Drip, drip, drip…do you have a relentlessly dripping faucet? Dental floss to the rescue!

No, dental floss will not stop a faucet from leaking, but it will stop the mind-numbing noise until the plumber arrives. Here's how…

Cut a piece of floss long enough to tie around the spout of the faucet, and let it hang down into the drain. You may have to use tape to position the floss so that the drip is touching the floss, enabling each drop to slide down the length of the floss into the drain, eliminating the annoying noise it makes when it falls freely.

For more clever home-maintenance tips:

• Appliance Repairs Anyone Can Do
• Keep Your Appliances Running as Long as Possible
• Amazing Stain-Removal Tricks

It’s the first weekend of spring—but you aren’t quite ready for spring-cleaning? Here’s a great trick to get you started: Take a tour of every room in your home with a pad and pen in hand, and pretend that you have been hired to improve the living conditions. Evaluate the rooms as if seeing them all for the first time. Jot down the things that need cleaning, fixing, moving, redecorating, reorganizing…whatever can be done to make it a more comfortable, convenient and attractive living space.

At the end of your tour, with your to-do list in hand, set up a room-by-room schedule that gets everything done within a realistic amount of time (one closet or one corner every Saturday, for example). Then enjoy making your surroundings glow.

For tips to help make your spring-cleaning and organizing effortless, see more at:

• Housecleaning Shortcuts
• Quick Cures for Clutter
• Let Cleaning Take You Away

Use a light touch to wash washable wallpaper without drenching it. Combine ¼ cup of liquid dish detergent and 1 cup of warm water. Beat the solution in a mixer until there’ s stiff foam. Use the foam on a sponge or cloth to wash the wallpaper. This method makes rinsing and drying faster.

Did a plastic bread bag get too close to your toaster? Apply petroleum jelly on the melted plastic bag, and toast a piece of bread so that the toaster heats up. Rub off the warm plastic with a paper towel or cloth. Be careful not to burn your fingers.