Hints from Heloise

Dear Readers: When you give a friend a lift in your car, do you wonder if that new-car scent has been replaced by stale smoke odor or maybe the lingering smell of sour milk from a container that spilled a while back? A little baking soda may be all you’ll need to freshen the air.

Try sprinkling the interior carpet and seat if they are fabric with a generous coat of baking soda. Brush or rub it in, then leave it on overnight and vacuum it up. This works great for trunk odors, too. For an alphabetical list of cleaning and deodorizing hints, send $4 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (58 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. FYI: Baking soda also can be used to eliminate stale odors in a seldom-used closet. Sprinkle on carpeting, or place margarine tubs filled with baking soda in several areas to help absorb odors. – Heloise