ArcaMax

All-purpose cleaners are designed to clean everything from dust bunnies to toilet rings and grease spills. Having evaluated many commercial products for effectiveness, ease of use, versatility, price and overall value, here are my picks for the seven best all-purpose cleaning products for keeping your house clean.

BEST INEXPENSIVE

Don't let ...Read more

In a society of continuous change, those things that remain constant give us the courage to boldly face the uncertainty of each new day. No matter what should befall us, we rest in the assurance that some things never change. The rising of the sun, the coming of spring, the levy of taxes -- and the operation of refrigerators.

Few things in our ...Read more

There was a time when I assumed I needed to buy name brand, readymade cleaning solutions and laundry products. If something needed cleaning, fixing, deodorizing or shining, surely there was a brightly labeled bottle for that -- preferably one promising miracles in a trigger spray. I bought them faithfully. And then one day I realized something ...Read more

Have you ever walked into the kitchen to get that first cup of coffee only to discover someone left the ice cream on the counter all night? Or the milk? I don't hate spoiled food as much as I did before. I found many clever ways to use items I used to throw out.

SOUR MILK

It often happens in warm weather, with even a limited milk supply; some ...Read more

More people are taking loans from their retirement accounts (401(k), 403(b), etc.) than ever, simply because they can. Here's the problem: seeing one's retirement account as a savings account, or worse, a personal ATM machine. That's so ridiculous I cannot even tell you. Sure, it's your money, but it's not your money now. It's for later. It is ...Read more

Whether you'll be traveling in the next few weeks or have plans for a trip in the summer, it's always a good time for travel tips.

NO ROOM FOR AIR

Sure, you can find cheap plane tickets, but you'll pay many extra fees if you are not aware. Thankfully, most airlines still allow one free carry-on bag. The way to win this game is to make the most...Read more

If money had a sound, the most annoying noise in your house wouldn't be the teenager's subwoofer or the dryer thumping an unbalanced load. It would be silence. The quiet drip of habits so small and ordinary that nobody notices them -- until the checking account screams for mercy.

Most people don't overspend in dramatic ways. What gets them ...Read more

This DIY recipe for upholstery cleaner is easy to make, super effective and (you know what's coming) cheap!

YOU'LL NEED:

-- cheese grater

-- eggbeater or whisk

-- medium mixing bowl

-- 6 tablespoons grated Fels Naptha laundry bar soap*

-- 2 tablespoons borax*

-- 2 cups boiling water

*available in most supermarkets in the laundry aisle, ...Read more

There was a time when I didn't have much opinion on paying for college with student loans. That was before the advent of email and thousands of messages, all with a similar subject line: "Help! I'm drowning in student loan debt!"

That was before I learned that about 85% of college graduates do not end up working in their major. That was before ...Read more

While drinking coffee has health benefits, using your Keurig machine daily without routine cleaning and maintenance can lead to awful consequences.

It's essential to clean a Keurig because it can be a health hazard if not cleaned properly. Like any coffee maker (or espresso machine), Keurigs can grow mold if not properly drained, descaled and ...Read more

Every so often, a reader sends me a message that begins with, "Mary, have you heard about this?" That's usually followed by a link, a whisper of thriftiness, and a promise that the solution will both cost less than pocket change and change my life forever.

This time, it was homemade good ol' basic Febreze Fabric Refresher spray (unscented) ...Read more