Buying vintage and antique furniture is a great way to be sustainable and find stylish pieces for your home. But when considering very old furniture that's painted, be wary that it's possible the item was painted with lead paint. There are kits you can buy from the hardware store that immediately tell you if the paint contains lead, which is one way to make sure. The other solution is to brush a clear varnish on top of the piece to seal in the harmful paint.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

To prevent clogs and deodorize sink drains, reach for a box of regular salt. Pour 1/2 cup of salt (coarse salt works best) down the drain, then pour very hot water after it. The salt will act as a corrosive to scrub the drain walls, and the hot water will help flush clogs down the drain while dissolving the salt. This process also naturally deodorizes, so any foul odors will be neutralized, leaving your drain clean and smelling more fresh.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Have you heard of "energy vampires"? These are devices and appliances that are plugged into an outlet and continue to draw electricity even if they are turned off or not being used. The latest statistics say that this unnecessary power drain costs Americans more than $19 billion a year. To help save electricity and knock a little off of your monthly bill, consider unplugging these top-5 energy vampires: desktop computers, televisions, cable boxes, speakers and microwaves.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION