When your dishwasher isn't wafting the freshest scent or cleaning your dishes as it should, giving it a good cleaning may fix your problems. Instead of spending hours scrubbing, make these supereasy dishwasher baking-soda bombs that do all the work for you. Along with being eco-friendly, this just-about-free cleaning solution does an amazing job freshening your dishwasher while cleaning all those nooks and crannies that collect bits of food, harbor mold — and all that other icky stuff.

Read on for the directions.

There's nothing more refreshing than a bubbly drink, but sipping that beverage can bust your budget — even if you're drinking plain mineral water. I admit to having a pretty severe sparkling water obsession. It's sans calories, fat, or additives, and is satisfying with a splash of fresh juice, which made checking out the SodaStream pretty enticing. With the help of a carbonating cartridge that costs $15 per refill, the SodaStream promises up to 60 liters of bubbly beverages. So, did it deliver?

Read on for the review.

We've all been there — an amazing idea pops into your head and, without even realizing it, you've interrupted whomever is speaking to share your thought. Talking over others stops the flow of conversation and is also disrespectful to the person speaking. This faux pas is forgivable from time to time, but when it becomes a persistent characteristic, interrupting may cost you your job . . . and even a few friends. Along with learning how to be patient, retraining your brain to change how it responds to instant ideas can curb your interrupting ways. Here are a few tips to take into consideration:

• Write it down: When listening, if a great thought comes to mind, discretely write it down in a notebook while keeping up with the conversation, especially when meeting with senior managers or important clients. Wait for a break in conversation before asserting your opinion or new ideas.
• Ask a question: Instead of busting someone's talking flow, wait until the end of a thought and share your view phrased as a question. Yes, you're still cutting in, but asking a question creates an opportunity to offer new ideas and thoughts while sticking with the direction of the discussion.
• Get help: Enlist an office buddy or good friend to tip you off when you interrupt. Come up with a special hand signal or give your helper the OK to deliver a swift kick under the table to curb your interrupting ways.

Keep reading for more helpful tips.

When you get to the last slice of bread and it's not as fresh as you'd like it to be, instead of tossing it, there are ways to transform that crumbling mess into something useful. After all, why throw away the old when you can upcycle it into something new?

You might be surprised at the various things you can do with stale bread, ensuring you get every penny out of your favorite loaf. Here are several cool uses for stale bread:

• Artisan bread crumbs: Cube stale bread, and season it for delicious bread crumbs that can be used for topping soups, stews, or fresh salads.

• Happy plants: Dry stale bread in the oven, and then grind in the blender, creating fine bread crumbs. Simply mix with your potting soil or rake into your garden. The crumbs will add nutrients and moisture to your happy plants. While you're at it, throw in some crushed egg shells for a nutrient-happy plant.

• Special bird treats: Instead of tossing dry chunks of bread to the birds, grind stale bread in the blender and leave out in small dishes for your friendly birds. Or mix together equal parts bread crumbs, birdseed, peanut butter, and lard, and roll into rounds. Place in bird feeders for a really special bird treat.

Read on for more smart ways to use stale bread.

Here's a quick tip: don't trash your bread when it's stale; just repurpose it by feeding it to your living greens.

Dry stale bread in the oven, and then grind in the blender, creating fine bread crumbs. Simply mix with your potting soil or rake into your garden. The crumbs will add nutrients and moisture to your happy plants.

Along with finding helpful living essentials at your local flea market, you can also pick up really cheap home decorations. You might be surprised at how those $1 table vases and figurines can be transformed into seriously chic accent pieces. Here are a few tips for spray-painting your flea market finds:

• Search for ceramic or wood vases or plates to use for spraying. You can also spray-paint glass jars and containers with really cool results. Try not to be distracted by the colors of the original item, and concentrate on the shape and form of the figurine. We couldn't pass up these finds at our local flea market that rang in at $1 total!

• Before painting, wipe down with a damp paper towel, removing any grime or dust stuck in the grooves. Allow the item to completely dry, and then select a color to use for spray painting. White is elegantly chic, while using a pastel blue or green is fun and fresh too.
• Take the items outdoors, and lightly spray with paint. You'll need to apply at least three to four coats to get a nice and solid covering of paint. Don't rush, and do light coats; they keep the paint from dripping or pooling, which can alter the shape and design of your cool figurines.
• Let completely dry before handling, which can take several hours. Display the painted figurines on bookshelves, mantels, or special corners of your home.

Front-loading washing machines are energy efficient and use less detergent than top-loaders, but they sometimes have a tendency to harbor mold and unpleasant smells. By giving your washing machine a quick clean once a month, you'll keep your front-loader fresh, which means cleaner clothes, too. This eco-friendly method doesn't use bleach, costs only pennies to make, and comes together with ingredients you already have on hand.

Keep reading for the directions.

When your favorite bling just doesn't have the same sparkle, instead of purchasing expensive cleaning solutions or bucking out for a professional scrubbing, try this easy DIY jewelry cleaner. Using ingredients you already have in your pantry, this concoction costs pennies to make and doesn't use any harsh chemicals — just the power of science. And you can give your old toothbrush a new life by gently scrubbing jewels postsoak. Before you know it, your special gems will be dazzling.

Read on for the directions.

There's nothing worse than standing in front of your front door shuffling through your keys to find the right one. Instead of wasting time (and carrying around boring keys), give them a coat of paint to stay organized and look chic. This life hack tip already caught our attention, so we figured it was a great DIY to try. And even if you're not crafty, you can easily transform your set of keys into a cool and personalized collection. Just make sure to keep a list reminding yourself which color key fits which lock. Here are a few tips for decorating your keys:

• Go through your key ring, sorting keys into a pile of ones that are used daily, another pile for those that aren't used as often, and a pile to ditch.
• The easiest way to paint your keys is to coat them with fingernail polish. But, while trying this, we discovered that only saturated colors or glitter polishes really worked and that keys needed several coats to be brilliantly shiny. Pick your favorite dark shade or glitter polish, paint the top side of a key, let it dry, and continue coating until you're happy with the results.
• Another fun way to paint your keys is by using spray paint, which allows you to get a bit crafty. Use strips of painter's tape to create designs, or even letters on the top of the keys — or simply leave as is for a solid pop of color. Tape the bottom of the key to a piece of cardboard, covering the entire base. Take outdoors and give it a quick spray. Once dry, remove the tape, and you've got a really cool set of keys.

Have you tried painting your keys? Leave a comment sharing which method worked best for you!

There's nothing better than sinking into your freshly fluffed feather bed at the end of a long day, but if it's feeling a bit flatter — and grubbier — than usual, then it's time for a cleaning. Instead of taking it in for a high-priced professional laundering or potentially ruining your own washing machine with a feather eruption, clean your feather bed with a few items you probably have around the house. You'll love drifting off to sleep on your refreshed feather bed while dreaming of all the ways you'll spend the money you saved by cleaning it yourself.

Keep reading for the directions:

Recycle your plastic bottles in style with this easy DIY. Perfect for adorning small patios or apartment windows, these planters can be hung indoors or out and take minutes to make. And they also make delightful gifts during Spring and Summer. For basically the cost of the plants, you've got a cute planter that will add a touch of sweetness to any space.

Read on for the directions.

Instead of throwing glass jars into the recycling bin, upcycle those pasta and condiment containers into something really pretty and functional. Get organized with a chic jar dedicated just for your nails, a sweet jelly jar vase, or a creative container for your random bits and pieces. With the help of some gold spray paint and a few foam stickers, you've got all the fixings for a fun and crafty DIY. Invite all your besties, and their glass jars, to make stunning statement pieces that help organize and make great gifts.

Read on for the easy directions.

When you've got a damp and musty-smelling space in your home, this quick and eco-friendly DIY is the perfect thing for freshening your house. This air freshener costs hardly anything to put together and can be tucked in a cabinet or corner, and you get a sweet snack in the process. And this smell-buster does its job without the help of harsh chemicals or fake-smelling scents, which makes this eco DIY even better. Here's how to make one:

1. Slice a large orange in half, and use a spoon to scoop out the pulp. You can enjoy eating the orange while working or reserve for use later to make orange juice.
2. Fill the inside of the orange with rock salt, which you can find at your local grocery store. The salt absorbs moisture from the air, whisking away damp and musty smells, while the orange peel releases a delightfully fresh scent.
3. Position the orange-peel smell-buster on a plastic lid or small plate, and then place it where it's needed. Enjoy the freshness for several weeks, and then replace with a new orange peel filled with salt.

Perfect for any special holiday, a set of these tile photo coasters will cost less than $5 to make. The square tiles from your local home goods store makes this DIY a unique way to showcase your favorite Hipstamatic and Instagram snaps. All you need is some Mod Podge and a bit of felt to complete this fun project. Stack and wrap the finished photo coasters with a ribbon, and you've got the perfect gift for someone special. These coasters are so cute, you'll probably end up making another set for yourself.

Read on for the directions.

Don't toss those lemon and orange peels, ends of fresh herbs, or last bits of whole aromatic seasonings! Instead, use them to make sweetly scented homemade fragrance stick diffusers that will freshen your house. And upcycling a simple glass bottle works wonderfully — especially one with a pour spout. With bamboo skewers from your local grocery store, the finished stick diffuser looks chic while wafting a gentle scent. And this cute and easy DIY would also make an awesome gift.

Read on for the easy directions