Have a hard time remembering to water your houseplants? Here's a way to keep your plants alive and recycle old sponges all in one. When it's time to replace an old sponge, disinfect it by placing it in the microwave for about 90 seconds. Put the cooled sponge at the bottom of a planter. This will prevent soil from falling out, and it will also absorb excess water each time you water the plant. The wet sponge in the planter will slowly release needed moisture, helping to keep the plant alive in case you forget to water.

If you want to make one home improvement upgrade that doesn't cost a lot and can help you save money, install a whole-house fan. Unlike a tabletop or ceiling fan, this one is fixed into your attic and helps force hot air through your attic vents while drawing cooler air into your home. This upgrade can have a dramatic effect on the cooling of your home during the hot months and reduce your dependency on central air conditioning altogether.

There are two things that attract mosquitoes to their prey: heat and carbon dioxide. When the pests sense a warm body breathing out CO2, they know they've found a snack. Instead of slathering yourself with chemical bug repellants, try this simple trick instead: Turn on a fan. When you have a tabletop or ceiling fan blowing air, it cools your body temperature and spreads the CO2 emissions around, making it harder for the mosquitoes to detect you.