How can I make fresh garlic last as long as possible?

First things first: Purchase only loose garlic (not bags of garlic heads) so that you can hand-select the healthiest ones. Fresh garlic should feel firm - soft spots suggest the cloves have begun to spoil. In addition, look for heads with dry, papery skin. It should be snowy white, and not speckled or mottled, which indicates the onset of mold.

When you get home, store garlic inside a mesh bag in a dark cabinet, or in a decorative pottery garlic keeper, which is nothing more than a lidded ceramic pot with small air holes. Both methods keep garlic out of direct sunlight and allow for plenty of airflow. These conditions will keep the bulbs dry and dormant for up to two months. A brown paper bag, closed loosely and kept in a light-free place, is also an effective storage container.

The refrigerator's vegetable crisper, on the other hand, is moist and chilly, a combination of conditions that causes garlic to turn moldy and eventually sprout. Sprouts, which start at the center of each clove, are not toxic but impart a slightly bitter flavor to foods. To salvage sprouted cloves, cut them in half and extract the pale-green shoot.

Peeled garlic cloves can be stored in the freezer in an airtight bag or container for several months; once thawed, however, they will be softer than fresh cloves and their flavor will not be as intense. While some older cookbooks advise storing peeled cloves immersed in olive oil, this method is known to provide a breeding ground for botulinum bacteria and should not be used.

Drop ceilings consist of a metal grid that hangs from the ceiling joists and holds panels of various shapes, sizes, and materials. They're often found in basements, because the removable panels allow quick access to plumbing, wiring, and other mechanical systems. If the drop ceiling is located elsewhere in the house, chances are it was put in as an inexpensive way to conceal a cracked or damaged plaster ceiling.

Although practical, drop ceilings aren't necessarily pretty. Fortunately, these ceilings are fairly easy to replace, but you'll be left with the original issue, be it exposed pipes or water stains.

If the drop ceiling was deployed to hide the house's systems, your best bet is to upgrade the panels. They're much better looking than they used to be, with raised paneling and other flourishes. Depending on the manufacturer, you might be able to take advantage of the existing grid system and simply swap in new panels. If the drop ceiling is covering damaged plaster, you can also opt to replace the panels.

But if you want to reclaim a few inches of lost ceiling height, you can remove the panels and grid, and repair the original plaster - a project that is messy and labor intensive. A better approach is to put up drywall over the plaster. Also called wallboard, the material now comes in 1/4-inch sheets, which are lighter and easier to install than the old 1/2-inch standard.

This is definitely the season for sticky shirt sleeves - just ask anyone charged with watering the Christmas tree. As with any potential stain, it's important to treat sap while it's fresh. This will prevent the stain from setting and possibly causing permanent discoloration.

With delicate materials, such as silk , dry cleaning is the best alternative, fabric-care expert Steve Boorstein says. But with a tougher garment, such as a cotton shirt or denim jeans, consider a home remedy.

If the drip is fresh, try to soak up any sap on the fabric's surface with a paper towel. If the sap has started to harden, hasten the process by rubbing the area gently with ice (press the ice against the wrong side of the fabric to avoid forcing sap into the fibers). Then scrape away the hardened sap carefully with a dull knife. Dab the remaining sap with mineral spirits or oil solvent, and let it air-dry. Rub laundry detergent over the area to help break up the spirits or solvent, and wash the garment as you normally would.

Adapted from Martha Stewart Living Magazine. Questions should be addressed to Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 11 W. 42nd Street, New York, N.Y., 10036. Questions may also be sent by electronic mail to: mslletters@marthastewart.com. Please include your name, address, and daytime telephone number. Questions of general interest will be answered in this column; Martha Stewart regrets that unpublished letters cannot be answered individually. For more information on the topics covered in the Ask Martha column, visit marthastewart.com.