Is your teakettle in need of a good cleaning to remove mineral deposits inside? It's important to not use harsh products like bleach or chemical cleaners, since you'll be sipping tea using water you've boiled in the pot. Instead, fill the teakettle with citrus peels from lemons, limes and oranges. To clean your kettle, fill it with citrus peels and water, and bring the mixture to a boil. Then turn off the heat and let the kettle sit for an hour to give the mixture time to work. The natural citric acid helps break down the mineral deposits.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know a full refrigerator runs more efficiently than one that's empty? It's because the items that are already cool inside the fridge help to keep the internal temperature down, thus it uses less energy to maintain a consistent cool. If you don't have enough groceries now to fill your fridge, fill some jugs from the recycling bin with water. The jugs will provide enough of a chill to help make your fridge as energy-efficient as possible.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Hitting the road for vacation? Be sure to do a few easy things at home to save energy while you're away. Start by setting your thermostat to a lower or higher temperature depending on the weather (smart thermostats now have a "vacation mode" feature that does all the work for you). Turn off ceiling fans and unplug electronics and power strips throughout the house. Unplug energy hogs like cable boxes, TVs and wireless routers. Lower blinds and close curtains, no matter the temperature outside, to insulate and block the sun's radiant heat.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION