Versatile soda

Baking soda is practically a do-anything, do-everything wonder, with a bonanza of uses.

Here are just a few:

- In your dishwasher, it deodorizes and cleans the inside.

- As a paste, it cleans smudges on wallpaper and shines porcelain, jewelry and coins.

- On bee stings, it lessens the pain, and it's an emollient for softer, smoother skin.

- For pets, use 2 tablespoons in the bath water as a shampoo. In cold weather, use it in powder form as a dry shampoo. Either way, it adds softness and luster to their coats.

--The deodorizing ability of baking soda in powder form for cars is legendary.

--Three parts baking soda in one part water foams away acid buildup on battery terminals.

Want more? Try this on for size: you can even bake with it.