Do Just One Thing

According to the National Sanitation Foundation, your coffeemaker is the fifth-dirtiest appliance in your home. That's high, considering you don't bake, fry, microwave or cook with it; but the coffee maker is constantly moist inside, making it a breeding ground for mold and yeast. To clean it, create a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. Run the mixture through the coffee maker to disinfect and loosen minerals and grime inside. Then run a full pot of water through to rinse out any residual traces of vinegar.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

You probably already have the necessary ingredients somewhere in your home to make your own inexpensive and highly effective laundry stain remover: All you need is hydrogen peroxide and dish soap. Just combine two parts hydrogen peroxide with one part dish soap for a powerful mixture that helps degrease, brighten and loosen stains without weakening the fibers of your clothing. Simply apply, rub and launder to get even the toughest of stains out.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Before you toss out bath towels that smell like mildew, try this eco-friendly solution: Wash them in white vinegar. White vinegar is a gentle acid that effectively kills the fungus that causes mildew growth on towels, all without discoloring the fabric whatsoever. It's a cinch to do: Place your towels in the washing machine and add two cups of white vinegar. Do not add any detergent or fabric softener, and wash the towels on the hottest setting possible. When the towels are finished being washed, add liquid laundry detergent and wash them again in hot water. Remove and dry thoroughly in the dryer or hang outside.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION