Did you know that the kitchen sponge you use to hand-wash dishes should be replaced about every two weeks? One way to help maximize the life of a sponge is to keep it clean by disinfecting frequently in a dishwasher or microwave oven. You also can replace a traditional sponge with a slightly more expensive microfiber sponge. These sponges last for several months and also dry much more quickly than conventional sponges, which means bacteria have less time to grow and build up on them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Give yourself glowing skin with some easy one-ingredient beauty treatments, using things in your own kitchen. Dab some apple cider vinegar on your skin with a cotton ball; the mild acid acts like an exfoliant. Wait five minutes and rinse off with water. A small amount of coarse sea salt can be used on a wet scalp to exfoliate, absorb excess oil and leave behind a beachy look; just gently rub and rinse out. And coconut oil can be a natural makeup remover when you need something in a pinch.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Have you ever purchased a bunch of fresh beets and forgotten about them? There's no need to toss soft beets away; they can easily be made crispy and crunchy again with just a cup of water. Because beets are a root vegetable, they drink up water like a sponge. Simply fill a glass with cold water and let the beets soak for a day or two. Those thirsty beets will drink it, plump up and be as good as new.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION