Tips to detect drafty windows

• "Place an ice cube (or ice chips) in carpet divots left behind by furniture legs. This will help the fibers "plump up," and the spot will disappear!" — A.I in Utah

• Felt circles are great for putting under small appliances on the kitchen counter. They are easier to move around, and they won't scratch the countertops. You can find them at the hardware store, or make your own by cutting out what you need from a piece of felt and attaching it to the bottom of your appliance with double-stick tape ... or even a drop of glue!

• Running a washing machine that isn't full not only wastes energy and water, it also wastes money because you're paying to run more washes. Always fill the machine — but remember not to overload it! This applies to your dishwasher, too.

• "To help repel the dust on baseboards between cleanings, wipe with a used dryer sheet. To make this even easier, you can put the dryer sheet over a Swiffer-type floor cleaner. This way, you don't even have to bend down." — M.E. in Alabama

• "You can use plain alcohol on a paper towel to wipe down your house telephone. I do this a couple of times a week during cold season. Also, purchase a pack of electronics wipes, so everyone can keep his or her cellphone screen clean. Think about it: We constantly touch the screen with our fingers, then stick it right up to our face!" — W.R. in New York

• Here's a tip for you waist-watchers out there: Wait until Halloween Day to buy the candy. That way the in-house sweets won't be haunting you throughout October. — JoAnn

• Update window treatments to compensate for dropping temperatures. Trade your sheers for sturdy, draft-blocking panels.

• Now's the time to install weather-stripping or caulk for fall and winter. To find drafts, try this trick: Light a taper candle and run it very slowly along the cracks of your windows. When you see the flame flicker, that's where you have a draft leak.

• Want to save money and be a good environmental servant? Get with the times — the old times, that is. Buy second-hand items and have household items repaired instead of throwing them out. Good-quality clothes can be sold or donated to charity shops; furniture and household items also can be sold or donated, or repurposed into new rooms.

• To keep sauces from splattering and dirtying the inside of your microwave, cover the food with a damp paper towel or a coffee filter. — E.C. in Utah

• Now you can have your tea and clean something too. Teabags can be used to clean woodwork. Rub the wood softly with a damp bag.

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