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!