10 BRILLIANT USES FOR BAKING SODA

Clever ways the powder saves the day

1 MAKE DETERGENT GO FURTHER

The key to doubling your detergent? Reduce the recommended amount by half, then add 1/2 cup of baking soda. Baking soda's cleaning power means you can stretch your detergent supply.

2 Banish tarnish in a flash

You took out your favorite silver jewelry for your niece's wedding only to see it's tarnished. If you don't have silver polish on hand, simply line a baking pan with foil, fill with hot water and add 2 Tbs. of baking soda. Then let jewelry soak in the mix for 5 minutes before buffing dry. The powder and aluminum will chemically react with the tarnish so the pieces sparkle again.

3 Lift grease from a grill

Although you love grilling, you could do without the sticky, greasy mess left behind on the grates. To eliminate the grime, make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and use it to scrub the grates with a rag or sponge. When dissolved in water, baking soda forms an alkaline solution that cuts through stuck-on grease so your grill is spotless for next time.

4 BRIGHTEN UP YELLOW TEETH ON THE CHEAP