* "Snow will better slide off a shovel that has been sprayed with furniture polish." -- T.L. in Minnesota

* Here's an old tip, but a good one: Before going away on vacation, put a couple of ice cubes in a plastic baggie, and set it at the front of the freezer. When you return, if there is any evidence of melting, you will know you lost power while you were gone. If the bag is one big, flat cube, you lost power long enough to suspect all your refrigerator items of being spoiled.

* To temporarily get a winter frost effect on a window, use this fun recipe: Dissolve 4 to 6 tablespoons of Epsom salts in a beer. When the salt is dissolved, dip a clean rag in the mixture and wipe it on your windowpane. As it dries, crystals will form, creating a frost effect. This is a great solution for a window you don't want to be clear but also don't want to permanently alter. The effect washes off with soap and water.

* "If you get a residue inside your coffee cups when they go through the dishwasher, it might be time to give your machine a once-over. In the meantime, spray the insides of the coffee cups with a bleach-based cleaner like 409 just before your turn it on. That should help." -- E.T. in Michigan

* Cut your kitchen sponge in half, or even thirds. You can clean just as well with a smaller sponge, and you will extend its life, saving you money. A smaller sponge dries out more quickly, too.