0 Baking soda pops

I used to horrify my sister and girlfriends by using Vaseline on my face. Hey—I like it.

Anyway, I am feeling Heloise-y today, so how about some tips on using baking soda from Vicki Lansky’s book called Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous,. Fun, and Frugal Uses You’ve Probably Never Thought Of.

I am posting this on my Recession Fun blog, too—http://hopeycopey.blogspot.com. You DO read that, I hope.

First, you can use baking soda to wash food like veggies and fruit. I am famous in my family for asking my then-mate if one uses soap to wash potatoes. If ONLY I had known this!

You can make a drain cleaner of a half a cup of baking soda, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Put a glass bowl over the drain from two hours, then run in hot water.

Vacuum up soda to kill odors in your vacuum. I can honestly say a stinky vac is the least of my problems.

Musty books? Baking soda between the pages, brush out in a few days.

Soak up oil and grease with it on the garage floor.

Put it in driveway cracks to kill weeds.

Clean tents and canvas bags with a paste of soda and water.

Burned-on food? Pour on a thick layer, an inch of water and boil. After one minute, get the crud off.

You can even make a dishwasher detergent with 2 tablespoons of soda and two of borax. My kid won’t let me try this…and I am offended. I believe the word “crackpot” might have been used.

Any others, readers? (No—not names you want to call me.)