HELOISE Paste cleaned watchband in a timely fashion

Dear Heloise: I have a new watch with a leather-and-cloth band. It started to develop an odor. So, I tried cleaning it with mild soap and water. No dice -- the smell stayed. I tried soaking it in vinegar. That was a mistake. Now I had the odor plus the vinegar smell.
So, I tried wetting the band and rubbing it with a paste I made from baking soda and water, let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinsed it -- and sweet success! No more smells -- and it is easy and cheap, too! Joe LaBonte, Converse, Texas
Joe, how clever of you, and thanks for sharing this timely odor-away hint! Baking soda is one of my favorite multiuse cleaners and deodorizers that works for so many things -- shoes, carpets, trash cans, refrigerators and more. For a six-page pamphlet filled with money-saving ways to use baking soda, please send $4 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (60 cents) envelope to: Heloise/Baking Soda, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. A clean spice shaker or Parmesan-cheese container is perfect to keep baking soda in. It can be kept right by the sink so it is handy to sprinkle wherever needed. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I bought a pretty bottle of wine and wanted to save the bottle, but the cork fell down inside it, and I couldn't get it out. So, I checked with my mom, and she said to try the following: Pour some full-strength ammonia in the bottle (enough to cover the cork) and set the bottle in an area where air circulates. Guess what? In about a week, the cork had "melted & quot;! D. Janset in Nashville, Tenn.
Dear Heloise: I placed one of my good glass bowls into another, slightly larger glass bowl. Well, now they are stuck like glue! How can I separate them without breaking them? Help! Debi P., via fax
Well, let's see if we can get those little devils apart. Dribble plenty of baby or mineral oil in between the bowls, let sit long enough so that the oil has time to penetrate, and then try to gently pull the bowls apart. Don't pull too hard, and be careful. Heloise
Dear Heloise: My work shed was a mess, and I could never find a rake or shovel when needed. I bought a large plastic trash can on wheels, stood all of the rakes and shovels inside and attached some "S" hooks around the rim to hang small tools. Now when gardening or doing yardwork, I just wheel my tool keeper along and have everything right there. Works great. Carl J. in Durham, N.C.
Dear Heloise: Here's a great way I found to keep earring pairs together: I saved an old, favorite T-shirt and poked all the earrings through it. Now, at a glance I can see the earrings and choose which pair to wear. Diane, via e-mail
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate