After the holidays, store your fine china with care to protect it. Inserting felt rounds, paper plates, or basket coffee filters between stacked dishes can help prevent scratching.

Place a rough mat (coir, wood, or rubber) outside for wiping off mud and snow and an absorbent mat inside to soak up moisture.

As the darkest, coldest days of winter come on, you'll want to be sure you have enough firewood on hand to keep the house warm and toasty.

A properly seasoned cast-iron pan has inherent nonstick properties. Here are tricks for proper seasoning and periodic maintenance of a true kitchen workhorse.

For the best, most even wear on your mattress, it's recommended that you turn and rotate it each quarter. See our convenient tip to help remind you when to turn it next.

Pantry cabinets need their contents taken out periodically so shelves can be wiped down. It's also a good time to reorganize them and throw out expired items.

Staying on top of monthly chores keeps a household in pristine condition. Use our checklist as a guide to organize your monthly cleanup.

The odor-absorbing properties of baking soda make it a necessity for the fridge and freezer. The trick is in remembering to replace it. See our tips for keeping your fridge clean and fresh.

Keep wooden furniture looking new with a seasonal waxing and buffing. Many modern wooden furniture pieces come with a protective polyurethane coating, but for older items, nothing beats wax to protect against dust and moisture. Choose paste wax, the solid kind sold in tins. Natural (clear) wax works on any wood, but dark wood may benefit from tinted wax (it will mask tiny scratches). Begin by cleaning with a mild solvent, such as mineral spirits (test first in a hidden spot).Then cover the piece with a thin, even layer of wax using a cotton rag or cheesecloth. Let dry 10 to 25 minutes; buff vigorously.

Beautiful homes are all about great lighting; dust off lampshades and light bulbs, and give your chandeliers a clean shine.

Fire safety includes doing a battery check every six months. A great way to remember this task is to do it when you reset clocks for daylight savings.

In the winter, place an array of terry-cloth slippers by the door for guests. Fill a basket with comfortable slippers or soft, heavy socks as a warm welcome for visitors -- and an inducement to remove wet boots.

Heating accounts for more than a third of the average annual energy bill, so it pays to make your system more efficient.

To remove mineral deposits, boil equal parts white vinegar and water inside kettle. Remove from heat. Let sit several hours; rinse. Hand wash the pot's exterior with a gentle pot-scrubber sponge. Let tap water run for a few moments before adding it to the pot.

Winter is prime bird-feeding season, but commercial mixes tend to be expensive. Make your own bird food by buying peanuts, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn in bulk.

Candles always set a festive mood. But with so many available, which ones to choose? Here are some of our top tapers and more, along with tips for ensuring a brilliant display.

Whether your laundry room is a tiny closet or a spacious basement, organization is key. These 10 tips will help you make the most of the space you have.

Woolen gloves keep hands toasty, but they can make for some slippery situations. To get a better handle on things, try adding a piece of Ultrasuede to help grip items.

A snowy winter afternoon is the perfect time to plan your vegetable garden. So start leafing through seed and plant catalogs. Once you've picked your favorite plants, begin placing orders and plotting out what will go where.

It's time again to clear gutters of leaves, twigs, and debris left in winter's wake. It's important to keep gutters clear so they won't clog and drive water under the house eaves and into your walls.