If you suffer from seasonal allergies caused by pollen or dust and dust mites, you might want to drag out the vacuum on a more frequent basis. Turns out regular vacuuming helps do more than just pick up crumbs and dirt; it's also a fantastic way to eliminate dust mites, dust and other allergens. When you walk through a room, your movement can kick these allergens into the air, decreasing the indoor air quality of your home. A few minutes of simply vacuuming can lead to much healthier air.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It's a not-so-dirty little secret among greenie homebodies that it only takes two commonly found nontoxic ingredients to make the ultimate bathroom cleaner for your home: white vinegar and dish detergent. Simply heat up 12 ounces of white vinegar in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then mix in 12 ounces of dish detergent (choose one with color) and pour the mixture into a spray bottle. The colorful mixture shows you where you've sprayed on surfaces in the bathroom; the dish soap breaks down grease and dirt while the white vinegar dissolves mineral deposits. Truly one of the best bathroom cleaner recipes out there, and very eco-friendly to boot!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you love fragrances and want your perfumes to last longer, keep them out of the room where most of us display our bottles: the bathroom. Fragrances are susceptible to two things: light and temperature shifts. A bathroom heats up and cools down quickly when it's used (imagine a hot steam shower filling the room), which warms up the perfume and breaks it down. By displaying bottles out on a tray, you're also exposing them to UV light that speeds up the degradation process. Instead, keep your fragrances in the boxes they came in and store them in a dark, room-temperature location, like inside a drawer or closet.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION