Removing red wine

Open another bottle – a bottle of white that is. Quickly blot off the red wine with a paper towel, then neutralize it with the white wine. Finish by whiping it clean with a cold damp cloth. If you are out of white wine work some table salt or baking soda into the stain and dab it off with club soda.

Travel tip for High-Tech gear

Place a sticker with your contact information on any high-tech or electronic gear you are traveling with. If you lose it and are lucky enough to have an honest person find it, that person can get in touch with you to arrange its return.

Removing scuff marks on shoes

Prepare a paste using 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water. Using a clean cloth to apply the paste, wipe off the scuff marks. You can also use a gum eraser (found in stationary and art-supply stores).

Toilet tank maintenance

The flush valve and ballcock in the tank receive a lot of wear and tear. To prolong the replacement of these parts, pour ½ of a 1-pound box of baking soda in the tank once a month at bedtime. When you flush the next morning the tank - and bowl too – should be nice and clean. You can also drop a couple of denture cleansing tablets in the tank and flush in one hour.

Maintaining a clothes washer

Detergent residue builds up in your washer and prevents it from doing its best. At the start of each month run your machine without laundry and a cup of distilled vinegar to clean out the residue.

Time to winterize your lawn equipment

To ensure your lawn equipment starts easily and performs well next spring you need prepare it for the long winter of sitting unused.

The first thing to do is run the equipment until it is out of fuel. Fuel left in the tank for long periods of time will form gum deposits and make it hard to start. Fuel stabilizers work well but they won’t last all winter - after two months it slowly stops working to stabilize the fuel. If any of your equipment is four-cycle you need to drain the oil. Don’t forget to check the spark plug and air filter and clean or replace as needed.

How to lower the acidity level of your tomatoes

If you prefer a sweeter tasting tomato you first have to lower the acidity level. To do that simply sprinkle baking soda around the plants and work it into the soil.