Don't look now, but spring-cleaning is right around the corner. So before you head out and buy a bunch of fancy, store-bought cleaners, try this fantastic disinfecting formula. It’ll leave your house as spic-and-span as any pricey cleaner would, and it’s a whole lot cheaper, to boot!

Just combine the following in a spray bottle: 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, and 30 drops of tea tree oil (available at most health food stores). Once you’ve got the mix, turn it loose on everything from cutting boards and kitchen counters to shower doors—and even baby toys! It’ll have everything smelling fresh, clean, and natural.

If you’ve got herbs or geraniums spending the cold months on indoor windowsills, here’s a little trick that’ll help them out this time of year. Line the sills with aluminum foil, shiny side up. It’ll reflect light onto the plants and keep them going strong. To increase the light level even more, cover a piece of cardboard with foil, and hang it on a wall opposite the windowsill, so that it reflects the sunlight onto your potted plants. Besides boosting their growth, it’ll keep them evenly shaped and rarin’ to go come spring.

Happy Valentine’s Day! You say you haven’t gotten anything for your sweetie yet? Not to worry, just head to your computer and print off a stack of colorful “Love Coupons” that your beloved can cash in on during the coming months. Include vouchers for things like dinner out at a favorite restaurant, breakfast in bed, a wine and cheese picnic, a bouquet of daisies, and maybe even a fabulous weekend getaway. If you have time once you’ve printed the coupons and tied them together with a ribbon, head to the store to pick up a bottle of wine, fresh strawberries, and dipping chocolate. There, now you’ve got all the ingredients for a Valentine’s Day you’ll both enjoy!

We’re deep in the heart of cold and flu season now, so protect you and your family from coming down with something. At least once a week, wipe your telephone receiver, door handles, faucets, (and any other items/surfaces that get lots of touching) down with a soft cloth that’s been dipped in rubbing alcohol. It’ll remove oils, grease, and fingerprints—and, most importantly, kill those nasty cold-causing germs.