* “Planning a new roof? Choose a light color for cooling benefits. Also check with your home-insurance company to see what discounts it might offer for different styles or options, like upgraded hurricane clips or fire-retardant materials.” — R.E.W. in Tennessee
* Cut a cord of firewood in the spring, and cure it yourself. Store it away from the house and properly care for the wood by stacking it where it will have access to the sun and wind to dry it. Let it season for six months or longer, and you’ll have firewood ready when the temperatures drop again.
* “If you’re melting chocolate in your microwave, do yourself a favor: Line the bowl with wax paper or parchment paper. The chocolate is still easy to stir, but when you take it out, you can scrape all the chocolate off the paper so that none is wasted!” — A.A. in Florida
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* “Place a bit of clear tape over the spot where you are going to drive in a nail to prevent the nail from cracking drywall. It will go right in. Also, if you’re nailing into wood, drag your nail through some soap (bar soap is fine) before striking it. This does the same thing — it will keep the wood from splitting. You can even keep a travel-size bar of soap in your nail apron for just this purpose.” — P.K. in New Jersey
* Shopping for bagged frozen vegetables? Give them the squeeze test: If the vegetables feel hard and solid, they have thawed and refrozen. Choose another bag.
* Keep musty smells out of your linen closet by stashing a box of baking soda on one of the shelves, just as you would in the kitchen.
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