A new device can keep water waste and bills in check by sensing when a toilet runs excessively and shutting off the water supply.

The H2Orb Water Management System from AquaOne Technologies attaches to the fill valve and stops water from flowing to the toilet in the event of a leak or overflow. It also sounds an alarm to alert you and indicates the source of the problem.

It can be ordered for $127 at www.theh2orb.com.

— Mary Beth Breckenridge, McClatchy-Tribune News Services

LAUNDRY MYTHS DEBUNKED

YOU MAY BE MESSING UP YOUR WASH

Not everything Mom taught us about doing laundry was on the mark.

The Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Sciences sets us straight with these laundry myths and facts:

Myth: Bleach mixed with detergent helps clean and whiten at the same time.

Fact: Adding bleach with detergent counteracts the bleach's effectiveness. Instead, add bleach during the last five minutes of the wash cycle, or use the machine's automatic bleach dispenser.

Myth: More suds equal better cleaning.

Fact: Excess suds hold onto soils and redeposit them onto your laundry. If you have a front-loading washer, use a high-efficiency detergent to reduce suds.

Myth: Using the dryer leads to shrinkage.

Fact: In a dryer, it's the lack of moisture, not the heat, that causes clothes to shrink. Dryers with moisture sensors shut off the dryer automatically to prevent overdrying.

— Mary Beth Breckenridge, McClatchy-Tribune News Services