Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: When using the vinegar-and-baking-soda combination to clean drains, I don’t use the baking soda I’ve got for baking. I save the box that I use in my fridge or freezer. After it’s been in the fridge for approximately three months, I use it with vinegar for my drains. It’s thrifty and recycles at the same time. – Cora, via e-mail

Don’t you love it? What could be better than saving money and helping Mother Nature by not using harsh chemicals? This all-natural, home-style mixture of vinegar and baking soda is a great drain-freshening method that costs only pennies. Just pour 1/2 cup or so of baking soda down the drain and follow with 1 to 2 cups of cheap household vinegar. Wait a few minutes, and meanwhile, put in the stopper and fill the sink up. Pull the plug and let the “whoosh” push everything through. – Heloise