If you must use disposable paper plates, go with the most boring, uncoated, unprinted kinds. Party plates that come in bright colors with shiny coatings are not compostable or recyclable and can be expensive to purchase. Generic white paper plates or durable "Classic White" Chinet plates get the job done and can be tossed into the compost bin at home to break down and become beneficial mulch.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you love fragrances and want your perfumes to last longer, keep them out of the room where most of us display our bottles: the bathroom. Fragrances are susceptible to two things: light and temperature shifts. A bathroom heats up and cools down quickly when it's used (imagine hot shower steam filling the room), which warms up the perfume and breaks it down. By displaying bottles out on a tray, you're also exposing them to UV light that speeds up the degradation process. Instead, keep your fragrances in the boxes they came in and store them in a dark, room-temperature space, like inside a drawer or closet.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

The best way to make sure your clothes last as long as possible (and look their best) is to treat stains immediately so they don’t set. The best pre-treat product is natural dish soap, which can lift grease and other stubborn stains without wearing out the fibers. Apply dish soap to the stain and let the clothing sit for at least 15 minutes, then wash. If the stain hasn’t fully lifted, treat and wash again. Putting the item in the dryer too early can cause the stain to set permanently.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION