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Comment by Phoebe Macon on June 16, 2010 at 9:51pm

40 Fantastic Uses For Baking Soda
By Melissa Breyer
Posted Tue Jun 15, 2010 10:01am PDT

Most of us know that baking soda can be used for more than just making homemade cookies and other dough rise. It's not uncommon to see an open box of this leavening agent deodorizing refrigerators, for example. But did you know that there are at least 40 different ways to use baking soda?

Baking soda makes a perfect stand-in for many personal care, cleaning, and deodorizing products. The list of benefits is long: It is inexpensive, free of toxic chemicals, versatile, and effective.

Wondering how baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, works its magic? It helps regulate pH — keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, its natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering.

This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do things such as neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent's power). It's a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks.

And so without further ado, here are some of the many creative ways you can use baking soda.

Personal Care
1. Make toothpaste
A paste made from baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes. (Or here’s a formula for a minty version.) You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into baking soda for an extra boost.

2. Freshen your mouth
Put one teaspoon in half a glass of water, swish, spit, and rinse. Odors are neutralized, not just covered up.

3. Soak oral appliance
Soak oral appliances (like retainers, mouthpieces, and dentures) in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a glass or small bowl of warm water. The baking soda loosens food particles and neutralizes odors to keep appliances fresh. You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda.

4. Use as a facial scrub and body exfoliant
Give yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean. This is gentle enough for daily use.

5. Skip harsh deodorant
Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor.

6. Use as an antacid
Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions.

7. Treat insect bites and itchy skin
For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower.

8. Make a hand cleanser and softener
Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or 3 parts baking soda with gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.

9. Help your hair
Vinegar is amazing for your hair, but baking soda has its place in the shower too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly — baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.

10. Clean brushes and combs
For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.

11. Make a bath soak
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration. It also makes your skin feel very soft. Or just focus on soothing your feet. Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub.



Cleaning

12. Make a surface soft scrub
For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile, and sinks — even fiberglass and glossy tiles — sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste with baking soda, coarse salt, and liquid dish soap — let it sit then scour off.

13. Hand-wash dishes and pots and pans
Add 2 heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots, and pans. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratch-less scouring powder.

14. Freshen sponges
Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water). For more thorough disinfecting, use the microwave.

15. Clean the microwave
Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.

16. Polish silver flatware
Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.

17. Clean coffee and tea pots
Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. For stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge.

18. Clean the oven
Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen the baking soda. Let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.

19. Clean floors
Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no-wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water — mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse.

20. Clean furniture
Clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.

21. Clean shower curtains
Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.

22. Boost your liquid laundry detergent
Give your laundry a boost by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, and brighter. Or you can add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels or to neutralize gym clothes and odoriferous clothing.

23. Clean and freshen sports gear
Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf bags and gym bags to deodorize and clean golf irons (without scratching them!) with a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda to 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly.

24. Remove oil and grease stains
Use baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.

25. Clean batteries
Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc., because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and reconnecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery — they contain a strong acid.

26. Clean cars
Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats, and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs, and tar. For stubborn stains use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Eliminate odors by sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes (or longer for strong odors) and vacuum up the baking soda.



Deodorizing

27. Deodorize your refrigerator
Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors.

28. Deodorize trashcans and recyclables
Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells at bay. Clean your recyclables container periodically by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge. Wipe clean and rinse. Also, sprinkle baking soda on top as you add recyclables to the bin.

29. Deodorize drains and garbage disposals
To deodorize your sink and tub drains and garbage disposal and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water — it will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. (This a good way to dispose of baking soda that is being retired from your refrigerator.)

30. Deodorize and clean dishwashers
Use baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle cleanser in the wash cycle.

31. Deodorize lunch boxes
Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to absorb lingering odors.

32. Remove odor from carpets
Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight or as long as possible (the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking soda, and vacuum up the rest. (Note that your vacuum cleaner bag will get full and heavy.) An added bonus: You'll also deodorize your vacuum cleaner.

33. Freshen closets
Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh.

34. Deodorize pet items
Cover the bottom of your cat box with baking soda, then fill as usual with litter. To freshen between changes, sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter after a thorough cleaning. Eliminate odors from your pet's bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking soda, wait 15 minutes (or longer for stronger odors), then vacuum up.

35. Deodorize sneakers
Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them when not in use. Shake out before wearing.

36. Freshen stuffed animals
Keep favorite cuddly toys fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on and let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off.



Miscellaneous
37. Cure all camping needs
Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. It's a dish-washer, pot-scrubber, hand-cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, and fire extinguisher, and has many other uses.

38. Extinguish fires
Baking soda can help in the initial handling of minor grease or electrical kitchen fires, because when baking soda is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide, which helps to smother the flames. For small cooking fires (frying pans, broilers, ovens, grills), turn off the gas or electricity if you can safely do so. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire — and call the fire department just to be safe.

39. Care for the septic system
Regular use of baking soda in your drains can help keep your septic system flowing freely. One cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank.

40. Scrub fruits and vegetables
Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse.

Comment by Phoebe Macon on June 16, 2010 at 8:24pm

You're Welcome Tawnette!!
I Hope That You Are Having A Wonderful Wednesday!!

Love and Blessings,

Comment by Tawnette Fulton- Gilbert on June 16, 2010 at 2:16pm

GREAT POSTS PHOEBE!!!!!

Comment by Phoebe Macon on June 16, 2010 at 3:00am

How To Keep Your Best Employees On Board: Workers Are Motivated By More Than Money

DON'T LOSE YOUR EMPLOYEES: Money is nice. But attention, recognition and the chance to learn new skills are the key to keeping top performers on board as the job market improves, experts say.

More people are quitting their jobs voluntarily than getting laid off now. Human resources experts say employers can take several steps to keep employees from leaving, even when a competitor offers a higher salary.

Americans remain nervous about job stability, while the still-recovering economy means companies are largely not doling out lavish salary increases, said Harry Osle, a principal in consultancy Hackett Group Inc.'s human resources practice.

So what'll do the trick? Go personal and communicate. Employees "will be more hesitant to make a jump if they feel like they're part of a family, an organization that's investing in them," Osle said.

-- Make sure employees know what company goals are during the recovery from the recession, said Sayed Sadjady, who works on talent management for PricewaterhouseCoopers. New projects, a quest to regain lost market share -- these "bring excitement."

-- Mentoring and coaching relationships are also crucial, especially if mentors traveled a similar career path, Sadjady said. Isolated employees can feel they have no prospects with the company.

-- Employees need to learn new skills. Even if a promotion is not available, challenge high potential workers with projects that will enable them to learn new skills and take on a new role, said Tim Schoonover, the chairman of career consulting firm OI Partners. Otherwise, top performers will leave, he said.

-- Recognition. "People want to be appreciated. Give them attention," Schoonover said.

-- Flexible work schedules are also important, said Sadjady.

RANKING JOB MARKETS: Miami might have nice beaches, but it's also the most competitive major job market in the country, according to jobs search engine Indeed.com.

Indeed crunched the numbers of government unemployment data released earlier this month, ranking the 50 biggest metropolitan areas by number of jobless per job posting.

The least competitive job markets, broadly, were the Washington area; San Jose, Calif.; Baltimore; and New York, according to Indeed.com. Each had one job posting per jobless person.

Rounding out the top 10 least competitive were Hartford, Conn.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Salt Lake City; Seattle; Boston; and Milwaukee.

The most competitive job markets were Tampa; St. Louis; Jacksonville, Fla.; Orlando, Fla.; Chicago; Sacramento, Calif.; Riverside, Calif.; Los Angeles; Las Vegas; Detroit; and Miami.

Indeed.com based their rankings on metropolitan jobless rates for April, released June 2 by the Labor Department.

Comment by Phoebe Macon on June 16, 2010 at 2:45am

When Fights Over Money Ruin Marriages

(by Joe Mont)
Tuesday, June 15, 2010


Much has been written about how tough economic times have forced couples to postpone divorces. They just can't afford it. Legal costs and accountant fees grow as a union dissolves and a two-income household lives cheaper than a two-household pair of singles.


As the economy improves, we will probably see divorce rates creep up. But even if money woes are keeping couples together, financial disputes remain the root cause of irreconcilable differences.


(Here are seven common financial issues that can lead to divorce):


1- Paycheck Envy

More women are entering marriage with assets of their own and many are earning more than their spouses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in three married women out-earns her husband. That amount expands to more than half if they earn $55,000 or more.



Men can feel threatened by not having their traditional bragging rights as breadwinners. For women, it means they have their own money to protect from the irresponsible actions of a mate. With more at-stake, women can't afford to be deferential to their mate the way past generations were.



2- Debt

Utah State University professor Jeffrey Dew authored a widely cited study that concluded that couples who argue about finances at least once a week are 30% more likely to divorce than those who only vent occasionally about money issues. Couples with no assets were 70% more likely to divorce compared to couples with assets of $10,000.


Cutting into the ability to build assets is America's longstanding addiction to credit cards, but there may be cause for optimism. Having amassed a record-setting $988 billion in revolving debt in 2008, Americans chipped away at nearly $90 billion of it last year, according to the Federal Reserve. Fewer credit cards and less debt should mean increased savings, more assets and potentially happier couples.



3- Bills

As part of a survey last year, Fidelity Investments found that less than half of couples make day-to-day financial decisions together on issues such as budgeting and paying bills (45%).


In many couples, one person always pays monthly bills early while the other might procrastinate until the due date and beyond. Cutting checks can be even more stressful when an unnecessary shopping spree blows the monthly budget or a mate doesn't take kindly to the premium cable channels or costly text messages their better half piles into the mix.



4- Saving

While one half of a relationship may be thrifty, dedicated to building savings and committed to a retirement plan, the other may be more carefree, with a "live for today, you can't take it with you" outlook.



5- Investing
One can assume that investment decisions are increasingly dividing couples if both partners are financially savvy. Risk tolerance may be incompatible, with goals out-of-synch.


Dump Apple or go long may be as divisive a debate as how often a mother-in-law should visit. Looking over an investment portfolio or 401(k) plan, one spouse may want to explore emerging market funds, while the other dismisses anything but safe domestic large caps and bonds.


Can a quant guy find true happiness with a fundamental-analysis kind of gal?



6- Differing Expectations

There's no shortage of men and women who value money more than love and companionship. You may be quite content to "live on love" and weather financial situations "for better or worse." But she may feel entitled to a McMansion in a tony suburb and a Mercedes in which to drive your kids to private school. Trouble will be brewing along with her high-priced lattes.



7- Secret Stash

Financial infidelity is a newly coined term that describes situations in which a spouse hides cash or credit from his mate.


It may seem a good idea to have a secret credit card or bank account that you can dip into, but your partner will probably take great offense at the covert action. Beyond the financial dishonesty on display, such hidden reserves may be a warning sign of even bigger transgressions -- keeping a slush fund to pay for strip club tabs or supporting a mistress on the sly.

Comment by Phoebe Macon on June 14, 2010 at 11:43pm

Article: When You Dance...

Comment by Tawnette Fulton- Gilbert on June 12, 2010 at 5:23pm

Phoebe,
Thanks for The Flip-Flops 411 and The Recent Recalls!!
Thanks also for keeping us Informed!!!
Take Care,
Tawnette

Comment by Phoebe Macon on June 12, 2010 at 3:20am

Recalls Galore: Last Week in Review
(By: Mike Krumboltz)

The world is a dangerous place, but there are things you can do to minimize the risks: Wear your seat belt, look both ways, and, most importantly, always pay attention to product recalls. This week, several high-profile recalls rocked the Search box, as people sought more information on the potential dangers and, in one case, possible profits.

Make a profit at Mickey D's
McDonald's recently instigated a recall of its commemorative "Shrek" glasses. The glasses were tainted with a toxic metal called cadmium, which is carcinogenic and can lead to kidney problems. Generally speaking, it's something you don't want to have on your drinking glasses, so McDonald's ordered back millions of 'em. Time magazine gives the company props for acting quickly and going the extra mile to offer customers more for the returned glasses than what was initially paid. That's right, customers originally paid as little as $2 per glass, but McDonald's is offering $3 per glass. The potential profit may be modest, but it helped spark a slew of searches on "mcdonalds recall" and "shrek glasses recall." Both terms spiked well over 1,000% over the past seven days.

Chevrolet: 'Y'all come back now'
Chevrolet's much talked about name change ("Chevy" is out, "Chevrolet" is in) wasn't the only bit of news about the automaker this week. Also receiving significant buzz: its 1.5 million vehicle recall. A popular article from the AP explains that the problem stems from the heated windshield wiper fluid system. It has the potential to catch on fire, though there have been no reported injuries due to the defective part. Still, people sat up and took notice. Web searches on "chevy recall 2010" redlined throughout the week. This isn't the first time Chevrolet has had to institute a recall over this issue. It recalled cars over a similar problem last year. The Christian Science Monitor reports that Chevrolet will disable the heated windshield wiper fluid system and give owners $100 for their troubles.

Not even the dishes are safe
And the recall mania continues. Whirlpool's Maytag division instituted a recall of 1.7 million dishwashers after it was discovered that they present a fire hazard. No injuries have been reported, according to the USA Today. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which announced the recall Thursday, "says the company has received 12 reports of electrical failures in the dishwasher heating element that led to fires and damage." Concerned your dishwasher might be part of the recall? You can check out the CPSC's site for more information. In the meantime, you might want to wash your dishes the old-fashioned way.

STAY SAFE EVERYONE!!

Comment by Edmund Stevens on June 8, 2010 at 3:57pm

Thanks Jacquelyn for thinking of us Men, will do very soon!
Peace, Ed

Comment by Jacquelyn Brown on June 8, 2010 at 3:28pm

ATTENTION ALL MEN!!
Okay Men, in the last 2 weeks I've heard of 3 Male Celebrities passing on. Men please take care of yourselves so that you can be around a lot longer. We all know that you guys are the last ones to go to the Doctor, but if you want to live longer it is a MUST!
Love you all and take care!
Jacq. B.

P.S. PHOEBE, THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL OF YOUR POSTS ARE APPRECIATED!!

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