Tidy elves love VANILLA. Extract, that is. Wipe your freezer with vanilla extract and the smell just went from crummy to yummy!

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!

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

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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!

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.

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).

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!

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

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.

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

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