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:

Problem: Your much-abused cabinet door sustains a scratch to its lovely painted surface. Now what? It's simple: just paint over the scratch. But what if you've already gotten rid of the leftover paint -- or you weren't the one who painted them to begin with? Luckily, there are a few easy ways to choose the cabinet's color match.

Solution #1: The old-fashioned way:

1. The dinged cabinet door will act as the best color-matching sample. Like upholstery, the color of paint will change slightly over time, depending on its exposure to sunlight and elements like kitchen grease. Unscrew your scratched cabinet door from the frame and take it to your local Home Depot or Lowe's. Both home centers offer color-matching services, so you can buy the perfect paint. Be sure to choose the same finish (likely semi-gloss) as the rest of your painted cabinets. You'll need just a quart.

2. Using an angled brush, cover the scratched area of your cabinet with paint. Use a small amount of paint on your brush, and make sure the it goes on smoothly. Apply more coats as needed to match the cabinet (let dry in between coats.)

Solution #2: iPhone to the rescue::

The second solution involves a So how can you color match your dinged dresser or the scratched media cabinet that's too heavy to be moved again in this lifetime? Just whip out your iPhone. Yes, there's an app for that. More info after the jump:

So your kitchen smells horrid and it doesn't seem to be the usual culprits: trash cans, pet odors and expired sour cream in the fridge. What gives? Chances are, you need to clean out your garbage disposal.

Freshening your garbage disposal is fairly easy if you maintain a monthly routine of cleaning it out (I recommend using lemon peels or liquid bleach water). However, once your garbage disposal starts smelling less than fresh, you've got a bigger problem than a splash of bleach can fix. Odors form when hardened food residue begins to form among the pipes of your garbage disposal, so if you're smelling something from the depths of your sink, it's time to do a bit of emergency surgery:

Like most appliances, dishwashers often get neglected (until, of course, they suddenly stop doing their job). With a bit of routine maintenance, though, you can prolong the life of your dishwasher long after its sticker date. Here are a few easy tips for keeping your dishwasher in tip top shape:

There are few things more daunting than a leaky faucet. Not only is it a massive waste of precious resources, but the sound alone is enough to drive a grown woman batty. Luckily, we've got some super simple steps for fixing that faucet leak -- forever. Ready?:

1. Shut the water off under the sink.
2. Close the sink drain and cover with a rag to catch any loose parts that may fall below.
Note: It's also a good idea to prepare your wrench with a layer of duct tape to prevent scratches on your fixture.
3. Find the culprit. Most leaky faucets are a result of a failed part, and the exact part can be easily located depending on which part is leaking. Although replacing your faucet is a simple task, it's important to identify the type of faucet, whether it be compression, cartridge (sleeve), ceramic disc and ball. Here, we break it down for you:

A kitchen island is the easiest way to add precious inches of counter space to your home. If you don't want to splurge on a custom job, you're left with two budget-friendly options: kitset or DIY. Let's look at some of the pros and cons of each approach.

Kitset Kitchen Island: Pros and Cons
Kitset kitchen islands -- the kind you buy ready-to-assemble -- are now available in a nice range of styles, from rustic to sleek modern. Although the best ones are far from cheap, they'll set you back far less than custom work. The other big advantage is convenience: kitset islands can be assembled by just about anyone.

Other pros: kitset islands are moveable, which can be useful when, for example, you are entertaining a crowd. If you sell your home, you can just disassemble your kitset and pack it up. Basically, if all you need is an extra place to stow pots, pans and cookbooks, the kitset is the most convenient solution.

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?

So -- you're craving a ham sandwich but notice your bread is going a bit stale. Don't worry --- it's not bird food quite yet; you still have time to save it! Place a stick of fresh celery in the bag and store the bread for a few hours. Next time you pull it out, you'll notice the bread is fresher than before, and your celery hasn't changed a bit! Add some peanut butter and you've got yourself a fresh, non-stale meal (but don't tell the birds we told you!).

And since we're talking bread, did you see Monday's video tutorial on How to Make a French Baguette? So easy, yet so scrumptious. Luckily, our stale bread hack works equally well for any sort of bread, so if you happen to make a fresh baguette and haven't had time to devour it, you know what to do!

Proof that celery can work wonders both for your diet and your starch!

Who, me? Yes. I'll admit it -- I'm a cookie monster and am seeking help. I like to keep our cookie jar stocked and fresh, and although there usually isn't much of a chance for stale cookies in our home, it does happen time and again. Turns out my grandma has a secret trick for keeping cookies fresh longer --- a wad of tissue paper!

Simply wad up the tissue paper and place it at the bottom of the cookie jar, then pile the cookie goodness on top! We both have no idea why it works, but can vouch for the fact that it does!

And of course, you'll need a yummy recipe to try out our tip, won't you? Try these peanut butter butterscotch cookies from Cooks.com; they are simply delicious!:

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup Nestles Butterscotch morsels
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Enjoy!

I've heard a variety of different methods for keeping your brown sugar de-clumped, and to be honest, I'm a bit wary of each one. Here's a breakdown of what the grapevine says about keeping your brown sugar fresh --- why not give it a shot and report back with your findings?:

According to ThriftyFun:
Store brown sugar you plan to save for later baking in an airtight container with a fresh slice of bread. The moisture in the bread will keep your sugar soft, moist, and ready-to-use. When the bread dries and hardens, simply replace it with a fresh slice. You can feed the old, dry one to the birds and squirrels.

From WiseGeek:
If your brown sugar is hard as a brick, you can restore it to a usable consistency by placing it in a tightly sealed container with an apple wedge for one to three days.

From WiseGeek:
You can purchase a terracotta disk at many kitchen supply stores that will keep your brown sugar free flowing.

Which sounds like the real deal to you? Any brown sugar tips you swear by?

I'm on bread duty this Thanksgiving and would love to bake a few homemade creations. Looks like I'll be tuning in to this great video -- and stat!:



Here are your step-by-step instructions!:

Step 1: Mix the flour and salt
Mix the flour and salt in a medium-size bowl.

Step 2: Combine yeast and water
Put the yeast, water, and half the flour mixture in a large bowl and mix it together with your hands until it's doughy. Cover with a clean dishcloth and let it sit at room temperature for three hours, until it more than doubles in size.

Step 3: Add remaining flour
Using your hands, mix the remaining flour mixture into the dough.

Step 4: Knead it
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes.

Step 5: Oil a bowl
Place the dough in a large, lightly-oiled bowl, turning the dough around in the bowl so it gets covered with oil. Cover with a dishcloth and let it sit for another hour. It should nearly double in size.

Step 6: Preheat oven
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and knead the dough one more time for about five minutes before dividing it into three parts. Roll each part into a long baguette with your hands, and let them rise in a warm, draft-free spot, for another half hour.

Step 7: Slash and moisten
Make four lengthwise slashes on top of the loaf with a sharp knife, going no deeper than ¼ inch. Lightly spritz or brush the top with cool water. If you're not using the baking stone, cover an upside-down baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle it with cornmeal.

Step 8: Bake
Place a medium-size bowl filled halfway with water on the bottom rack of the oven. Bake the baguettes in the middle of the oven on the baking stone or sheet. Remove the bowl after 15 minutes. Continue baking the bread until golden, 20 to 30 minutes total.

Good luck!

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!

That's right -- another day, another vinegar hack. Oh, you act as if you're surprised! This one's a goodie; I promise. And in the kitchen, no less! Perfect for your upcoming holiday dinner party or fancy, festive feast.

Here's the deal: Next time you thaw out that frozen chuck roast, pour some vinegar over it. Not only does it tenderize the meat, but it will also bring down the freezing temperature of the meat and cause it to defrost quicker. And no, your meat will not taste like vinegar; don't worry. Cool, right?

Now you have no excuse for a still-frozen turkey on Thanksgiving Day!

For additional kitchen hacks with one of my favorite ingredients (vinegar!), check out a few other helpful DIY Life articles:
-Daily DIY: Vinegar Fix
-Vinegar: Laundry's Best Friend
-Vinegar: Not Just for Salad's Anymore!
-Vinegar's Slew of Wonderful Uses
-Remove Mold With Vinegar