Hold Onto Your Hydrangeas

EXAMINE when the hydrangea blooming season is nearing its end. Wait until all flowers have opened fully and the colors have just begun to fade. Resist the temptation to harvest the flowers in the height of their color.

CUT at least 12 to 18 inches from the base of the flowers.

STRIP leaves from stems and move the cut flowers into a container filled with clean water. The stems should be submerged at least halfway.

PLACE in a well-ventilated, dry area away from direct sunlight.

WAIT until the water has evaporated entirely from the vase. When no liquid remains, the blooms are dry and can be used in wreaths and craft projects, or for further display.

photograph BY Brie Williams

Clean & Simple Summer

Struggling to keep the house shipshape while the kids are out of school? Here are a few tips for keeping things (relatively) tidy during busy summer days.

Opt for white slipcovers: A wise investment, these can be bleached every few months to look like new. Plus, nothing says summer like a house dressed in just-washed whites!

Choose semi-gloss paint: This makes for easy-wipe walls, a saving grace for high-traffic areas. Plus, the sheen reflects (and thus amplifies) light.

Keep a tool kit: OxiClean for laundry and spills, bleach for tough stains, and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for smudges.

Vacuum and sweep often: Clean floors have a way of shining up the rest of the house. Because tumbleweeds of dirt, hair, and kitchen crumbs can pile up quickly, make time for a brief once-over daily or several times a week.

Raise self-cleaning kids: Make a habit of nightly clean sweeps, when everyone puts away sporting equipment, books, and anything else out of its place. That way, when a pillow fort pops up on a rainy afternoon, the clean-up crew is already on hand.