When I was younger (Ok, not that much younger, but younger still), I had this great idea to create a sixty-second chocolate fondue in the microwave. Big mistake. Not only did the chocolate chips burn in a bad way, but the plastic measuring cup fused to the bottom of my microwave.

After trying dozens of cleaners to get the plastic bulge off, I stumbled upon a few easy steps that did the trick. I'm happy to say my microwave is plastic-free! Here's how I did it:

Vintage furniture is fantastic for so many reasons, but what happens when you pick up an antique chest that smells less than, shall we say, fresh? Check out our top eight ways to freshen a musty drawer -- many of which can translate to a variety of different spaces in your home!

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to focus on the more important things in life -- like cleaning and storing those seasonal decorations. Turns out that next winter doesn't have to be a painstaking, stressful process in untangling those tree lights. Want to know a quick tip to keep those lights tangle-free?

Wrapping paper tubes. Save your cardboard tubes from the endless wrapping you've finished this year and cut a slit on either end of the empty wrapping paper tube. Thread the end of the string of lights through one slit. Next, wind the string of lights around the tube and finally thread the plug into the other end and tuck into the tube.

You'll have an easy (and free!) storage solution that won't cause you headaches next December. Smart, right? Now on to those difficult ornaments...

With holiday entertaining at its peak, it's time to get organized! Luckily, our resident AOL decor expert Kelly Edwards is here to share her top notch organizational methods for the kitchen -- perfect for anyone in need of some calm amidst the storm of holiday entertaining.

I love Kelly's idea for crafting your own chalkboard paint. How lovely would it be to keep a bright sunny yellow chalkboard in your kitchen as a grocery list? Better yet, paint your entire cabinets in a DIY chalkboard paint for endless list-making fun.

Not into chalkboards? Try a fun DIY pin board solution with Kelly's easy instructions. Proof that kitchen organization is sometimes as easy as making one handly list (and checking it twice, of course!).

Thanks for the tips, Kelly!

It's time to break out the silver and buff out those tarnished serving pieces, but first --- your DIY guide to cleaning silver, using mostly items you already own around the house!

For small items, slightly tarnished:
Use white toothpaste. Dab a bit on your index finger and rub the toothpaste directly onto the tarnish. Wipe clean and presto -- new silver!

For medium-sized, more tarnished items:
Use baking soda and a damp sponge. Mix equal parts baking soda and water, then rub the mixture onto the silver with a clean sponge. Rinse with hot water and polish dry with a soft cloth.

For large or badly tarnished items:
Using the same mixture as above, coat the silver with the baking soda paste and let sit for a few hours. Then, run the silver under hot water and rub with a clean, damp sponge. Repeat if necessary.

You'll silver will look shiny and new -- just like your holiday baubles!

I'm a hardwood floors gal all the way. I love the rich colors and patterns that come from natural wood, and there's just something about a good game of sock hockey in the kitchen that gets me every time. Yet I'll admit --- it's sometimes tricky to clean hardwood floors. After all, how do you reach those cracks and crevices between the planks?

Turns out that if you follow a few ground rules, you'll have shiny, gleaming wood floors worthy of a palace. Ready for the tips, straight from our friends at ShelterPop?:

1. Sweep wood floors twice weekly with a soft, fine bristle broom. Avoid hard brooms as they may scratch the surface of your wood.
2. Vacuum twice monthly to remove dirt, sand and other small particles. Use a soft brush attachment to minimize any scratching from the vacuum's wheels.
3. Because water is one of a wood floor's worst enemies, get rid of water right away! Remove wet spills as soon as possible with soft towels or a wet/dry vacuum, then dry thoroughly. Be sure to dry cracks between the planks with a napkin-covered toothpick for heavily soiled areas.
4. Use a very well wrung-out, damp mop when mopping polyurethaned wood floors as excess water can seep into seams and ruin a wood floor.
5. Some floors may require periodic waxing and buffing. Get recommendations from your floor's manufacturer for the specific procedures for your floor, and be sure to avoid using harsh chemicals when cleaning.

Your clean hardwood floors will gleam in no time!

With the swine flu in full swing and some sort of horrid cold roaming around my household, cleanliness is on the forefront of my mind this week. And after reading this article re: the transmission of bacteria on your shower head, I'd hope it's on the forefront of yours, as well. Luckily, our friends at ShelterPop have the scoop on how to get the cleanest showers in town.

A quick tip from the article? You can make a fantastic homemade shower cleaner with 1 cup of vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup ammonia and 1.5 gallons of hot water. Be sure to use rubber gloves, scrub well (use an old toothbrush for those tough tiles!) and rinse with hot water. Wipe dry. Also, tackle your glass shower door with white vinegar to prevent streaks and mildew at the same time. Bonus!

After all, cleanliness is next to awesomeness, right?

I'm already brainstorming holiday gifts, and it's not even Halloween. Am I brainwashed or what? Regardless, trinket soaps are both fun and affordable, and I'd love to try my hand at creating a few gifts for family members this year. Luckily, this video gives step-by-step instructions for adorable trinket soaps that I can't wait to try!



A few important tips to keep in mind?:

1. Use a clear glycerin base if you want your object to be visible inside the soap, and a milky, opaque base if you want it to be a hidden surprise.
2. Avoid using a loaf-shaped soap mold-you'll have to slice up the finished soap, and may end up cutting through the objects inside.

And, of course, a bit of soapy food for thought:

Good news and bad news. The good news is your newly-adopted wheaton terrier has officially adjusted to your household and feels right at home. The bad news? Your newly-adopted wheaton terrier is officially adjusted to your household and feels right at home. On your couch. Your newly-adopted leather couch, to be exact. Don't fret. Dig through your kid's backpack to find a quick fix for those unsightly scuffs.

Curious? The eraser of a pencil will cause that scuff mark to virtually disappear right before your eyes! Another reason why back-to-school is sometimes the happiest time on earth.

Bonus? You can also use the eraser of a brand new pencil to clean an LCD monitor or computer monitor, as well! Be sure to rub lightly and use a clean eraser, as graphite marks on the eraser can cause additional scratching to the monitor.

Who knew your new favorite cleaning solvent would rest in your child's classroom?

Cleaning the fridge is my most dreaded task when it comes to the kitchen, and I'll admit -- I often designate it as my husband's job. Something about unearthing hidden treasures at the bottom of the produce drawer really gets under my skin, not to mention the length of time it takes to really clean your fridge.

Until now. Here's a time-saving tip next time you tackle the jungle that awaits you on the other side of the fridge door...

After you clear out the contents of the fridge, remove your drawers and trays and place them in a hot, sudsy tub. No more fussing over the kitchen sink one at a time --- the bathtub will clean each piece simultaneously, leaving you time to focus on more important things (like throwing at that science expirement you formerly called yogurt).

Genius, right? For more ways to tackle those tedious chores, check out Lightning fast ways to speed-clean your kitchen. Enjoy!

Sure, there's a million-dollar industry that thrives on offering all-natural cleaning products for your home, but did you realize you could get one of the most natural cleaning agents in the fruit section of your local market? Lemons are acidic and packed with antibacterial properties; here's how to transform the fresh fruit into a universal cleansing solution:

Cut one lemon into two halves, sprinkling baking soda on the first half. Use the lemon itself to scrub dishes, countertops and sinks. Next, squeeze the second half into a clean bowl to mix with vinegar for a natural cleansing spray. Clean your appliances and wooden cabinetry with the solution.

When finished, simply drop both lemon halves down the garbage disposal for a fresh scent that will fill the kitchen. Amazing, right?

In fact, you may want to grab an extra lemon while you're at the grocer -- you deserve a spritzer for your ingenuity!

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.

I have a very busy house. Two teens in full-time residence, three teens in part-time residence, five toddlers here during working hours. And one very patient husband. (There are still more offspring, as it happens. They're just old enough to live elsewhere.)

It's also a very small house, particularly for the number of people. Oh, and an old house, so that not every bedroom has a closet, and there is really no front hall to speak of, and certainly no front hall closet. I think I have now established my clutter and cleaning challenges, no?

At my house, we really try our best to live in an environmentally friendly way, for our health and the Earth's. We eat local, fresh food as much as we can, we never use chemicals on our lawn or plants, we don't clean the house with chemicals, and we have quite the raging compost pile.

It seems that we got a bit overzealous with the composting, in fact. Last fall, after carving a stunning Jack-o-lantern, we responsibly dumped the innards of the pumpkin into our composter.

Throughout the autumn, we had several pumpkins displayed on our walkway and stoop. When it was time to put up the Christmas decorations, we plopped the pumpkins in the composter. Follow me after the break; I'm going somewhere with this...

Recently, it was my tenth anniversary. Ten years -- and ten pounds -- later, my diamond engagement ring needed to be resized.

Now, I am the first to admit that I completely abuse my ring: I rarely clean it, and I never take it off. So, it experiences soap scum, hair conditioner, dirty dishes, gardening, you name it. I describe my diamond as the frosted glass my husband gave me when he asked me to marry him.

When my husband picked my ring up from the jeweler's and opened the classy velvet pouch, he burst out laughing, asking the jeweler if he was sure that they gave him my ring. Well, it seems as though they cleaned it as well as sizing it. Honestly, I had forgotten what a beautiful ring I wore every day for the last ten years.

In my earnestness to keep my ring sparkly, I'll share with you the cleaning tips I gleaned from the Internet.