text: Baking Soda Eats Grease - tribunedigital-sunsentinel
  May 10, 1996|HELOISE
  Dear Heloise: I have wallpaper over my stove that is washable. Is there anything I can use to safely remove grease stains without ruining the paper? - Deanne Lowther, Westerly, R.I.
  Dear Deanne: The safest, most environmentally friendly cleaner you can try is baking soda.
  Make a baking soda paste using a little water. Dab it on the grease stains and let dry. It should absorb the grease. Then, using a soft brush or cloth, just brush it away. You may need to repeat.
  If the baking soda doesn't do the trick, you may have to try something stronger, like dry-cleaning solvent. Just apply it to a cloth and test in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't fade the color. If it's safe to use, gently blot (do not rub) the stain until it is gone.
  Dear Heloise: When I clean my bathroom floors, I put my cleaning solution in the empty plastic bathroom wastebasket. That way, the basket gets cleaned at the same time as the floor. - Carol Morris, Valparaiso, Ind.
  Dear Heloise: Here's an inexpensive way to make your own photo album for wallet-sized pictures: Purchase sports-card pages. Each sheet has nine pockets, usually top-loads and holds 18 pictures back-to-back. They fit into any standard three-ring binder and are readily available in small or large quantities from many sources (department stores, greeting-card shops, office-supply and drug stores, sports-card shops, etc.). The pictures slide easily into the pockets. Additional pages can be added as needed. - Alvin Goodman, Harrisburg, Pa.
  Dear Heloise: When it comes time to store inflatable items such as toys, beach balls, rafts, etc., just release the air nozzle and sit on the object. It will flatten quickly and be ready to easily fold. - Phyllis, Keyport, N.J.
  Dear Heloise: When I buy a head of iceberg lettuce, I chop it into salad-size pieces, put the pieces into plastic vegetable bags and refrigerate. This not only keeps the lettuce from spoiling, but it is also ready to use in salads. It is cheaper than the ready-to-serve lettuce sold prepackaged in the grocery stores. - Betty DePauw, Newark, N.Y.
  Dear Heloise: Some of my favorites are oatmeal containers or stuffing canisters. Cover in self-adhesive vinyl paper to match your decor. You can use them to store toy figures (and their tiny accessories) or for plastic grocery bags placed in your bathroom vanity for trash-can liners. - Rebecca Coltrain, Batesville, Ark.