Artwork

Whether you’re preserving a Picasso or the finger painting of your future Picasso, keep it out of direct sunlight. The sun will fade the pigments in any image. Important, original artworks also “need acid-free materials, ultraviolet-filtering Plexiglas, and the archival-mounting expertise of a good independent frame shop,” says Dana Cranmer, a New York City art conservator who has restored works by many greats, including Matisse and Pollock. But you probably don’t want to spend a fortune to save your kids’ stick figures. Instead, give them crayons, colored pencils, or paints to work with. All of those will pretty much last a lifetime if protected in an archival-quality scrapbook. Markers, however, always fade.

Boots

They were made for walkin’. So what are they doing stashed under your bed? Care for them with these tips from Jim McFarland, a third-generation shoe repairer in Lakeland, Florida, and a spokesman for the Shoe Service Institute of America.

Have sole protectors put on your boots right after you buy them. For $16 to $21 a pair, these thin rubber strips can extend the life of the soles tenfold.
Apply a waterproofing spray to suede boots before the first wearing. That will protect them from a spilled drink or a spot of drizzle — but never wear suede boots out in the rain.
In the off-season, store boots in a closet with plenty of airflow. Temperature swings in attics and moisture in basements age shoes.

Career

You might think you’re already making it last. You take courses. You keep copies of good reviews. And, for job advancement, that’s great. But prolonging a career is really about making sure it’s there as you age, says Ellen Bravo, a professor of women’s studies at the University of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee. If older women seem unhappy or are being “let go” in your workplace (and — let’s face it — this still happens), then you need to take measures while you’re young to make sure this doesn’t happen to you. Either look for a new place to work “or find allies among your peers and supervisors to help current older employees fight for their jobs,” says Bravo. You’ll support them while encouraging the company to modernize its practices — and you’ll give yourself a leg up down the road.

Dishwasher

A clean dishwasher = a happy dishwasher. Here’s how to keep it that way.

If you have a disposal unit, run cold water through it for 30 seconds before turning on the dishwasher, says Bonnie Woolsey, a 22-year-veteran appliance-repair technician in Stafford, Virginia: “Debris left in a disposal can get sucked into the dishwasher’s drain line and clog it.”
Use a high-quality powdered dishwasher detergent, such as Cascade, and no more than what’s called for in the product manual (often just a teaspoon), says Dave Brightman, national service manager for Bosch Home Appliances. Liquids, tabs, cheap powders, or too much detergent can gum up valves and hoses.
Clear the dishwasher’s valves and water lines a few times a year. Fill both the detergent and the drying-agent dispensers with white vinegar, then run the dishwasher empty on the pots-and-pans cycle.

Eyesight

See the future with pointers from American Academy of Ophthalmology president Charles P. Wilkinson, M.D.

Break out the sunglasses. Excessive UV radiation can accelerate the growth of cataracts. Wear UV-blocking shades.
Eat right. High levels of antioxidants and zinc were shown to reduce the risk of macular degeneration by 25 percent in a study sponsored by the National Eye Institute. Studies also show that a diet of fish and leafy vegetables may be beneficial.
Wear protective eyewear when using the weed whacker or power tools, or even when playing sports such as tennis, says Wilkinson.

Fresh Breath

Sure, eating garlic and onions doesn’t help, but the biggest cause of recurring bad breath is actually tooth and gum disease, says Madan Kandula, M.D., a spokesman for the American Academy of Otolaryngology (the ear, nose, and throat specialty): “That’s why regular brushing and flossing are your best defense against the bacteria that cause bad breath. And don’t forget to brush your tongue, too. It has tons of nooks and crannies where the bacteria camp out.” Drinking water also helps. “Odor-causing bacteria thrive in a dry environment,” says Kandula.