4 surprising things you can do for just a dollar

1. Make it sparkle

For sparkling windows, mix equal parts distilled water (particles in tap water can leave a residue and streaks) and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe. If you’re cleaning your windows for the first time, you might want to add 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap to the mixture, to get rid of any residue on your windows from commercial window cleaners. Find three different vinegar window cleaning recipes on Care 2 Green Living.

2. Make it shine

For a clean oven — no fumes, no scrubbing — sprinkle your oven with baking soda, then spray with water until completely damp, but not soupy. Wait until the mixture is dry, then spray again. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can mix up the baking soda and water into a paste in a bowl and then spread it in the oven. Let sit overnight, then scoop up the mixture, along with all the dirt and grease, with a sponge. With a clean rag or sponge, wipe down the remaining white residue.

3. Make your own light show

For pretty candles that don’t cost an arm and a leg, try this trick from HGTV’s Emily Henderson: take an ordinary candle from the 99 Cent store (if it has a label on it, use a blow dryer to soften the adhesive and peel it off) and paint it with metallic paint (available in small jars from toy stores) or left-over glossy paint from another project.

4. Make a bookshelf from a book

Before you throw away those old hardbacks — with a few screws and an L bracket, you can turn old hardback books into shelves for more books. Genius. For step-by-step instructions, visit Instructables.