FRUGAL FRIDAY TIP: 57 USES FOR BAKING SODA

Bicarbonate of soda or baking soda has many different uses in the household! We use it a LOT around here. Here are 57 ways you can use it. If you know of more, please let me know.

1. You can make your own Baking Powder with it. To make your own baking powder, stir and sift together 2 parts of Cream of Tartar to 1 part baking soda and 1 part cornstarch.

2. Fires. Be sure to keep an extra box of baking soda by your stove in case of grease or electrical fire. Scatter the powder by the handful to safely put it out. Keep a container of baking soda in your garage as well as in your car to put out a fire. It won't damage anything it touches. Baking soda will also put out fires in clothing, fuel, wood, upholstery and rugs.

3. Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda. Sprinkle in water, soak and rise the produce.

4. Wash & deodorize garbage cans with baking soda.

5. Soak and wash diapers with baking soda.

6. Oil and grease -- stained clothing washes out better with baking soda added to the washing water.

7. Clean your fridge and freezer with dry baking soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. rinse with clear water.

8. Deodorize your fridge and freezer by putting in an open container of baking soda to absorb odors. Stir and turn over the baking soda from time to time. Replace every 2 months.

9. Soda absorbs kitty litter odors. Cover the bottom of the kitty box with 1 part baking soda; then add a layer of three parts kitty litter on top.

10. Always add 1/2-cup baking soda to your washing machine load.

11. Clean combs and brushes in a baking soda solution.

12. Wash food and drink containers with baking soda and water.

13. Wash marble-topped furniture with a solution of 3-tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Let stand awhile, then rinse.

14. Clean formica counter tops with baking soda on a damp sponge.

15. Wash out thermos bottles and cooling containers with baking soda and water to get rid of stale smells.

16. To remove stubborn stains from marble, formica or plastic surfaces, scour with a paste of baking soda and water.

17. Wash glass or stainless steel coffee pots (but not aluminum) in a baking soda solution ( 3-tablespoons soda to 1 quart water).

18. Run your coffee maker through its cycle with a baking soda solution. Rinse.

19. Give baby bottles a good cleaning with baking soda and hot water.

20. Sprinkle baking soda on barbecue grills, let soak, then rinse off.

21. Sprinkle baking soda on greasy garage floor. Let stand, scrub and rinse.

22. Polish silverware with dry baking soda on a damp cloth. Rub, rinse and dry.

23. For silver pieces without raised patterns or cemented-on handles: place the silver on aluminum foil in an enamel pot. Add boiling water and 4 tablespoons baking soda. Let stand, rinse and dry.

24. Reduce odor build-up in your dishwasher by sprinkling some baking soda on the bottom.

25. Run your dishwasher through its cycle with baking soda in it instead of soap to give it a good cleaning.

26. To remove burned-on food from a pan: let the pan soak in baking soda and water for 10 minutes before washing. Or scrub the pot with dry soda and a moist scouring pad.

27. For a badly-burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on food: pour a thick layer of baking soda directly onto the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle on just enough water so as to moisten the baking soda. Leave the pot overnight, then scrub it clean next day.

28. Rub stainless steel and chrome with a moist cloth and dry baking soda to shine it up. Rinse and dry. On stainless steel, scrub in the direction of the grain.

29. Clean plastic, porcelain and glass with dry soda on a damp cloth. Rinse and dry.

30. Clean your bathroom with dry baking soda on a moist sponge -- sink, tub, tiles, shower stall, etc.

31. Keep your drains clean and free-flowing by putting 4 tablespoons of soda in them each week. Flush the soda down with hot water.

32. Soak your shower curtains in water and baking soda to clean them.

33. To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and rub them hard with baking soda, then rinse.

34. Sprinkle baking soda on your wet toothbrush and brush your teeth and dentures with it.

35. Sprinkle baking soda in tennis shoes, socks, boots and slippers to eliminate odor.

36. Add 1/2-cup or more of baking soda to your bath water to soften your skin.

37. Putting 2-tablespoons of baking soda in your baby's bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.

38. Apply baking soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.

39. Take a baking soda bath to relieve general skin irritations such as measles and chicken pox.

40. Take 1/2-teaspoon of baking soda in one-half glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.

41. Gargle with 1/2-teaspoon baking soda in one-half glass of water. Freshens and cleans your mouth.

42. Used as a mouthwash, baking soda will also relieve canker sore pain.

43. To relieve sunburn: use a paste of baking soda and water.

44. Bug bites: use a poultice of baking soda and vinegar.

45. Bee sting: use a poultice of baking soda and water.

46. Windburns: moisten some baking soda and apply directly.

47. Making Play Clay with baking soda: combine 1 1/4 cups water, 2 cups soda, 1 cup cornstarch.

48. Use baking soda as an underarm deodorant.

49. If your baby spits up on his shirt after feeding, moisten a cloth, dip it in baking soda and dab at the dribbled shirt. The odor will go away.

50. When scalding a chicken, add 1-teaspoon of baking soda to the boiling water. The feathers will come off easier and flesh will be clean and white.

51. Repel rain from windshield. Put gobs of baking soda on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.

52. Add baking soda to water to soak dried beans to make them more digestible.

53. Add baking soda to water to remove the "gamey" taste from wild game.

54. Use baking soda to sweeten sour dishcloths.

55. Use baking soda dry with a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.

56. Use to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from toaster. Dampen cloth and make a mild abrasive with baking soda.

57. To eliminate dog odors or just freshen up the air, sprinkle baking soda on your carpet where your dog lies and vaccuum up. Leave the soda on the carpet for half an hour. It also eliminates odor in your vaccuum after it has been vaccuumed up. A great way to freshen up your home air during the winter when everything is closed up.

FRUGAL FRIDAY TIP: HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN VELVEETA

We have a number of recipes that we absolutely love but they call for Velveeta cheese. Something about Velveeta scares me; mostly not knowing what all is in it and then there is the price! If my children are eating something called cheese, I would prefer it actually BE cheese. So we make our own version of Velveeta. We've been told often that people cannot tell the difference. Here is how we go about it:

3/4 lb Cheddar (shredded)
3/4 lb Colby (shredded)
1 1/2 cups hot water (make sure it is very hot)
1/2 cup + 1 Tablespoon powdered/instant milk
1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
3/8 teaspoons of salt (we use cheese salt but have used sea salt in the past as well)

Before you get started, line a bread loaf pan with plastic wrap.

Put the following into a bowl to be blended together.

1/2 cup of the hot water
1/4 cup of the Cheddar (shredded)
1/4 cup of the Colby (shredded)
3 Tablespoons of the powdered/instant milk
1/2 teaspoon of the gelatin
1/8 teaspoon of salt

Whip together until gelatin is dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Poor into your plastic wrap-lined loaf pan.
Repeat this process twice until all of your ingredients are used.
Cover with more plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator overnight to chill and form.

Remove from the loaf pan the next day and use as needed. You will want to keep it refrigerated until it is all gone. Enjoy!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BAKING POWDER:

Did you know you can make your own Baking Powder? Just mix the following:

If you want standard Baking Powder -

1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon corn starch (optional)

Store it in a jar in your pantry or spice cabinet and enjoy!

Frugal Friday Tip (2 days late...sorry!) Making your own taco & fajita seasoning

Rather than buying pkgs of taco seasoning and fajita seasoning, you can mix your own with basic spices most of us already have in our spice cabinet. The pkgs are expensive and not at all necessary. Here is a recipe for each. Enjoy!

Taco Seasoning:

1 Tbs chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp black pepper

In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients. Store in a glass container that is air tight. I use a canning jar.

I multiply this times 10 and store it in a canning jar to use as needed. I have found that 2 tablespoons of this mixture equals about the same as a store bought seasoning package.

Fajita Seasoning:

3 Tbs cornstarch
2 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs salt
1 Tbs paprika
1 Tbs sugar
2 1/2 tsp crushed chicken bouillon cube
1 1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp cumin

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Pour into a glass container and store with an air tight lid. Store in a cool dry place. Makes the equivalent of 3 packets of commercial or purchased fajita seasoning mix.

I multiply this by 10 and store it in a canning jar so that I have it whenever I might need it. I then use it as needed to prepare fajitas. A few tablespoons goes a long ways. Season meat to taste.