Never underestimate the power of plans. Take 10 minutes in the morning or night before and plot your day. It actually CREATES time. Happy New Years Eve!

Holiday real estate = rotation, rotation, rotation. When storing after a holiday, put boxes in the back, pushing the next holiday forward.

Empty egg cartons make eggcellent storage solutions for tiny decorations like small glass or crystal ornaments! Apple cartons and wine boxes too!

A clean dustpan makes a great way to shovel your elf’s tiny toys (such as Lego’s) to the toy chest or just out of the way!

Does your kitty litter…when she eats? Set bowls on top of plastic storage tub lids to contain messes and spills.

Santa Spotlight: LOW-FLOW SHOWERHEADS. Cuts water use in half, plus saves all the energy it would’ve taken to heat all that water. Saves thousands of gallons per year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS ELVES! Here's a quick Christmas tip before I set off for my snowy swing around the world: be kind to one another all the year round!

Merry Christmas Eve, elves! Tonight is Santa's big night, so here's a holiday helper for Christmas morn: keep a garbage bag handy when opening gifts and teach your little elves to toss the paper inside as they unwrap. Save yourself one big mess later!

Tis the season to donate pantry items. Those dusty cans can be put to good use.

Santa Spotlight: PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS! Slash your power bill (& CO2) by auto-adjusting your workshop’s temp to your schedule!

Know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away…by wearing clothes twice! One load of laundry = 40 gallons of water.

When cleaning YOUR sleigh, be sure to wipe down the steering wheel (the germ capital of your car) with disinfectant!

Keep your natural tree watered - dry trees are more likely to catch fire. And keep your tree lasting longer with ginger ale or 7-up!

Does your posture get a bad "wrap" this season? Gift wrap while seated at a table (with supplies in easy reach) instead of hunched over on the floor. 

Store your shoes inside a plastic bag or shower cap (from any hotel) to sequester sticky, stinky soles from crisp clothes!

Turn your teddy bears into tidy bears - stick a Velcro strip to the wall to store or display your soft, plush toys.

S’no problem: Spray non-stick cooking spray to both sides of your snow shovel and snow won’t stick. (Your back will thank you!)

Don’t let wrapping unravel you this season. Use a simple paper clip to keep wrapping paper from unraveling itself and your nerves.

Before travel, buy travel-size toiletries, pack in a freezer bag, then pack in an outer pocket of your suitcase for easy access.  TSA-OK!

Santa Spotlight: Petroleum Jelly! Winter's tough on locks - smear your key with PJ, insert into lock, and twist away!

Out of toilet cleanser? Don’t get bowled over! Sprinkle baking soda along the sides of the bowl, let sit, sprinkle vinegar, scrub, flush. 

Tidy elves love BLANKETS! Did you know that for every degree you lower your home’s temp, you can save 3% on your power bill?

During flights, BYOB. The “B” is for BLANKET - airplane blankets & pillows are rarely washed! Staying healthy is the ultimate timesaver!

Chrysanthemum's the word: houseplants are beautiful and nature’s original air fresheners – get some and reduce your home’s air pollutants!

Healthy elves love exercise. ’Tis the season to be snotty, so be sure to get at least 15 minutes of it daily to keep ur immune system jolly!

Winterize your water: turn off outdoor water supply, empty/detach garden hose, and use a faucet cover to protect against the freeze!

Creative gift idea: IOUs! Take over a chore for a loved one for a year...and stick to it! Nothing says I love you more than doing dishes or laundry.

Simplify a gift wrapping rampage by using a paper towel holder: slide your ribbon spools onto its post, largest to smallest, bottom to top! 

Give gifts wisely. Myrrh and frankincense are fine, but how about something homemade (photos) or tickets to a show, movie, or game?

Viva la Vinegar! Avoid sticker shock with white vinegar. Warm a little, soak a rag with it, then press to price tags & bumper stickers. Peels right off.

A high-wire act that’s low stress? Attach 2 lengths of wire, side-by-side, to store wrapping paper against the ceiling and out of sight!

Santa Spotlight: TABLE SALT! Suddenly snowed in and out of rock salt or de-icer? Don’t slip up - regular table salt works too!

De-clutter your entryway with an inbox, anything from a nice wicker basket to a shoebox, to stash bills or mail in for later.

A tidy tip to stay sane: know your limitations. If you HATE a specific chore, switch off with someone in your household or find a service!

PanTRY this: go through your pantry every 6 months, ditching expired spices, foodstuffs, etc. then clean before reloading.

Don’t salt on my blue suede shoes! A 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water rubbed gently over leather shoes removes salt. 

LIGHTEN your mood: when hanging tree lights, go up and down, not round and round the tree. Easier to put up and take down! 

I know a way to remove price labels easily and I’m not full of hot air: the heat from a hair dryer will loosen labels and save fingernails.

Make room in your closet with the Santa Clause: if you haven’t worn a garment in a year, donate it. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Now for a turkey tip... Meal success, but big mess? DELEGATE! Recruit others to clear the table, run dishes in, transfer leftovers, and make the coffee.

Staying healthy is the ultimate timesaver! During flights, disinfect that rarely washed tray table (or keep it in the upright, locked position!)

Pi = Part of the Thanksgiving meal you can cook the day before, then refrigerate. Doesn’t take a math elf to know that less to do = less stress. 

More food than fridge? Think outside the icebox. You can keep items in a cool place (garage, car trunk) or an ice-filled cooler.

Ping! Was that for the turkey or the stuffing? Multiple timers are a cook’s best friends on Thanksgiving, but label them to keep track.

The hottest Thanksgiving real estate? Your stove? Compare the cooking temps of dishes to see which can share crucial stove space.

Begin the Thanksgiving fridge purge NOW to make room for the influx of food you’ll soon stuff in there. Expired? Toss. Unopened? Move.

I hate snakes. Actually, just tangled power cords. Tame the den of vipers behind your desk or TV using bread tags as labels.

Getting ready for snow? Baking soda can act as a nice, chemical-free ice melt. Add a little sand for traction!

Re-cycle of life:  Call to Protect (donateaphone.com/calltoprotect) refurbishes cell phones for domestic violence victims.

Did you know you can keep milk fresh longer by adding a pinch of salt to the carton and gently shaking to mix.

Always keep a book in your car and never fear a long line or waiting room again. (I recommend "Slipping The Cable.")

Santa Spotlight - CFLs! Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs use MUCH less wattage than incandescent bulbs and last longer. Ding - great idea!

Santa Spotlight: SHOE BOXES! They can double as containers for photos and letters! (So jealous - elves deliver shoes right to my door.)

Keep a notepad on your bedside table - inspiration comes at night. Jot it down quick before you…wait, what was I saying?

Viva la Vinegar! Green & endlessly useful—zesty ingredient, household cleaner, stain remover, pesticide, itch & bug bite soother!

Presort laundry all week long—throw lights in one bag, darks another—and toss straight into laundry.  Saves time on laundry day! 

Out of gift ideas? Keep a gift list year round! See the perfect gift for a friend in March? Put it on the list and relax in December.

It's Daylight Savings Time again. It's darker earlier, but remember to turn off lights when you leave rooms (and ALWAYS blow out candles)!

Wreaths dusty after a year in storage? Place in a paper bag with ¼ cup of salt, close the bag, and shake gently for pristine pincones and effervescent evergreen!

Onions make me cry, but dank basements make me sob. Cut an onion in half, leave out overnight, and once the onion smell dissipates…voila! Fresh-smelling basement!

When cleaning/organizing a room, keep a box to toss stuff that belongs in another room to save trips & to stay focu...hey, tinsel!

Tidy elves love PREPAREDNESS! Keep family-specific items in your go-kits: special meds, foods, baby formula and diapers, change of clothes, etc.

My favorite thing to recycle - old tips! With Sandy approaching my East Coast elves, here's an oldie but a goodie: make an emergency supply kit with water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, a battery-powered radio, a can opener, medications you need, a first aid kit, coloring books for little elves, and more! And visit www.KateNation.org for a list of disater resources in your area! Tidy elves love PREPAREDNESS!

Invest in harvesting your own foods. Plan to plant a garden or patio boxes next year or visit local farmer’s markets.

Tidy elves love olive oil. Olive oil is nature’s WD-40! You can use it on squeaky and creaky hinges just as easily.

Tidy elves love olive oil. Olive oil is nature’s WD-40! You can use it on squeaky and creaky hinges just as easily.

Tidy elves love olive oil. Olive oil is nature’s WD-40! You can use it on squeaky and creaky hinges just as easily.

Need a natural energy boost? Honey, have I got a tip for you. No, I mean it – honey. Add a few drops to your drinks or a teaspoon before your workout for a athletic boost!

Don’t be a baby about getting a deodorant mark on your shirt. On second thought, baby wipes can remove deodorant stains, so go right ahead.

You’re already in hot water with a red wine stain, so make it work for you. Stretch the fabric over a bowl, cover stain with salt, then CAREFULLY pour boiling water over it. 

Some starching can help your marching. Spray starch onto white sneakers and it acts like a stain shield!

You don’t want to handwash your delicates in the same sink you spit your toothpaste into and use harsh cleansers. Solution: use a colander!

When life gives you lemons, slice one in half, squeeze the juice onto stained cutting boards, let sit for 20 minutes, and rinse!

Preventative maintenance: paint nail polish remover along the bottom of shaving cream cans to prevent rust rings on the tub ledge or bathroom sink!

Greasy hands? Sugar makes a great sweet grease-buster. Rub your hands with a mixture of sugar and water.

Tidy elves love olive oil…and so do cats. Adding ¼ teaspoon to your kitty’s food everyday helps with its digestive system (and reduces hairballs).

It’s National Boss Day! Speaking of which, plastic bags from grocery stores make great glove/pooper scoopers when walking the dog/boss.

Viva la Vinegar! But a vinegAIR freshener? Air fresheners cover up stinky smells, but the acid in vinegar neutralizes them, so spray away.

Clean lint off TV screens and computer monitors with a coffee filter. This is one task you should complete before your morning coffee…

Tired of impromptu art on the walls? Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe away your Picasso’s crayon, pencil, and ink marks from your walls.

You can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs…or making a mess. For egg spills, sprinkle salt over the mess, wait 2 minutes, and wipe it up!

Go get your shine box! Not only will shoe polish shine those shoes like mirrors, you can use a similar shade on wood furniture to hide scratches.

Wax on, wax off. In Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi COULD have taken a paper towel, ironed it over a wax stain, and watched the towel absorb the wax. (Admittedly, my version of Karate Kid would have been duller.)

Tidy elves love adhesive file folder labels! Use them to label a cord’s owner (e.g., computer) near the plug to avoid wire jumbles and accidental unpluggings!

Does your vacuum cleaner suck? Try using a seam ripper to cut the lint, hair, and anything else that may be tangling its roller brush!

Re-cycle of life: newspapers can find a second life as a window washer. Newspaper + glass cleaner = less lint than paper towels and no streaks!

Love the last of your garden’s harvest but hate the dirt? Bathe your leafy veggies in a quick bath of salt water.

Keep your small trash can’s bag from collapsing in on itself like a sad little black hole by using small magnets around the rim! 

Re-cycle of life: old tissue boxes or cardboard paper-towel tubes can find a second life as plastic grocery bag dispenser!

Out of shower cleaner? Add a few drops of water (and some elbow grease) to a fabric-softener sheet and scrub soap scum away.

Tension rods? More like anti-tension rods. These wonderful space-savers make a great way to hang all of those cleaning spray bottles!

Tidy elves love veggies! Eating one more veggie meal per week reduces the water used to grow grain that feed cows that make a burger. Tasty too!

Did you know you can remove labels from glassware by rubbing it with peanut butter? Also, you can remove peanut butter by rubbing it with bread and jelly.

Don’t BE a doormat, BUY one - most dirt in your house is tracked in from the outside and can be stopped with bristly doormat outside!

I will kiss the inventor of the honey jar or bottle that doesn’t leave a sticky mess. Until then, use a coaster in shelves and cupboards.

Dripping, leaking, running are all bad water gerunds. Fixing leaky faucets and running toilets = 10,000 gallons per year in savings.

Slammed linen closet? Fold spare sheets neatly in a pillowcase, then stow between the box spring and mattress of the right bed!

Elves love PREPAREDNESS! Keep family-specific items in your go-kits: special meds, foods, baby formula and diapers, change of clothes, etc.

Tidy elves love SALT. Tasty? Sure, mixing using ½ cup of salt for every quart of hot water is an old-fashioned, green drain cleaner.

Making your bed every day is one small act, but it’s the single biggest thing you can do to make your bedroom look tidy in no time flat!

You know what’s METAL? Storage. Metal file sorters = great storage solutions for large, flat items like pizza pans and cutting boards. \m/

Tidy elves love olive oil for many reasons, but it makes a great, green stainless steel cleaner. Buff with a little oil, then polish with a paper towel.

CounterIntuitive: have your cake (stand) and eat it too - use a cake stand to keep your ingredients, such as salt and sugar. Clean countertops = sweet! 

Elves love PREPAREDNESS! Keep a portable emergency supplykit in YOUR CAR as well as your house in case you need to hoof it.

Don’t have a self-cleaning oven? Sprinkle baking soda inside, let it sit overnight, then apply a hefty amount of elbow grease!

Crown moldings dusty and out of reach? Cinch a microfiber cloth over a long-handled broom’s bristles and extend your reach. (Light saber noises optional.)

Retractable cords are great, except when they retract too soon (in which case I retract that statement). A clothespin, near the opening, keeps a cord extended.

I. AM. IRON. ELF. (In that I’m good at cleaning gunk off irons.) One way: roll a hot iron (no steam) over plain paper covered with salt.

Tidy elves save ENERGY – always remember to turn out lights during the day (use the sunlight) and whenever you leave a room!

Elves love PREPAREDNESS! Know what disasters or hazards are possible in your area and plan (and supply yourself) accordingly!

Rearranging? Protect hardwood floors by putting socks on table and chair legs. Bonus: it’s like playing dress up. But with furniture.

Elves love PREPAREDNESS! Make sure every elf in the family knows and practices evacuation routes from your home! (And your work too!)

School daze? Green apples? Check. Red apples? Check. Brown apples? Ch…what now? Wrapping a rubber band around cut apples will prevent browning. 

School daze? Enlist your elves & teach responsibility by assigning kids a specific A.M. task, e.g. one child in charge of setting table.

Viva la Vinegar! Rusted nuts, bolts, or hinges? Nuts to that! Instead, dissolve rust by simmering in vinegar then rinsing with water.

A-tisket, a-tasket, nothing beats a basket…for keeping uncluttered shelves.  Keep loose, uncategorized items in pretty rattan baskets!

School daze? Enlist your elves with a point system. Award points for good morning behavior & catching the bus on time. Enough points = a treat!

School daze? Prep at night: fix lunches, pick clothes, empty dishwasher, and prep breakfast to sail out the door with a stress-free smile.

Heidi’s Word of the Day: IRONIC! It’s IRONIC that a 1 liter plastic H2O bottle takes 7 liters of H2O to produce? (Go reusable!)

Elves love lists! Plan your day with a realistic checklist in the morning (or night before) of what you want to accomplish. It CREATES time. 

September is National Preparedness Month, and elves love PREPAREDNESS! Make an emergency supply kit with water, food, a can opener, a battery-powered radio, flashlights, medications, a first aid kit, and more!

School daze? Pack lunches in reusable containers, washable sandwich bags, and real silverware vs. plastic. A green way to save money!

Forget harsh cleansers – oil up! Baby oil doubles as chrome polish and olive oil works great for stainless steel.

Keep the muddy paw prints outside of your sleigh by traveling with a bath mat – protects your seats from a muddy mess!

Love plants but hate leaks? Place your petunias on a beautiful bread plate - catch that water with a catchy plate!

Have a goal in mind when watching TV. Watch your program, then turn off the tube to avoid “TV time travel” (aka "Where did my night go?").

EUREKA! Remove light bulbs that are burned out, hot, or just stuck by using a tennis ball cut in half to protect your fingers.

More than 50,000 plastic bags will be trashed in the time it takes you to read this post/tweet (1 million per minute). Buy reusable bags – it helps.

Ring around the toilet? Drop a bubbling denture tablet & leave for 30 minutes, then brush away with ease. Not with your toothbrush. To be clear.

When life gives you lemons, make lemon oil to prevent mold and mildew on your bathroom tiles. I know, such a cliché…

Healthy elves love GAMES! The family that plays together stays together AND saves energy by unplugging its electronics.

BLINDing me with science! Dust closed blinds by wiping an old dryer sheet up & down: creates antistatic barrier, preventing dust buildup.

Vanity fairest of them all: corral your clippers, tweezers, and bobby pins with a magnetic strip behind your medicine cabinet door! 

Tidy elves love baby oil! Baby oil is a great way to remove latex paint from your skin! (Inversely, paint makes a lousy baby oil remover.)

Hard time with hard water stains? After a shower, swipe those yellow spots off the ceiling with ease with baby wipes!

How long do you shower? Wasting water? EGG TIMERS make an inexpensive, eggcellent way to stay focused and save water!

Viva la Vinegar! Arm yourself against underarm sweat stains: spray white vinegar on stains before washing and they vanish.

Price tags can be a sticky problem. A cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol will dissolves the glue with no mess to you!

Don’t let your bed sheets give you nightmares. Avoid mismatches and mayhem by storing bed linen sets in one of their own pillow cases.

COUNTER intuitive! 4 tablespoons of baking soda + 1 quart of warm water = a green, all-purpose countertop cleaner!

Running late, zipping up a dress or coat, and SNAP, off pops the zipper tab. Use a paper clip or safety pin as a makeshift tab. 

Pit stains on your white tee giving you a headache? Take some aspirin…crush 3 tablets, add water, soak overnight, and rinse with hot water!

Special thanks to Ellen Burbage for today’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip. Ellen’s tip: “For those of you with little elves, keep a laundry basket for each child, so when you sort the laundry by basket, each child can put their own laundry away.  Thanks, LLen!

Healthy elves love BIKES! Great for short trips, fitness, saves money and gas, and reduces your carbon footprint. No bike? Check out a bike share program!

Seeing red from rust rings? Pour cola on the spot, let sit for 5 minutes, then wipe with damp cloth. Shaving-cream can crisis over!

Under the sink even fills me with dread. Neutralize that nightmare nook with rolling drawers for pots and pans and a lazy susan for cleansers.

Did you know you can reuse sandwich bags? Just wash them out, let dry, and pack tomorrow’s lunch with a smile!

Healthy elves nourish their FRIENDSHIPS. If you are too busy to connect with your friends regularly, plan your days better.

Tidy elves love GLOVES. Don a rubber dishwashing glove, wet it, and wipe your hand over surfaces. Pet hair will not “stay!”

World’s best dryer? That GIANT BALL OF FIRE overhead! Line dry clothes for fresher smelling, longer lasting garments, and a lower energy bill.

Drawers clogged with empty plastic bags? Two simple solutions: stuff them into an empty paper towel tube or tissue box as dispensers!

It’s okay to be shady…when you’re parking. Fuel can evaporate out of the tank in the heat and a hot car takes gas to cool the inside.

Stinky carpets? CARPEt DIEM! Sprinkle carpets with a healthy does of baking soda, let sit for a few hours, then vacuum the smell away!

Santa Spotlight: water filters! A water filter pitcher or one on your tap is cheaper than plastic bottles and more eco-friendly!

Don’t be a square root - the best time to water your lawn is early morning or evening. In the heat of day, evaporation keeps water from reaching the roots.

I’m a leftist—brained, that is. ORDERLY. When trying to organize right-brains (ARTY), find creative solutions & use lots of color!

WD-40 removes crayon from walls and TV/computer screens. Now getting your elves to stop coloring on that stuff...yeah I got nothing.

Viva la vinegar! Soak your athlete's foot in 1 part vinegar and 5 parts water solution for 30 minutes per day. (Works for non-athlete's too.)

Enlist your elves when it's time to clean the playroom. Store toys in clear plastic bins, then store bins in cabinets or cubbies.

Does your wooden furniture have scratches and scrapes? Nuts to that! No, seriously. Rub a walnut over them and watch them disappear.

Replacing your air filters monthly keeps particulates out and cash in! Too much dirt in the filters can stress your HVAC...and your wallet!

It's called a junk drawer for a reason...dump the contents to see what's actually in there and toss what you don't need!

Healthy elves love healthy snacks. If you like popcorn, pop the kernels yourself in a plain brown paper bag. Less chemicals and less money!

Tweezers taking cover? Scissors secreted away? Post a small magnet inside your medicine cabinet and they’ll always be at your fingertips.

When washing your car (or sleigh), wash from top to bottom – it wastes less water when rinsing by letting gravity do its thing!

Healthy elves love tidy touch screens! Disinfecting tips: use a screen protector and wet cotton ball or swab (sparingly) with rubbing alcohol.

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! it’s…your ceiling? A super way to save space in tight bathrooms: hang a multilevel fruit basket for storage.

Clear clutter and save a stamp - see if your utility and service companies offer online and automated payment options!

Doing dishes? Pack tomorrow's lunch (leftovers yum!) and fill the coffeemaker.  You're already in the kitchen so save yourself a trip!

Special thanks to Linda Schweigart for this week’s Help Heidi Friday tip, which I hope won’t be critically panned.  Linda’s tip: when buying a non-stock pan, be sure it doesn’t have polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which releases toxic fumes above 500° F. Find an eco-friendly, PTFE-free version instead! Thanks, Linda!

Bring reusable, cloth bags to the supermarket. Cuts down on waste and your wallet - many markets give you a little discount!

Use just one cup and glass a day - it saves clutter on the kitchen counter, water for cleaning, and time! 

Sealing air leaks = sealing your wallet! Use caulk or foam to seal holes drilled into your home for pipes & cords.

Have TIVO or DVR & want to watch a show in real time? Record it & start watching 15 minutes into it - fast forward through commercials!

If you use a dishwasher, make a habit of presorting utensils AS you load it.  Saves time and makes unloading a snap! 

GLASS JARS as garage rockin’ storage? Nail or glue a glass jar lid to the underside of a work bench, fill jars with goodies, and do the twist!

Love Spider-Man, hate spiders. Clean cobwebs with a yardstick or broom handle covered with a tube sock. Works under stoves & fridges too!

BBQ tip! For ketchup and mustard stains, wet the spot with cold water, cover with foam shaving cream, let sit, then rinse.  It's condimentary!

I love the 4th of July but fireworks and elves don’t mix. Don’t let your elves play with fireworks and always keep a hose or bucket of water handy!

I love the Fourth of July but fireworks & four-legged friends don’t mix. Bring your cats and dogs inside, to a quiet room if possible. (Reindeer too.) 

I’m not a beach gal – again, elf here – but if you’ve spent too much time in the sun, freeze Aloe Vera in ice cube trays for sunburn-sicles. Ahh!

I’m not a beach gal – come on, I’m an elf – but if you dig the sun and sand, baby powder gets sand off your skin nice & easy! As for that sun….

BORAX to grind? Dab whites with 1 part borax, 6 parts water mixture to remove stains!

Santa Spotlight: Petroleum Jelly! Gum on your coffee table?  Smear PJ on it, let sit for 10 minutes, and it comes off easily!

In honor of Paul Bunyan Day, plant a tree! Trees keep the air clean and give us oxygen! (And they're really fun to climb!)

Make a master shopping list template for your groceries! When you need gingerbread cookies for example, just tic that box!  

Washing clothes in cold water saves big bucks by not heating up the water, which equals energy. Save the hot water for REALLY dirty clothes.

Tidy elves love shelves! Install an affordable plank in your backsplash space to free up needed cabinet and counter space!

A shady solution for high electric bills? Keep shades closed, especially on the west- and south-facing windows of your home!

Sticky mess on non-stick cookware? After cooling, put in freezer for 30 minutes and the grime comes off easily.

Lost earrings and vacuum cleaners both suck. What doesn’t - put a stocking or pantyhose over a vacuum hose to find and catch them safely! 

Doing dishes? Pack tomorrow's lunch (leftovers yum!) and fill the coffeemaker while you're at it. You're already in the kitchen so save yourself a trip!

Be a hoser, eh? Watering your lawn with a hose is twice as efficient as a sprinkler and saves THOUSANDS of gallons per year.

COUNTER intuitive: Keep essentials within reach (key ingredients, oils, knives, cutting board, storage containers, etc.)!

Wear clothes twice - hang near the shower between wears to let the steam dewrinkle. Cuts down on laundry, water and drycleaning bills!

Close shave? Close save! Foaming shaving cream helps remove wine stains from carpets. Borrow some from a happy father today!

When moving, take the opportunity to finally shred old documents and use that to pack your fragile boxes instead of Styrofoam or newspapers!

Santa Spotlight: ALKA-SELTZER! Drop 2 tablets into hard-to-clean cookware and vases, add water, and watch grime bubble away!

Gesundheit! Now, wipe your pets down daily w/a microfiber cloth to cut down on the yankee doodle dander on your upholstery. (Yankee Doodle...Flag Day...oh, nevermind.)

Healthy elves love PETS! Messy? Sometimes, but pets reduce the stress hormone cortisol AND cholesterol, and they encourage exercise!

Are you a walking static electricity storm when you’re “bolting” out the door? Rub a dryer sheet over the static-y areas and “charge” ahead!

Leave a basket at the foot of the stairs to fill with toys and stuff brought downstairs during the day. Make one trip instead of lots!

Out of wrapping paper and running late? Use the news! Wrap kids gifts in the comics! (When I’m done reading them, that is.)

Green? You use plastic food storage containers. Mean? They stink! Wash with two tablespoons of baking soda and hot water.

Tidy elves love STICKY NOTES. Wipe the sticky side across your monitor and between the keys to collect lint and crumbs. Clean computing!

Toy rooms double as germ zones. Be sure to disinfect toys regularly – 15 minutes lost cleaning beats days lost to a cold or virus!

Computers are our friends, except when they’re not.  Back up your files WEEKLY with a CD, USB, or external hard drive. Better to be redundant than regretful!

Plastic bags - so many uses, so little space. Store yours in an empty wet wipes container. Next time Fido’s making that face, pull one and go!

Santa spotlight: BAKING SODA! A serious scrubber and a time-tested, dandy deodorizer! And healthier than air fresheners!

Handle this: refrigerator handles are germ magnets. When pressed for time, keep this spot a priority on your cleaning to-do list.

Group items by type – everything from pots on a shelf to utensils in holders – for a systematic, organized look and feel.

Insulate your home and wallet - adding insulation to prevent leaks and drafts can cut your home’s energy consumption by 20-30%!

Really want to save time? Use face lotion with SPF daily. Cuts down harmful rays, prevents wrinkles, and gives you smoother skin.

Tidy elves love lists! Travel a lot? Make a reprintable spreadsheet or Word doc of things to pack. Never forget another toothbrush again!

Viva la Vinegar! A 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water deters ants! Spray where you’ve seen a trail – it’s a great ANTagonist. 

Extend the life (and reduce the stink) of your kitchen trash can: 1) hose it out regularly, 2) spray disinfectant, 3) let sun-dry!

Muck in the microwave? Nuke a bowl of water & lemon juice for 5 minutes, let cool, and wipe the inside with ease. Tangy AND tidy!

Bug bites? Set those deoderANTS marching! Swipe a stick over a bite to reduce the pain, itch, and swelling instANTly!

Avoid the plume of doom by taking the extra step to empty your vacuum bag OUTSIDE, twice per year. (Pets and/or kids? Better make it monthly!)

Avoid kitchen traffic jams! Don’t let cups or dishes loiter in the sink. Scrub ‘em clean or steer ‘em straight to the dishwasher!

ASPIRIN' to better blooms? Just add 2 tablets of aspirin per quart of water in your vase and cut flowers will last longer.

It's National Maritime Day! And speaking of water, don't let the faucet run while you brush your teeth.  You can save LOTS of gallons that way!

Listen up: ListerINE doesn’t just kill mouth bacteria. Half-water + half-Listerine solution = great nontoxic household disinfector! 

Santa Spotlight: OLIVE OIL! Not just an essential ingredient, it picks up dirt, polishes wood, and is even good for your HAIR!

It’s Armed Forces Day! You can support the troops AND recycle by donating your books to programs that deliver books to soldiers overseas!

Giant project? Break it into bite-sized pieces and take a break once every hour. The recharging mental break will actually SAVE you time.

The whole point of saving time is to take it for YOURSELF. A happy elf is a rested, refreshed, recharged, and replenished elf.

Let’s not mince words…or waste time.  Don’t bother with a knife, use your lemon zester to mince garlic!

Santa Spotlight: TEA TREE OIL! Add 10 drops of this natural oil to 1 cup of water to kill mold and mildew!

Coffee stain when you're rushing out the door? Wet the stain with cold water, rub in a dollop of whitening toothpaste, wait 2 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

Your priorities are your boulders, your schedule is the river. Make your schedule flow around your priorities, not the other way around! (And Happy Mother's Day - make Mom THE priority today!)

The cure for a messy medicine cabinet: toss expired meds and use the space to stock up on Band Aids, Benadryl, and antibacterial.

Add a little class to dinner – use cloth napkins. (Bonus: reduction of paper napkin use would save literally tons of paper waste.)

Give clogged drains a mean, green clean: pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, then 1 cup of white vinegar. After 5 minutes, pour 1 gallon of boiling water.

Beware computer viruses! The kind you get from filthy keyboards. With swabs or cloth, swipe hydrogen peroxide between and across keys! (Mouse too!)

Santa Spotlight: SOLAR PANELS! If you can afford the installation, they can drastically reduce your power bills.

Sort groceries at the store to save time unloading later. (Loading foods on the conveyor belt is real life Tetris!)

I bin meaning to get… pull-out bins! A great way to reduce clutter, hide toys, and teach your children to help tidy up their rooms!

Tidy elves save ENERGY – when you can, walk, skate, or bike instead of drive! Great exercise outdoor + helps keep the air clean!

LINT ROLLERS are the Thor’s hammer of cleanliness – swing them to remove lint, fur from furniture, & schmutz from the bottom of purses.

Is your car a mess on wheels? Use a compartmentalized container for your stuff and behind-the-seat hanging organizer for kids’ toys and games!

Buy recycled napkins, paper towels, or tissues. If every family switched out just one regular package for recycled, it would save a million trees.

Elves love GOALS! Write down your goals, post them, and read regularly. Now ask, what am I doing daily to achieve them?

Dusting your lamp can be a “shade-y” business. Clean your cloth lamp shades with a lint roller instead of unwieldy vacuum attachments. 

Baking soda can save your bacon. It can smother and fight SMALL class-B fires (flammable liquids like gas, oil, and grease).

Plant TREEmendous savings with summer sun-blockers (deciduous trees) on the south side of your home and winter wind blockers (evergreens) to the north.

Every Friday, write out your “brag sheet” - what you’ve accomplished personally and professionally that week - then plan your next week!

Nasty sponges? Catch the microWAVE! Soak in a water/lemon juice solution and zap for 1 minute. (Let cool.) Kills bacteria and odors!

Viva la Vinegar! 2 tbsps of this diVINE GARnish, then a wash, will bust the toughest coffee stains from your morning mug.

Now this is a close shave! To remove a ketchup or mustard stain: wet area, cover with shaving cream, let sit for 5 minutes, then wash as normal.

Keep a list of important dates.  At month’s end, check for next month’s big days - never miss another birthday or anniversary again!

Save time, money, and power and go old school – on a nice day, hang laundry on an outdoor clothesline and let the sun do its thing. Oh, and HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Santa Spotlight: SLOW COOKERS! An easy, timely, safe, and super-efficient way to cook a delicious dinner when you’re not even home!

Doctor’s orders: fill out doctor's office forms ahead of time. Going online or having them fax/email them to you = less time in waiting room!

Do your worst FIRST. Task on your list, that is! The sense of accomplishment will defeat procrastination (an energy-sucking vampire) every time. 

Coat closet exploding? Donate old coats and totes, replace large items like vacuums with smaller models, and use shelving and bins.

Tidy elves love tea! Tasty treat & natural cleaner. Soak rusty tools in a bucket with black tea and water. Spend time sipping, not scrubbing!

Tidy elves know when to take a break. Work for an hour at a time on any project then take a 5-15 minute break. Stay sane out there, elves.

Yay, it’s…Income Tax Day? Keep returns forever, but save space buy shredding backup material (receipts, statements,  etc.) over 7 years old!

Composting 101: Fill sturdy container with ratio of 3 browns (leaves, branches) to 1 green (grass clippings, table scraps), stir, wait.

Special thanks to Ellen Burbage for today’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip. Ellen’s no basket case – she keeps a basket on the bottom step of her staircase and puts everything she needs to take upstairs all at once at the end of the day!

Has your kitchen table become more like a desk? Take a night and find a home for papers and clutter. Not tidying before eating equals mellower meals! 

Prevention is worth a pound of...pesticide? Keep a tidy kitchen & seal foundation cracks to keep bugs out and harmful sprays obsolete!

Let’s face it, floors are filthy. Cut down on the nasty by instituting a no-shoes-indoors policy!

I’m a basket case for BASKETS! They make arty caddies for kid’s snacks, remote controls, office supplies, mail, smaller baskets….

I know the Easter Bunny (he’s on the Holiday Council with Santa) and he’s a fan of plastic reusable eggs you can save and use year after year!

To dye for: avoid messy dyes and decorate your Easter eggs with markers, stickers, glitter, sequins, ribbons, fake gems, and more!

Wash your hands before and after handling eggs with hot, soapy water, and if you eat the eggs you dye, use only food-grade dyes!

Shoe holders aren’t just for shoes anymore. You can use clear ones to store cleaning products and save cabinet space!

Save money AND food - when stocking your fridge or cupboards, put new items in the back. It pushes old items forward so you finish them first!

Clean to a soundtrack! Music, podcasts, audiobooks...adding entertainment to your chores makes the time fly by!

Santa Spotlight: DRY ERASE MARKERS make communication with the other elves in your home easy - write on memo boards, glass, mirrors, and more!

No fooling - a barrel full of monkeys won’t feed your plants in a drought, but a barrel full of rain will! Rain barrels save water and money!

Don't just toss your losing Mega Millions tickets into the trash, toss them into your recycling. (Or hurl them with great force. Whatever makes your feel better.)

Set your computer’s sleep mode! Most newer models use ~95% less power that way than when they’re on. “Yawn” = the sound of money saved!

ReCYCLE OF LIFE: Plastic sandwich bags can be repurposed as inflated packing material or miscellaneous storage (junk drawer, compacts, etc.)

Hate a chore or are just lousy at it? If you can, delegate, outsource, or do less of it. The best elves work smart not hard!

Tired of paper clutter? Get wired! Wire-mesh files or baskets make a great staging area for bills and mail before final filing!

Santa Spotlight: COTTON SWABS! Add rubbing alcohol and banish bacteria between the buttons of any keyboard!

Know what gets passed using telephones? GERMS! Sanitize your phone regularly to avoid that other telephone game…getting sick.

In your entryway, place a shelf with all the items you need to leave the house. Have a family? Use color-coded boxes or baskets for each!

Special thanks to Gina Meronek for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip, who lets the adults know that partying and cleaning do not have to be mutually exclusive! “Who needs Febreeze when you have Fleischmann’s? Make your own fabric deodorizer from vodka and essential oil. A bottle of vodka in a sprayer alone will deodorize the vilest of smells, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil will make it even sweeter!”  Thanks Gina – clean responsibly!

When cleaning bookshelves, dust from the higher shelves will fall to the bottom, so work from top to bottom!

Over-programming your days and missing appointments? Post a family calendar in the kitchen to keep the big picture!

Plant a garden and grow your own fresh fruits and vegetables. Fun, tasty, and good for the environment!

Fahrenheit 451 is way too hot…and Fahrenheit 140 is way too expensive! Seting your hot water heater 10 degrees less = 3-5% energy cost savings.  Try 120!

Santa Spotlight: FAUCET AERATORS! For a couple of bucks, install one in every sink and save THOUSANDS of gallons per year.

Too many loose supplies in your home office? Use old jam jars or coffee mugs to round up rubber bands and corral those binder clips!

My Heidi-sense is tingling…and it says install SENSORS for outdoor lights.  Efficient and energy-saving!

Blood is thicker than water, but not water + salt!  ¼ cup salt + 1 tbsp H20 = a paste you can apply to a blood stain for 30 minutes, then rinse off.

Is your space too small for a desk? Tidy elves love shelves, and a sturdy one can double as a desk for your computer in a pinch.

Foiled again? Absolutely! Did you know you can recycle aluminum foil along with your soda cans? (After you clean it, of course!)

Blackberry got you jumping like Pavlov’s dogs? After the workday, put it on the shelf and give it (and yourself) a rest.

Santa Spotlight: FOLDING SCREENS! They create space, divide rooms, hide things (litter box begone!), and can double as a gallery!

Material Girls & Guys: Save time & H2O by wearing pants more than once before washing. When washing, turn pants inside out to preserve material!

Stained plastic food containers? Rub lemon juice on the stains, let dry, then wash in dishwasher.  (If dishwasher safe of course!)

Clothes slipping off your hangers? Just wrap a rubber band around each end of your wire or plastic hanger for no more slippage! 

Dishwasher Ditty: not rinsing beforehand and using the light setting works just as well as normal setting (but with MUCH less water).

Mismatched socks? Put one on your hand for dusting nooks and crannies. (Take it off and wash when it starts talking to you.)

COUNTER Intuitive: “Lazy Susan” is a space-saving, easy-to-clean way to store ingredients on your counter. (She’s as lazy as I am messy!)

Elves love laundry…but HATE lint! Dirty lint filters use more energy (and more money) to dry your clothes plus they’re a fire hazard!

Foil splatter with…FOIL! Line roasting and baking pans with foil to avoid sweaty scrubbing later!

PanTRY this: Keep your everyday items on the most accessible shelves of your pantry, heavy stuff on bottom, extra supplies on top. (And Happy Birthday, Dr. Suess!)

The COMpostman rings twice? Put your fallen leaves into a compost bin with your kitchen scraps, and you’ll have garden gold come spring!

Santa Spotlight: EPSOM SALTS. Sprinkle it in crusty casserole dishes and let sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing. Stuck food comes right off!

Tidy elves love secret storage! A bench with a seat lid that lifts to offer hidden storage is like a space-saving, tidy transformer!

Being chilly is a real damper - seal little leaks to the outside (e.g., close your fireplace damper) and see big energy savings!

Tidy elves prep at night. Set out clothes, fill the coffeemaker, pack your lunch…gets you out the door with less morning stress!

Keep a notepad on your fridge. A running list of groceries needed saves scrambling before shopping and angry return trips after!

Special thanks to Allison Burbage Duston for today’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip.  Ever get a card from a friend filled with glitter? Hilarious, right? Yeah, me neither.  But a lint brush makes pixie dust from funny friends and crafty kids disappear!

Tidy elves budget time smartly! Always budget for more than you need. Think you need a day to organize that closet? Give yourself 2 days.

Santa Spotlight: Filing Systems! A cardoard box or a full cabinet, a system will keep desks, tables free of bills, clutter, etc.

Mildews and don’ts:  DO wash your plastic shower curtain liner in your washing machine with old towels to remove soap scum!

On Presidents’ Day, I cannot tell a lie: plant trees to the east and west of your house and the shade will cool it in the summer and lower your energy bills!

Stinky microwave? Nuke orange rinds in a dish of water for 20 seconds, and the citrus-scented steam will sweeten that stink away!

Most of the juice TVs and DVD players gobble is when they're in idle - unplug 'em or plug 'em into a power strip you can turn off!

Special thanks to Drew Thibodeau Persinger for today's rock and ROLL "Help Heidi Friday" tip: "use paper towel or toilet paper rolls as cuffs to organize wrapping paper."

Be a one-trip wonder - when cooking, keep a bowl for garbage next to you (or the garbage can itself) to eliminate extra trips to the trash.

Take 10 minutes and plan your meals for the week at home BEFORE grocery shopping.  Having a plan saves time and money! 

Santa Spotlight: CANDLES! Dim the lights and light one. It's romantic AND things look cleaner (and smell better) by candlelight.

"A-salt" baked-on food in your oven with…SALT.  Sprinkle area while oven is warm, let cool, then wipe mess away with a wet sponge or cloth.

Tidy elves love DRYER SHEETS! They can also work as a duster, sachet, lint brush, and deoderizer for shoes and gym bags!

Nasty plastic cutting board? Catch the microWAVE! Rub with the cut side of a lemon and zap for 1 minute (if microwave safe!). Kills bacteria and odor!

Special thanks to Miriam Reichenbach, one sharp cookie, for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip. How sharp is she? Miriam’s tip: "Need to sharpen those scissors? Cut several layers of used, then flattened, tin foil into strips." Voila - newly sharpened scissor blades!”

Packing a weekend bag needn’t be a drag: make a list, pack clothing you can layer, all-purpose shoes, and travel-sized toiletries.

Make recycling convenient. Have an everyday disposal bin or bag (near the kitchen) that you can take easily to your weekly storage bin.

Stop seeing RED! Meat, that is. Skipping red meat just one meal per week saves grain & water (for livestock) & cuts back on greenhouse gases.

Trashy tip: Save yourself a trip (and a stretch) by keeping your roll of garbage bags at the bottom of your trash can.

A real SUPERBOWL uses less H2O per flush! Trick your old toilet into saving water: fill a plastic soda bottle with H2O and place in the tank.

Santa Spotlight: BABY WIPES! Great for elves of ALL ages & surface cleanups. (& keep some in the sleigh for those unexpected detours.)

Special thanks to Drew Thibodeau Persinger, a shoe-in for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip.  Drew’s tip: “Don’t relegate show organizers to just shoes, they’re also a great storage solution for household cleaners.”

A shady solution for high heating bills? Keep shades OPEN, especially on the west- and south-facing windows of your home!

Kids make messes, but also the TIDIEST elves, especially if you make chores fun - turn sorting laundry into a colorful game!

Has your tea totaled your teacups? Remove stains by dusting a lemon peel with table salt, and rubbing the cup with it. 

COUNTER intuitive! Counters are prime real estate – use under-cabinet space and exposed shelving to maximize space!

Tidy elves save WATER – always remember to turn off the faucet when brushing teeth and take short showers! Saves thousands of gallons per year!

Hard to believe, but not everyone loves to tidy. Choose one night a week to get it over with then relax for the rest of the week.

Special  thanks to Jaclin Madarang for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip - that a common appliance is the Swiss Army Knife of tidiness! Jac’s tip: “Hair dryers are can dewrinkle (on hot), dust out-of-the-way spots (cold), detach photos from sticky photo albums, and melt wax spills and crayon marks (on hot, then wipe away).   Also, they dry hair.  Thanks, Jac!

Special  thanks to Jaclin Madarang for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip - that a common appliance is the Swiss Army Knife of tidiness! Jac’s tip: “Hair dryers are can dewrinkle (on hot), dust out-of-the-way spots (cold), detach photos from sticky photo albums, and melt wax spills and crayon marks (on hot, then wipe away).   Also, they dry hair.  Thanks, Jac!

Sluggish in the afternoon? This might be a sign of dehydration. Before guzzling that cup of coffee, try 8 ounces of water and boost your energy!

Santa Spotlight: RUBBING ALCOHOL! Make permanent marker stains on hardwood floors and countertops temporary. Daub a cotton ball and go!

Jeepers peepers! Always losing your glasses? Designate a “home” for them (i.e. nightstand ) and never put them down anywhere else.

The time has come…for TIMERS! Install on front door and security lights, and exhaust fans and see your energy costs drop in no time!

Shine up buried treasure with a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid in warm water. Soak gold for 15 minutes for a shine like new.

Elves don’t like LABELS...we LOVE them! But who needs a fancy labelmaker? Use a marker and blue painter’s tape & label yourself a genius!

Very special thanks to the Big Elf himself for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip, my inspiration, Bill Schweigart.  Swag’s tip: Healthy elves take TIME. Take sick days when healthy. Reevaluate priorities. Smell roses. Indulge your life – it’s too short not to live it. We miss you.

Elves use magic, you use electricity. But you can eliminate cord clutter with flexible or multiple-outlet adapters and a cable zipper.  (And very special thanks to ROB BURROUGH for being the 100th member of the Elf Army on Facebook! A $10 donation has been made to the Nature Conservancy's "Plant a Billion Trees" program in Rob's name.  Tell your friends and let's hit 200!)

Nailed it! My green thumb, that is - OUCH! Avoid hammering YOUR thumb when hanging a picture by using a clothespin as a nail holder.

Santa Spotlight: Energy Star! When buying appliances, get an Energy Star rated model. (Even us North Polers appreciate this U.S. program!)

Have a nook for books? Not the device, but a spot by your bed for mail, mags, or books? Unwind by reading and catch ZZZ’s with ease.

Tidy your fridge. Easy-to-spot items don’t get forgotten (and rotten), and less time searching = less cold air (and money) wasted!

Make recycling convenient. Have an everyday disposal bin or bag (near the kitchen) that you can take easily to your weekly storage bin.

Special thanks to Kelly Scanlon for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip.  Kelly spies…a great way to donate old eyeglasses.  Check out your local Lions Club – they donate to people, and peepers, in need.

Don’t hamper yourself - toss dirty clothes that need washing straight into the washer. Your back will thank you on laundry day.

Leaving the fridge door open for a long time let’s out cold air & uses more energy. Grab what you need all at once - now you’re cooking!

Garbage disposal have bad breath? Run hot water and feed it orange, lemon, lime, or grapefruit rinds.

Tidy elves love board games! PEG BOARDS, that is. Mount 'em inside closet doors, over desks, in laundry rooms…great space savers!

Locally grown produce is fresher, saves fuel, and cuts pollution. (I only eat 100% North Pole-produced gingerbread cookies.)

Ironic? After hectic holidays, this elf says BRING the SPRING! IronICK? 1 tbsp of water + 2 tbsps of baking soda = a paste that cleans your iron's ICK!

Special thanks to Allison Burbage Duston for this week’s “Help Heidi Friday” tip! She’s a brand new bride as of New Years Eve AND she’s this week’s HHF tipper? Now that’s a big week.  And now for her “RING in the New Year tip”: To remove a stuck ring before exercising or an activity that could scuff it, just rub a little olive oil on your finger first and it slides right off!  Thanks, Allison – and congratulations!

BORAX to grind? Just use this miracle mineral – it’s a stubborn stain remover, rust remover, deodorizer, detergent, and more!

Two of my favorite words: FREE SHIPPING. Do as much of your errands and shopping online to reduce gas, driving time, and money!

Time to store decorations! To keep safe, try to keep ornaments in their original packaging, or use partitioned boxes with lots of padding.

Drink tea? Don't dump excess kettle water - use it to water your plants!  (After it cools, of course.)

Wanna "clean up your act" in 2012? Make it a goal to do a l'il something nice for your planet everyday. (Might I suggest recommending Heidi The Tidy Elf to a friend?)