Acrylic tubs are a popular choice for homeowners -- and with good reason. Acrylic can be molded into all sorts of shapes -- including the classic clawfoot tub, traditionally made of cast iron. Acrylic tubs holds heat well, aren't too heavy, and sport a luxurious lustrous finish that I absolutely love! Plus, they'll set you back a lot less than cast iron.

Unfortunately, acrylic tubs can scratch horribly if cleaned incorrectly. The way to proceed is gently, very gently. The good news: gentle cleaning does not translate into high maintenance. On the contrary, you'll probably save some cash by foregoing pricey chemical cleansers.

Here's how to clean your acrylic tub safely and naturally:

What better time to set a household organization system in place than a week before the new year? According to Organized Home, "Unlike a personal planner, which is designed for use by one person, a household notebook or family organizer serves as "command central" for an entire family. While each family's organizer will be unique, most are simple three-ring notebooks with several divider sections."

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...

Swiffer mops are awesome. My floors were never so clean as right after I purchased my first WetJet. My goal is to be a thrifty and eco-friendly consumer, however. (Darn those principles!) So my Swiffers now languish in the garage while I've gone back to the good old broom, bucket and mop method of floor cleaning.

DIY Swiffer pads could be a solution to my quandary. Make-your-own pads can be cheap to make or buy. Best of all, they can often be put through the wash and reused, which is both eco- and wallet-friendly! (Just shake or brush most of the crud off before popping it in the machine.)

The wonderful Consumerist puts forth a number of suggestions for DIY Swiffer pads, such as bulk microfiber cloths, bar mop towels and wash cloths, plus knit-your-own (pictured). A more unusual, yet inspired, suggestion: old socks! Yes, disposable baby diapers are on the list, too, but I reject that on the grounds they can't be put through the washing machine and reused.

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!

I'm an avid tea drinker, so I was thrilled to hear that tea bags can also double as a cleaning solution. I know you're rolling your eyes in exasperation, but it's true! Because tea can effectively remove grease and grime on mirrors, floors and surface areas, it makes a great cleaning solution (as long as you wipe it thoroughly!).

Boil a few old tea bags and use the brew to mop your flooring and wipe down any countertops or unpainted wooden surfaces. Remember --- wipe thoroughly to avoid tie-dyeing your entire kitchen! I wish I were kidding... ;)

Want some even better news? Tea can be used for a variety of household hacks in your home. In fact, our very own DIY Life has a round-up of 15 creative uses for tea bags. My favorite? An all-natural wart remover, thanks to the tannic acid in black tea. Pretty cool, right?

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?

Looks like it's time to bid farewell to another hot, humid summer and welcome a cooler season. But before you say goodbye, give your air conditioner a good cleaning to thank it for its hard work these past few months. AOL's Mr. Fix-It Eric Stromer shows us how...




An important thing to remember:
Call a technician if you have a defective condenser or any problems with the refrigeration system -- this is a closed system that you should not attempt to repair without the aid of a licensed provider.

And of course, the cleaner your air conditioner, the less maintenance you'll have in the long haul. As with all appliances, keep your unit clean, tidy and up to date on all repairs and/or maintenance checks. You'll be glad you did when next summer's heat wave hits!

Speaking of air conditioner's, consider a fun (and green!) way to garden with the last few days of air conditioner use you've got...

I can't believe I forgot to tell you all about my weekend! I rummaged through an abandoned home in the middle of nowhere this past Saturday, and stumbled upon a bit of a gold mine... if you consider vintage glassware to be gold.

Yes, that's right! I scored a few old soda bottles from the local junkyard and they couldn't be cooler. Only problem? I was having the hardest time ridding the interior glass of mold and other grimy build-up.

Luckily, a friend suggested I use denture-cleaning tablets to dissolve the grime, and I honestly had my doubts. Wow. Boy, was I wrong! The tablets instantly melted away the grease, grime and mold... leaving spotless soda bottle vases that are sure to make a splash the next time I host a dinner party.

Incredible! I ran the glassware through one cycle of the dishwasher and they look brand new. Here's to double duties -- denture style!

Halloween may be just around the corner (I am so so excited to break out this how-to tutorial and rock a sandwich costume this year!), but no one likes a spider web inside their home. Chances are, you rid the webs with your household broom, but how do you keep them from coming back?

Easy. Next time you broom-tackle those spiders, dab a bit of lemon juice onto the bristles of the broom. Turns out, the feisty arachnids don't react well to citrus, so you're likely to ban them forever. Bonus? In the process, you'll be ridding your home of tons of other pesky critters, including ants, flies, scorpions and earwigs.

Just another fabulous use for a fabulous fruit.

Want more fun lemon uses? Try a few of these tips around your home:
-Daily DIY: Clean Your Entire Kitchen With One Lemon
-Organic Produce Wash Made With Lemon and Vinegar
-How to Easily Clean Your Filthy Microwave

Question: What can make vintage clothing forget their musty past, and also make you forget just what exactly happened during that bachelorette party in Vegas?
Answer: One word - Vodka!

Turns out that vodka is a natural bacteria-killer, which, in turn, deodorizes last season's pea coat that's been hiding in storage for the past few months. Simply prepare a spray bottle with vodka (sans tonic with lime), spritz it a few feet away from the garment and let rest overnight. Your coat will smell fresh, clean and, surprisingly, not like you've bee partying all night with your 21-year-old nephew.

So, next time you spill your drink onto your favorite frenemy, don't fret -- you're saving her from an unnecessary dry cleaning bill!

For more secret tips on household cleaners, surprising hacks and quick fixes, check out Diane's Unusual Uses column... only at DIY Life!

Clean your kitchen, bathroom and other nooks and crannies with just two ingredients? Unheard of! Until now. Howcast shows us how to tackle grease and grime with the same everyday relief you get from Alka-Seltzer and water. Take a look!:

See? It's true! You can clean your toilet, cookware, sink and even shine your jewelry with this handy over-the-counter medication. Because Alka-Seltzer is no more than baking soda mixed with citric acid and acidic aspirin, it creates a chemical reaction worthy of even the toughest grease and grime.

Hint: Did you realize that in addition to cleaning your home, you can use Alka-Seltzer to soothe an insect bite? Dissolve two tablets with water, soak a cotton ball and press firmly onto the bite for instant relief.

Curious for more household items that work double-duty? Check out DIY Life's "Unusual Uses" column for our favorite multi-purpose items.

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!