers of tea in your kitchen. The tannins from tea can help degrease and deodorize where you need it most. If you have a stubborn baked-on mess in your casserole dish, soak it overnight in water with some old tea bags; the tannins help break down the greasy mess. And does your fridge smell? Place tea bags in a cup in the back of the fridge. They'll absorb odors and help leave a fresh, clean smell.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you're having a party for a large group and you rent glassware, dishes and flatware from a rental company, it may seem rude to send them back dirty, but it isn't. The reality is, even if you do a thorough job in washing your rentals, the companies are required to use a commercial-grade dishwasher to fully clean and sanitize them before they go out to another party. So the company is prepared to clean items anyway. On a related note, if you have a sink full of dishes from a party, use the dishwasher. A loaded automatic dishwasher is much more water- and energy-efficient than washing by hand.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION