DIY Life

With a toddler and several dogs to transport, I feel like I can never get that lived-in smell out of my car. And summer heat makes it so much worse.

Does your car stink? Obviously, the first step is a thorough cleaning of the interior using a vacuum and fabric shampoo. Beyond that, however, I've discovered lots of clever budget-friendly little tricks for removing persistent odors. Try them out yourself ... and keep your vehicle smelling fresh.

1. White vinegar. Half-fill an open travel mug with vinegar and leave it in your cup holder for a day or two. Just don't forget and take a swig! Or soak a rag or piece of bread with vinegar and keep it in an open container under a front seat.

Take a look in your bathroom vanity. Chances are -- especially if you've got young kids in the house -- there's a bottle of baby shampoo hidden in there somewhere, even if those kids aren't babies anymore. And if you don't, baby shampoo is inexpensive and easy to find, and often even turns up in thrift stores and garage sales.

That half-used bottle -- or an inexpensive new one -- is a soapy gold mine. Baby shampoo can be used for jobs around the house, as a stand-in for personal care products and for family fun, too. Here are some ideas:

Around the House

• Zipper stuck? Don't get annoyed. Instead, dip a q-tip in baby shampoo and rub it on the stuck spot. It'll lubricate the zipper and get things moving again.
• Groan. You've just discovered that you shrunk your favorite sweater in the wash. You can hand it down to your daughter, or you can try to resize it using a sinkful of water and some baby shampoo. Use it to wash your delicates, too!
• Some baby shampoos contain mineral oil, excellent for revitalizing leather shoes, coats and purses. Dab a little shampoo onto a soft cloth and rub the shampoo onto the leather, leaving it soft and gleaming.
• Take advantage of shampoo's natural grease-cutting properties. Mix it with a little baking soda and use it to clean your chrome faucets.

It seems that when I look at our budget, the greater portion of our expenses seem to be spent on food. Yes, we are self-proclaimed Foodies, so we tend to splurge on good things to eat. The good news is that there are ways to save money in the kitchen; your love of food doesn't have to break the bank.

1. Make a weekly menu and shop accordingly: Creative meal planning wastes less. You'll be less apt to buy things that aren't on your grocery list, and you'll have everything you need for the week's meals, thereby saving gas on fewer trips to the grocery store.

2. Use extra foods to make soups or stews: It's OK to buy that jumbo bag of broccoli florets. After you use what you need in Tuesday's stir-fry, throw the rest into a pot with onions, broth, some dried beans, and some seasonings. The result will be a healthy soup that you can freeze for lunches later. Some of my favorite meals have been the clean-out-the-refrigerator-stews!

I think most people would agree that bath products make a nice gift. Unfortunately, they're a little over-gifted, if you know what I mean. But, if you take some effort to make your own products and to personalize them, what was old-hat suddenly becomes new again. Whipup's bath bomb surprises are a perfect gift idea that you can personalize for anyone.

You'll need baking soda, citric acid, your choice of essential oil, a spray bottle with witch hazel, and your choice of trinkets to insert in the bath bombs. You'll also need a large bowl, a whisk, an ice cream scoop with a release mechanism, and a tray covered with wax paper.

To make the bath bombs, combine the baking soda and citric acid. Then slowly spray in the essential oils. Adding the witch hazel can be a bit tricky as you need just the right amount of moisture. Once the consistency is right, you'll be able to use the ice cream scoop to create the halves of the bath bomb. Then insert the trinket and put the two halves together. Whipup has the details.

Keep reading for different gift ideas with these "surprise inside" bath bombs.

It sure comes in handy when the heartburn hits, but Alka-Seltzer is not just for tummies. If you've got a household problem, chances are that you can solve it with a little fizzing tablet.

Alka-Seltzer can clean things? You bet.

In the kitchen, you can use Alka-Seltzer to clean out your coffee maker, get the residue out of a vase, clean glass cookware, and unclog a drain.

Is your jewelry dulled? Put Alka-Seltzer to work -- that is, when it's not cleaning your toilets! Rely on the fizz to remove residue, buildup, and stuck-on goo.

Why does this work? Because Alka-Seltzer is baking soda (very alkaline) mixed with citric acid and aspirin (acidic), it creates a chemical reaction. That's why it fizzes, but why does it clean so well?

We know that baking soda is an effective all-purpose cleaner, but did you know that citric acid is the main ingredient in many household cleaners? It stands to reason that with these two powerhouse ingredients, Alka-Seltzer has rightfully earned its reputation as a cleaner... not just an antacid.

I've been extolling the virtues of Spring the last few weeks with springtime bath and body products and my festive green bath salts and earrings. Yes, Spring is exciting and everything is new and fresh ... except my house.

Probably yours too, if you haven't tackled that Spring cleaning yet. Anna has posted about the many uses of vinegar and baking soda for cleaning. These are two of my favorite cleaners as well. They are all-natural, good for the environment, won't kick up any allergies or sensitivities and are safe to keep in bottom cabinets if you have kids. Did I mention how effective they are? You really don't need chemicals.

Essential oils can be used in cleaning recipes with vinegar, baking soda and other natural cleaners to boost their effectiveness and leave a fresh clean scent around your newly sparkling house. Read on for recipes to brighten, degrease, deodorize and disinfect.

We all have our own DIY thresholds. Some of you are fabulous mechanics, but leave the gardening to somebody else. Others might love electronics, but wouldn't dare take on the simplest sewing project. I'll make my own cleaners and spa products, but I head straight for the store when our tube of toothpaste is low.

I don't think I could ever really wrap my head around making my own toothpaste, but if you're ready to take that extra step into greener DIY living, then be my guest. You probably already have these ingredients in the house, or can get them easily enough. Here's what you'll need:

1. Baking Soda
2. Table Salt
3. Water
4. Peppermint oil for taste
5. Gylcerine

Check out the full post for the recipe and mixing instructions. Spread some of this green goodness on your homemade electric toothbrush and polish those pearly whites.

My Mother-in-law just got a black MacBook. I teased her a little that the white one would have been just fine for her email and occasional surfing needs, but she insisted that she wanted the black one. She argued that it looked better and wouldn't get as dirty as the white one. I argued that it doesn't get that dirty, but the truth is that my little white MacBook (which was a crisp white only a few months ago) is in serious need of a good cleaning.

I found this tip, from Lifehacker reader, Joshua. He says that toothpaste will restore the bright white on our MacBooks the same way it does on our teeth. Could this really work? I don't know yet, but I'm going to check it out. Follow me through the break and we'll try this out.

How green is your bathroom? I thought I was doing pretty good, since I abandoned my chemical rich cleaners for baking soda and vinegar the way Anna recommends. This change is important, but only one small step towards an eco-friendly bathroom.

The video above explains how to go green in the bathroom by conserving water, minimizing energy usage, adding plants, and choosing natural products. Here's what you'll need:

1. Fluorescent light bulbs
2. Plants
3. Food coloring
4. Natural hair and body care products
5. Vinegar
6. Baking soda
7. Low flow shower-head
8. Low flow toilet

Replacing your light bulbs and bringing in a plant are cheap, quick, and effective changes. Making the change-over to a low-flow shower head and toilet can be a bit more costly. If you're contemplating a low-flow shower head, first consider Ryan's pros and cons list. He suggests an alternative to the costly purchase by opening the valve partially, allowing less water to pass through.

The low-flow toilet is another source of water conservation and financial savings. Some municipalities even offer partial rebates on their purchase. If you're not sure where to start looking for the right low-flow toilet, this article, The best low-flow toilets will point you in the right direction.

If you're still not convinced that you want to buy a new one, and this eco-friendly bathroom hasn't quite scratched your DIY itch, then Gary has a project for you. He points us to a toilet hack that allows you to pre-use the water that fills your toilet tank after flushing.

What changes have you made towards a greener bathroom?

It's been a miserable year for allergy sufferers: everyone I know who has problems with ragweed, including me, felt sickly for months.

Now that it's almost December, it's just about time for everyone to come down with colds and flus. Many happen at this time of year, due to germs passed around during social gatherings and holiday shopping, nasal passage dryness caused by artificial indoor heating, and the indoor allergies that proliferate in colder areas during the winter.

Constant congestion can lead to sinus infections, which require a visit to the doctor, and antibiotics, to clear up (even if the initial illness was viral). But there's some simple maintenance you can do that will nip a potential sinus infection in the bud: rinsing out your sinuses, also known as nasal or sinus irrigation or lavage.

This may seem gross, but most people who try it find it extremely helpful. It clears out stagnant mucous and helps to moisturize your nasal passages. It's my number-one "Don't get sick!" tip. Find supplies, recipes, and instructions after the break.