10/7/10

Dishwashing water temperature needs to be at least 130 degrees to effectively work. Most machines are designed to heat up water to the optimum temperature, but older models act like your morning shower; they get hot after a few minutes. This can decrease the effectiveness of your machine. To help, turn on your kitchen sink to flush out the cold water until it runs hot; then turn on your dishwasher.

10/6/10

Many people have wild cedar bushes growing in their yard or in the woods near their home. Clip a few branches and bundle them together for your closet. The cedar oil will repel moths, cockroaches and other creepy crawly creatures naturally.

10/5/10

Over time, rust and mineral deposits can build up in your dishwasher. This can affect the performance, and detergents -- with or without phosphates -- end up being totally ineffective. Raid the pantry to clean out your dishwasher. Empty a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid into the compartment where you'd put detergent and run a full cycle on hot. The citric acid in the mixture helps clean away the gunk inside the machine.