I wear an old, unmatched sock on my hand when I have to dust the house. I run my hand along chair rails, crown moldings, and doors until the sock is dusty enough to discard or wash and reuse.
Lisa Taillefer
Mobile, Alabama

To remove stubborn price tags from items like dishes and glassware, I use a cotton pad or Q-tip soaked with rubbing alcohol. The alcohol dissolves the sticky glue and doesn't mess up my manicure.
Kathe Palmucci
Riverside, California

I love using white vinegar. It's great in the dishwasher when mixed with automatic dishwashing detergent. It also works well for cleaning the inside of a coffeepot. And when mixed with water, it cleans the mineral spots off an iron.
Lucian Morais Justice
Lafayette, Louisiana

To remove hardened wax from fabric, place a paper towel or a brown paper bag on top of the wax and press with an iron on low heat. The paper absorbs the wax, and your iron stays clean.
Elizabeth Wright
Carrboro, North Carolina

When my plastic storage containers start to smell like the food that was in them, I wash them with hot water and two tablespoons of baking soda.
Jennifer Nocero-Gurule
Warrington, Pennsylvania

I make a paste of baking soda and water to clean discolored teacups and teapots. It's gentle enough for most fine china, and it's easy on the hands and the wallet.
Wendy Wiebe
Vancouver, British Columbia

Devise a Smart System

I leave a basket at the foot of the stairs and toss in any toys or miscellaneous items that were brought downstairs during the day. Whenever I go upstairs, I take the basket with me and unload. It beats running up and down the stairs all day.
Lisa Lutz
Sarasota, Florida

I get very distracted while I'm cleaning, so I set a timer for 30 minutes. It helps me to stay focused, and I get more done in a short amount of time.
Brooke Dorr
Centralia, Missouri

If you have an insurmountable pile of laundry that you can't bear to do yourself, find a Laundromat with wash-and-fold service. I pay by the pound, so it costs only a few dollars per load. And I can pick up my clothes the next day.
Lamia Khorshid
Miami, Florida

When it's time to clean my shower, I strip naked, hop in, and scrub, using any harsh cleansers with caution. When I'm finished, I step out and rinse it down, then take a shower myself to admire my handiwork.
Keli Honsberger
San Rafael, California