Substitute and Solve - Beware potato chips that begin to smell like feet

Dear Reena,

I was given several boxes of potato chips from my ex husband. Other than stuffing my face with them or giving them to friends, what can I use them for and do they ever expire? Do they last longer if you freeze them? Why are potato chip bags only three quarter full (if that)? Sincerely, Ellen

Dear Ellen,

Store chips in a cool, dry place; they do have an expiration date which is printed on each bag. Stores are not allowed to shelve chips after the expiration date. Consumed slightly after this date, they are normally safe; however, after awhile they will taste stale. If you open a bag and smell a rancid odour, the oil in the chips has gone bad. The chips will then smell and taste (in my opinion) like feet. Unopened potato chips can be stored in the freezer for up to one year. Thaw in the fridge.

Because potato chips are fragile, other than eating them, there isn’t much use for them. They work well for breading meats such as pork, chicken and salmon. Or sprinkle crushed potato chips over a casserole to give it a crunchy texture.

Potato chips are not individually counted; they are weighed using a computerized system before bagging. The reason why bags are only partially full is because a certain amount of air must be in each package to prevent breakage during shipping.

Extra Tip: If you ever have the desire to make your own homemade chips. Use Idaho Russet potatoes and either peanut or canola oil. The easiest way to slice potatoes evenly is either with: a meat slicer, food processor, cheese grater or a vegetable peeler.

Hi Reena,

I just love your column; it’s so full of effective "earth healthy" solutions.

I had to write because I bought and used washing soda recently because of its mention in your column. I used it to whiten my white cotton T-shirts and shirts, and found it amazing!

I love having crisp white cotton T-shirts in both my summer and winter wardrobes, but so often they take on a grey tinge and become yellowish under the arms. I have tried everything; soaking in detergent, washing with a bit of bleach, hanging to dry in direct sunshine, etc. nothing was a real solution, and I often discarded perfectly good clothing because it looked so dingy.

I’d never heard of washing soda, but was willing to try anything; it’s remarkably cheap, too! I soaked my whites in a solution overnight, washed them on a "whites" cycle with a small amount of bleach, and then hung them up to dry, to my delight, they actually sparkled.

Now I soak many things my white cotton pillowcases, my cream tablecloth (with various stains attached), my light coloured tea towels, etc. I’ve recommended it to many friends and both of my daughters.

At present, I just soak items in a solution of washing soda (as directed on the top of the box), lightly wring them out and wash them in my HE washing machine. The box recommends adding washing soda to the wash too, but I haven’t done this because there are no HE washing machine instructions/amounts given.

Can I add washing soda to my HE washer without problems? How much should I use? I’d love to do this to boost the overall cleaning of my laundry. Also, my busy daughter (and mother of two youngsters) could use this to remove stains and really clean the kids’ clothing. Doing a lot of overnight soaking is not realistic for her.

Keep up the excellent work, glad there is a website to look at, too. Regards, Marilyn

Dear Marilyn,

I too have been impressed with washing soda over the years and I normally add about one quarter cup to my front loading washing machine loads. I have not had any problems with my machine, because the washing soda actually cleans clothes and the washing machine hoses at the same time. Washing soda is sometimes hard to find, and in those cases either borax or baking soda make adequate substitutes. If I have a very bad stain, I normally make a paste of washing soda and water and apply it to the stain. Wait 15 minutes and wash as normal. Repeat if necessary.

Dear Reena,

My husband uses Tilex shower spray (the spray and walk away kind) by the gallon in his bathroom shower. There was a homemade spray recipe we had cut out of the newspaper and promptly lost and can’t find again. Can you help? Thanks, Edna

Dear Edna,

In a spray bottle combine: One half cup liquid laundry detergent, half cup vinegar and 3 cups of water. No need to rinse or dry.

Dear Reena,

I returned to my apartment rental from a two-month holiday to find that the newspaper I used to cover the shelves in my cupboards is now stuck to the wood. These are built in teak cupboards made by the owner. I need to restore them to their original state. Help! Propagana

Dear Propagana,

The paper needs to be removed by being moistened first. Apply a few drops of olive, teak or cooking oil to a small section of the paper. Rub that area gently with a clean cloth until the paper is removed. Next, repeat the same procedure to the adjacent stuck paper area. Repeat until all of the paper is gone. Do not try to scrape off the paper or you will damage the wood.

I would like to warn you of the moisture levels in your cupboards. Paper usually sticks to wood only in damp situations. Either you have dampness due to seepage or you stored something liquid in your cupboard that spilt. A seepage issue needs to be addressed. Inform the owner of the apartment if you discover seepage in the walls.

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition June 14, 2012