Cleaning Tips

Small magnets securely hold your nail clippers and hair pins, and keep even the easiest-to-lose objects in plain sight. Washi tape adds a five-second decorative touch.

Magnetic discs (meant for keeping a handyman’s nails and screws steady), are great for holding bobby pins, paper clips and other metallic bits and baubles. Find them at a hardware store and spray paint them your favorite hue.

Your handy planner might be filled with tidy to-do lists, but somehow receipts, mail, and other scraps always end up at the bottom your purse. Glue an envelope inside the cover of your go-to notebook to create a place you can hide loose papers that you need to keep.

If it irks you to constantly reach past your husband’s sweet relish to get to your favorite mustard, consider placing a lazy Susan on a fridge shelf. Then, each condiment (or favorite soda or yogurt!) is only a flick of the wrist away.

Store wicker, iron, and other yard furniture in the garage or shed to prevent weather damage.

Test batteries in smoke detectors twice per year; daylight savings time is an excellent reminder to do this task.

Plant spring-blooming bulbs in well-drained soil — they’ll need 12 to 16 weeks of temperatures that are 45 degrees or colder.

Turn off all outdoor faucets; coil and tie all garden hoses, and store them in a frost-free place.

Check for cracks in siding and shingles, and for window drafts. Plug air leaks with caulk or weather stripping to limit heat loss in your home.

 Feeding birds during the winter increases their odds of survival by allowing them to raise their young and restore their populations.