Ever wonder why your shoes smell? There are over 250,000 sweat glands in your feet that can generate half a pint of moisture a day. Now imagine working out in your sneakers, and that's why they can have a foul odor. The best way to keep your shoes smelling fresh is to do one thing: Let them dry out as soon as possible after using. Placing shoes in direct sunlight or in a very sunny spot can help dry them out quickly. And rotating shoes so you're not wearing the same ones every day can help, too. Last tip: Stuff the soles with newspaper. Newsprint is designed to absorb ink, so it'll absorb excess moisture, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Vacuum cleaners can last a long time if properly maintained and used. One way to prolong the life of yours is to remember that vacuums are designed to suck up dry debris, like dirt, dust, crumbs and other paper. If a spill in the kitchen includes any damp items like chopped-up salad, use a broom rather than the vacuum to clean it up. Introducing any moisture inside a vacuum cleaner can lead to mold and mildew buildup, which can result in a vacuum exhaust that literally spews mold spores into the air the next time you turn it on.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Take a look inside your freezer: Is it full or half-empty? If it's the latter, fill a freezer bag or two with ice. Bags of ice cubes in the freezer take up space and help keep the overall freezer temperature down. The colder the freezer, the less energy it uses to maintain the appropriate temperature. Even filling old ice cream containers with water and letting them freeze into blocks of ice can go a long way to improve your freezer's efficiency.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION