When was the last time you even looked at a Lillian Vernon catalog? I know — it’s been years! But my mom has been absolutely raving about these black and yellow lint balls that reduce the amount of lint and pet hair on your clothes. You just toss them in your washing machine, and the nylon micro-brushes catch and hold the fuzz, rather than having it redeposit on your clothes. Since I’m constantly plagued by cat hair (two white cats will do that) I decided to take the plunge and get some, testing them first on my dark brown flannel sheets (which are a cat hair magnet). Lo and behold, they seemed to help — and I even noticed my towels produced less lint in the dryer. I’ll admit, I was pleasantly surprised! — Megan B.

I stumbled across these handcrafted soaps at Seattle Sundries and am desperate to try one. My fave? Gender Neutral. The ingredients — cocoa powder, vanilla and sweet birch essentials oils — add up to a scent described as “slightly reminiscent of root beer.” Just $9.50 for a tin, although, on second thought, I better order two. The tins are definitely fight-worthy! — Sarah L.

Okay, so it’s robot vacuum day on Shelterrific! The table-top robot butler got us thinking about the Roomba. Even though they’ve made a splash (or vroom, if you will) on the domestic landscape, I don’t actually know of anyone who uses one. iRobot not only has the Roomba to vacuum your floors but they also make a Scooba to wash them, a Dirt Dog to sweep your garage, a Verro to clean your pool, and a Looj to clean your gutters. Do you have your own household cleaning robot? How well does it work? And, more importantly, how long before they become sentient and try to take over the world from their human masters? — Katie D.

When I was little, I dreamed about when I would grow up. I’d picture myself in my twenties in a high-rise floating apartment with bright pink Jem hair and a robot assistant. I don’t live in a high rise and I’m still a brunette, but I’m one step closer to the personal robot assistant of my dreams with the mini robo vacuum from Fred Flare, $20. This adorable guy is happy to be your crumb valet and whisk away all those wayward toast morsels every morning. — Katie D.

Here’s a new one for us. Luke writes:

“I have tried everything but nothing worked. How do you remove those hard water stains inside your toilet?”

We’re not exactly sure what constitutes “everything,’ but a little online sleuthing did lead us to some forums and articles on removing those stains. Here’s a video that recommends draining the water from the toilet, then pouring in two two-liter bottles of cola and letting it sit for four hours to break down the stain, though a couple commenters say it didn’t work for them. There are also a lot of other videos that pop up at that link. Several sources, like this how-to guide at Reader’s Digest, suggest using The Works. Commenters at this Thrifty Fun forum suggest everything from spraying the bowl with Listerine to using an S.O.S. soap pad.

I confess this isn’t a problem I’ve had to deal with myself, so I don’t have personal experience to share. Readers, any tips for Luke? — Mary T.

I try to take little steps each day toward living a greener life. Original Spaghetti Scrub by Goodbye Detergent! is going to be my next step. The eco-friendly scrubber consists of natural abrasives made from corn cobs and peach pits that reduce the need for harsh detergents. Plus, they dry quickly and completely so there’s never a stinky or moldy sponge in your sink. Pick up a package of two for $8.95 at Crate and Barrel. — Erica P.

Typical situation: I walked into Anthropologie yesterday and saw something for the “love” list. This week’s obsession? Felted soap. Handmade in the USA by Fiat Luxe, these adorable little soaps double as sudsy (and anti-fungal!) washcloths that can be reused when the original scented soap has magically disappeared. Made with no synthetic, chemical, nor animal ingredients, they may be the perfect thing for that weary post-holiday shopper: you! You can find Fiat Luxe Felted Soap for $14 at Anthropologie, Beautyhabit, or Amazon.com. Or if you prefer to let your wallet sleep in, see simple soap felting DIY instructions here and here. — Sarah C.

Last week, I decided to be proactive and plan the holiday table. While my goal remains to become a flea market regular and find an eclectic mix of red transferware plates for the holidays, for now, it’s the Maribeth salad plates from Pier 1. Paired with my everyday (and only) china, they do the trick. Next, a mix of antique pewter liquor cups and gills filled with Nandina berries and boxwood plucked from the backyard. Finally, I pulled out our wedding crystal and pewter candlesticks (last used in August) and realized I (gulp) had more cleaning left to do. Here are some of my fave pre- and post-event cleaning tricks:

Wax drips: If you have wax drips on a tablecloth or candlesticks, a short trip to the freezer will do the trick. Wait until the wax hardens, then chip off. If a wax stain remains on your linens, you will either need to pour hot water over the stain or iron between sheets of paper towels before treating and washing.

Pewter: If dusting doesn’t seem to do the trick for pewter, stick with soap and water. Anything else will ruin the patina that develops naturally over time.

Crystal: A few drops of vinegar added to warm, soapy water will make crystal stemware sparkle. If you have a pitcher or decanter that is cloudy, add the same vinegar/soap/water mixture plus enough uncooked rice to “scrub” the inside while you swirl the liquid around.

Silver: Rather than paying for a chemical cleaner, go the old fashioned (and green) route. Line a container with aluminum foil. Place the silver so every piece is touching the foil and add hot water until the items are submerged. Add a small amount of salt, then a cup or two of fresh baking soda and wait until the tarnish dissolves. When the water is cool, remove silver and polish with a soft, dry cloth. — Sarah L.

Remember when I wrote about a well-edited kitchen? I shared my plight of way too many pots, pans, gadgets, and dishes that I’m just not ready to give up. Well, it looks like I’ve finally exhausted all my current organizing options. While I intend to do a massive cleaning out over the next few weeks, I’d really like to put up a shelf and a bar for hanging pots in my kitchen. The walls in my pre-war apartment have the ability to elude the most accurate of stud-finders, so the only space sturdy enough for a shelf would be the window frame. I’m hoping to replicate this shelf, adding a sturdy bar underneath for pots. Does anyone have any idea how to do this? Should I get a tension bar? Should I put up hooks and a curtain rod? What hooks should I use to hang the pots? Help! — Erica P.

Should you drink milk after the sell-by date? Can you freeze raw eggs? Does vinegar ever go bad? How long should you hang onto that opened jar of salsa? StillTasty to the rescue! This comprehensive site tells you what’s safe to eat, what you should probably pitch, and how to get the most life out of your foodstuffs. We love it. See it all here.