Don't let your matching sheets get lost in the linen closet. Use this simple trick: Tuck the sheet set inside one of its pillowcases, and then stack according to size (twin, full, queen, king) or by the room you use the sheets in (master bedroom, guest room.)
DIY
If your upholstery has an unpleasant odor, fluff it up and air it out, or have it professionally cleaned (ask for a "chemical-free" treatment).
Tips
Before allowing pets on your furniture, cover it with towels. Change and wash the towels frequently.
Are your towels holding less water than they used to? It may be that your choice of washing detergent contains fabric softener, which has residues that cling to individual fibers, rendering towels less absorbent. The next time you clean a load, add a cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle; it will remove the residue and restore towels' soaking power. In the future, avoid detergents with fabric softener when washing towels.
Short shower curtains look tidy and tailored, and they don't trap dust and moisture. To create the look in your bathroom, cut a fabric curtain 2 inches longer than the desired length, then fold and sew a 2-inch hem. Leave the plastic liner hanging full-length in the tub to contain water from the shower.
If you need to create a new garden bed but prefer not to resort to chemicals, try this technique. Lay stacks of 4 to 6 sheets of newsprint side by side on the grass, overlapping edges, to mark the desired shape of the bed. Soak paper with a hose, and cover with 2 inches of mulch. You can plant directly in the prepared area, using a trowel to pierce the layers.
Long after the last coats have dried on your new paint job, you can still have easy access to the color names and numbers for touch-ups. Save the wooden stirrers you used to mix the paint, let them dry, and then write the names and numbers of the colors on the ends of the sticks. Use a length of twine to bundle the sticks by room. Bundling twine, $4 for 525', by Everbilt, from homedepot.com.
