Quick tips

•”To clean out your coffeemaker, run a cycle of water through it and then pour out half the water and replace it with white vinegar. Pour that mixture back through the coffeemaker (make sure it’s off) and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then run the vinegar mixture through, then two cycles of fresh, cold water.” — A.L. in New York

•To keep your coat in tip-top shape, unbutton it in the car or when sitting. Less pulling on the buttons means less stretching on the seams.

•Another cold-weather-wear tip: Cookie sheets make great temporary shoe bins when the ground outside gets wet, muddy and yucky. Place a few by the door, and mud and snow won’t get tracked in.

• “Whenever my husband gets rid of a stained T-shirt, I cut the sleeves off to use as headbands for when I work out or work in the yard. They are bigger and keep stray hairs out of my face.” — V.F. in California

•”I love the taste of roasted sweet potatoes. The trouble is, I rarely have the time to roast one. So I do a half-dozen at a time and take them to work for lunch. They taste great and are very nutritious. They heat up quickly in the microwave and still have that oven-baked taste days later.” — D.I. in Maryland