Spare change that accidentally ends up in a load of laundry seems like no big deal, but the reality is it can cause serious damage. The centrifugal force that washing machines use to draw water out of wet clothes can turn a few pennies, nickels and dimes into destructive projectiles inside the machine, causing damage to your machine’s mechanical components. Make it a habit to check all pockets so every wash is a coin-free one. This one step can help prevent your washing machine from breaking down.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It can be almost impossible to remove an ink stain from clothes when a ballpoint pen explodes. Here's a resourceful way to treat the stain and make your clothes look as good as new: Cover the stain in hand sanitizer. Clear, gel-based hand sanitizers are loaded with alcohol, which helps lift the stain from the fibers of clothes. Saturating the stain makes it easy for the stain to be removed when washed. Just allow the hand sanitizer to penetrate for at least 10 minutes before washing.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

The easiest way to save energy when using your washing machine is to always use cold water; it helps protect the clothes, and today's detergents are designed to work more effectively with cold water. By not washing with warm or hot water, you can save 4 percent off your total household energy bill. Also, always err on the side of using less detergent rather than more. Using too much detergent can actually clog your machine and force it to work harder to remove the excess suds.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION