Baking Soda Might Need Help
Dear Heloise: My FREEZER AND FRIDGE smell! I do have boxes of baking soda in both, yet they still smell moldy. What do I do? — E. Reed, via fax
Simply putting a box of baking soda in the fridge probably won’t do it. There are many other causes for such a smell. Start by checking for leaky containers and old leftovers, and clean out the veggie bins!
Then, using equal parts white (or apple cider) vinegar and water, wipe down the inside of your refrigerator. Wash the walls, bins and shelves.
Go ahead and put a new box of baking soda (or a bowl of baking soda on a shelf) in to help absorb future odors. For more great timesaving and money-saving hints using vinegar and baking soda, order my two pamphlets by sending $8 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (86 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda/Vinegar, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Keep in mind that the baking soda in the refrigerator should be replaced often, and DO NOT use it for cooking afterward! The odors it absorbed could transfer into your food! — Heloise
CORNER HELPER
Dear Heloise: I have a hint for if you have an area rug where one of the corners starts to curl up. Find a circular metal washer the size of that corner of the rug. Turn over the corner and measure to make sure the washer fits WITHIN the corner. Take a needle and thread, and sew the washer to the rug. The weight of the washer will relax that corner. — Diane W. in Kentucky
You can use duct tape, too! — Heloise
CLEANING CAPS
Dear Heloise: Please, please reprint the instructions on how to wash my caps to remove the sweat stains. I cut the column out of the paper but lost it. I have to save my caps! — Esther M. in Texas
Oh no, Esther! Don’t worry. You can try a couple of things. Just be sure the caps are not old or valuable and are washable.
You can wash them by hand with gentle soap and water, scrubbing the inside stains with a toothbrush. Rinse well under running water, then hang to dry or place on an upside-down metal bowl.
You also can use the TOP rack of the dishwasher. Take a clothespin to secure each cap to the top rack. Use the normal amount of dishwasher detergent, stop the dishwasher after the rinse cycle, remove the caps and hang to dry. — Heloise
KEEP FRESH
Dear Heloise: I fill the “make your own tea bags” with rice. I then put one in cereal, chips, crackers, powdered drink mix or anything else that can get stale. Then I seal the bag shut with a clip. It keeps items fresh much longer. — Roger in Indiana
SAVE EXTRAS
Dear Heloise: Even the occasional visit to a fast-food restaurant can leave you with extra condiment packages and plasticware. I save all these for traveling, camping or for the occasional picnic. — Judy K. in Washington
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.