Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Things I Did Not Know About Baking Soda




Looking over the web news early this morning while sipping the wake up coffee, trying to get motivated to do anything resembling constructive today and avoiding any references to last night’s “State of the Union” address, or as I like to think of it, “The George W. Bush Too Little Too Late Show”, I decided to put the cynic hat away for awhile and offer up something that might, in some way, make your day a little brighter.
And, son of a gun, I found ten really cool things you can do with baking soda…so, from me to you, good day and good soda-ing….

1. Remove tape residue
Make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Rub the paste onto bits of tape stuck to windows, then wipe clean.

2. Douse flames
Keep a box of baking soda in your workshop or kitchen to sprinkle on a fire if one breaks out.

3. Zap roaches
Set out a shallow dish or bowl containing equal parts sugar and baking soda. Roaches are attracted to the sugar, but the mixture is deadly to them.

4. Spot-clean a rug
Sprinkle baking soda on greasy spots and let sit for about an hour. Scrub gently with a damp sponge or brush, then vacuum to remove any leftover grime.

5. Absorb moisture
Keep an open box of baking soda in your tool cabinet to fend off moisture that could rust saws or other equipment.

6. Keep drains clear
Once a week, pour a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar down your kitchen sink. It'll help keep your pipes clog-free.

7. Clean a shower door
Pour some baking soda on a damp sponge, wipe the door, and rinse with warm water.

8. Uncrust your grill
Sprinkle baking soda directly on an indoor or outdoor grill. Let sit overnight, then slough off the grime with a wire brush and warm water.

9. Scrub your paws
Rubbing your hands with warm water and a palmful of baking soda will remove stubborn odors.

10. Banish book odors
Seal musty-smelling books for a few weeks in a plastic bag with baking soda sprinkled inside to eliminate mildew and odors.

I can’t speak for you, but gosh darn, even I, who basically know everything, found a couple of heretofore unknown facts that I will surely be making use of.

What a remarkable and versatile product, this simple baking soda, And when you come across something that does so many things, it’s only natural to wish that it could take care of other little pesky life needs.
So, while, like you I’m sure, I’m pretty durned impressed with what the old Arm and Hammer can do…but, I would really be knocked out with it if you could ...


…dip your finger in baking soda before you dial up any 800-customer service number and the voice that answered would be clear and articulate, eliminating any need for you to be proficient at hearing what you need to hear through the heavy accent of someone from India or Pakistan…

…seal your checkbook overnight in a baggie with baking soda sprinkled inside so that when you go to the bank the next day, there’s more than one teller window open at lunchtime…because all the other tellers have gone to lunch…

…sprinkle a little soda on your grocery list to insure that the 12 item or less express line wouldn’t have any of those clowns with a half a shopping cart full of stuff…oh…and that same sprinkle would guarantee that there would be at least three of the fourteen checkouts open at any given time and the number of store employees standing in the aisles with clipboards while the lines back up would be one or less…

…lightly dust the bottom of your cable box and the cable guy would ask you what time would be convenient for them to come and repair the damn thing…

…walk through a schoolyard, throwing handfuls of baking soda on the ground, and teachers would make six figures a year while working in state of the art educational facilities….

…walk through any corporate office, throwing similar handfuls, and CEO’s making over a hundred grand would be required to teach pro bono on the weekends…

… put a little smidge of baking soda on your television…and you never have to hear the names Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, INSERT YOUR FAVORITE NAME HERE, again…

…sprinkle a little baking soda on the presidential candidate of your choice and they would start giving straight answers to questions instead of mouthing their programmed responses…

Seems unfair that a product that can suck the worst odors out of your refrigerator cant do anything about the way politics smells.

Turns out even miracle products have their limits.

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