Hints from Heloise

Dear Heloise: My children don’t always use coasters on our hardwood coffee table. Is there any way to remove those pesky water rings? – C.R., Schertz, Texas

Mix some nongel white toothpaste with a little baking soda and rub it into the rings until warm. It can take time for the marks to disappear. When they are gone, wax or use furniture polish on the wood. Baking soda is one of my all-time favorite cheap, environmentally safe cleaners. There are lots of ways to use baking soda around your home instead of expensive commercial cleaners. If you would like to check out all the ways to use it, please send $5 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (59 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Baking soda does deodorize, and it also does a fabulous job when used with some liquid detergent (dish soap) to clean the sink. Scrub and rinse. – Heloise