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!