HELOISE Homemade denture solution quick and easy

Dear Heloise: Do you know of any way to clean dentures? I've been reading your column every day hoping I would see a solution. Thank you so much. J.T., North Plainfield, N.J.
As a matter of fact, I do have a homemade denture-cleaning solution that works great. Note: Check with your dentist before using this solution; it contains bleach and cannot be used on cast-chrome, gold-framed or partial dentures that have wire or metal frames.
This homemade cleaning solution can easily be made by adding 1 teaspoon of household bleach and 1 teaspoon of water softener to 1 cup of water; mix well. To use, soak your dentures for 10-15 minutes each day, and follow by brushing and rinsing well.
As a bonus, I'd like to give you the recipe for a tooth-brushing powder that has been a reader favorite for more than 45 years. (Caution: If you are on a salt-restricted diet, you should consult with your doctor before using this, as it is high in sodium!)
You'll need:
1/2 to 1/3 cup salt
1 pound box of baking soda
Make your favorite flavor by adding a few drops of vanilla extract or oil of clove, or a dash of cinnamon spice
Mix the above ingredients in a glass blender (do not use plastic -- it might scratch) by first pouring the salt into the container and blending until it is powder. Next, add the baking soda. Mix again for just a second or two. Important: Do not overblend. Last, add the vanilla extract, oil of clove or cinnamon, and mix.
Store the mixture in an airtight container. To use, put some on a wet toothbrush, brush your teeth, rinse well and voil & agrave; -- now you've got something to smile about! Heloise
Dear Heloise: One of my favorite hobbies has been cross-stitching. Until recently, I was never able to come up with an easy way to organize all those skeins of thread when working on a pattern.
I purchased a plain three-ring binder and sheet protectors to place the individual thread colors in. Then I got plain, self-adhesive labels, wrote each thread-color number on a label and stuck each one on a plastic sleeve. These labels can be easily removed when you want to start a new pattern and replace your thread colors. If you purchase a binder that has pockets on the inside, front and back, this is a great place to store your pattern and cloth when not working on it. Sherry S., Killen, Ala.
Dear Heloise: When sending a student off to college, make a laundry-kit basket with premeasured detergent and quarters packaged in self-sealing bags. Don't forget to include a handy chart with hints on doing laundry. A reader, 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