Herbalists recommend yarrow and peppermint to improve circulation. Visit your local health food store to pick up a supply of the herbs so you can perk up your own circulation at home.

In a teapot, steep 2 tablespoons of dried yarrow and 2 tablespoons of dried peppermint in 2 cups of hot water for about 15 minutes. Strain out the herbs, and put the teapot in the refrigerator to chill. Meanwhile, gather enough gauze, cheesecloth, or muslin to wrap your lower legs. Soak the cloth in the chilled liquid, wrap it around your legs, and rest with your legs elevated for about 20 minutes. Do this once a day for several weeks, and any discomfort should disappear as your circulation gets back in the flow of things.

If you were to lower your water heater temperature by just 10°F, you would reduce your energy costs by 3 to 5 percent. So check the thermostat on your water heater. If you’ve never adjusted the temperature, it’s probably sitting at 140°F, which is where many manufacturers set it. But the hottest temperature you’ll ever really need is 120°F (unless you have a standard dishwasher without a temperature-boosting feature, in which case your water temps need to stay between 140 and 150°F, or the soap won’t dissolve). Anything higher than that could cause a nasty scalding.
So bring the temperature down to 120°F if it’s not already there, and your wallet will thank you. Your water heater will say gracias, too—a lower temperature will reduce the amount of mineral deposits that collect in your heater, which means it’ll last longer. And whenever you plan to be away from home for three or more days, make sure you turn the thermostat down to the lowest setting.

Instead of spending your hard-earned money on new dahlias, cannas, or other tender bulbs every year, why not simply keep the ones you already have? As soon as their leaves start to turn color in the fall, dig ‘em up and wash them in this tonic before storing them away in a frost-free place for the winter.

Here are the easy bulb-cleaning instructions: Mix 2 tablespoons of baby shampoo, 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 quart of warm water in a bucket, then gently drop in your bulbs. Let them soak for a minute or so, remove them, and set them on a wire rack to drain. Be sure to let them dry thoroughly before you put them away; otherwise, they’ll rot.

Tired of battling the mildew that builds up on your bathtub, glass shower doors, or vinyl shower curtain liner? There’s no need to buy expensive daily shower spray. Instead, here’s a simple formula you can make yourself. It’ll stop that crud before it ever has a chance to form.

Mix 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol, 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent with enzymes, and 3 cups of water in a hand-held spray bottle, and keep it on the side of the tub. Then issue an all-points bulletin that says the last person out of the shower or bath each day must spray the solution on all of the wet surfaces. Follow up once a month by scrubbing the walls with the same solution, and you can kiss mold and mildew good-bye.

When painful cold sores break out in your mouth, they can make you feel like climbing the walls. Get relief fast with this classic remedy. Just soak a piece of a cotton pad in fresh plum juice, press it against the sore, and hold it in place for 10 minutes, or longer, if you can. Repeat the procedure for as long as it takes to get rid of the nasty little bump.