At Home

Take the following steps to get the longest life out of a vinyl shower curtain: Stretch the curtain closed completely after a shower to eliminate folds where moisture cannot easily evaporate. Open the bathroom door and a window, if possible, after exiting the shower to allow steam to dissipate. Run the exhaust fan for five minutes following a shower.

Fix slow drains. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain and follow it with half a cup of white vinegar. Let it sit for twenty minutes to a half hour, then pour boiling water down the drain (about two quarts).

If you are planning to build a new home, think smaller. Smaller homes are more efficient and because they have to be planned more creatively to account for traffic patterns, space and storage, they can be much more architecturally interesting than larger structures.