Around the house

* Having an outdoor party? Use a flat or fitted sheet as a cover for your picnic table. Mismatched tables can also be covered with sheets in coordinating colors and prints.

* Place small kitchen utensils in dishwasher inside net bags from produce. Items won't fall through racks.

* Prevent red stains on plastic storage containers. Spray with vegetable oil before storing tomato sauces.

* When rolling out dough, cover countertop with a sheet of waxed paper that is secured with a few drops of water; cleanup will be simple.

* Keep drain unclogged. Cover with steel wool before washing a cat or dog.

In the garden

* Water your garden thoroughly by installing soaker hoses that ooze water slowly to the roots.