• All Aboard Harvest
  • Crops and Cattle Expo
  • HPJ Talk
  • Subscribe
  • Digital Edition
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • Search
High Plains Journal
  • Classifieds
    • Browse Classifieds Online
    • Auction Calendar
    • Weekly Classifieds Digital Edition
    • Classifieds Newsletter
  • Crops
    • Wheat
    • Hay
    • Soil Health
    • Corn
    • Sorghum
    • Soybeans
    • Cotton
    • Canola
    • Drought Monitor

    Latest Headlines

    • Texas wheat: More problems than bright spots this year
    • John Deere agrees to expand repair tool access under FTC settlement 
    • Wheat Foods Council names Sheri Glazier executive director 
    • Late rains and tight windows challenge weed control in Kansas row crops
  • Livestock
    • Beef
    • Livestock Markets
    • Livestock Calendar
    • Hay Market News
    • Forage Crops
    • Alternative Livestock
    • Equine, Dairy, Sheep, Goats
    • Poultry
    • Drought Monitor

    Latest Headlines

    • High Plains cattle sales report
    • Cattle Report
    • Three NWS cases confirmed in July as U.S. total reaches 34 
    • Horse owners need to be vigilant with NWS 
  • Home & Family
    • Gardening
    • Recipes
    • House Plans
    • Outdoors
    • Cookbook
    • Down Country Roads Calendar

    Latest Headlines

    • Homespun festivals help promote High Plains ag
    • Kansas: One bite at a time
    • In living color: Keeping the old machinery new
    • Opportunities to expand include thinking outside of the traditional box
  • HPJ Originals
    • HPJ Events
    • All Aboard Wheat Harvest
    • Big Book
    • Cattlelog
    • Land Journal
    • Crop Books

    Latest Headlines

    • Is your cowherd prepared this winter?
    • Veterans deserve our thanks
    • Health care providers understand challenge 
    • Pollard elected president of the American Angus Association
  • Regional
    • Mid Western
    • Central
    • Southern
    • Western

    Latest Headlines

    • Ag, natural resource leaders tour Morocco
    • State, federal entities boost big-game program
    • Kansas Corn summer listening tour visits five communities
    • Cover crop cost-share added to watershed
  • Events
    • Crops and Cattle
    • Alfalfa U
    • Cotton U
    • Cattle U
    • Farm Shows
    • Soil Health U
    • Sorghum U / Wheat U
    • Local Events Calendar

    Latest Headlines

    • Four State Farm Show moves to July
    • Grain Report
    • Western Farm Show set for Feb. 19 to 21
    • Start the new year right with Topeka Farm Show
  • Machinery
    • New Products
    • Tools and Tech

    Latest Headlines

    • John Deere agrees to expand repair tool access under FTC settlement 
    • John Deere expands operator experience on 8 Series tractors
    • Data and drones helping farmers squeeze more from every acre
    • Bish introduces universal implement mover for multiple headers
  • Markets
    • Hay Range Pasture
    • Future Market Overview
    • Market News

    Latest Headlines

    • State-By-State Hay Markets
    • Area Hay Prices
    • Kansas Hay Report
    • Cash Bids
  • Opinion
    • Agricultural Economics Insights by David Widmar
    • Bird’s Eye Weather
    • Book Reviews
    • From the Editor
    • From the Publisher
    • From the Staff
    • Just a Scoopful by Jerry Nine
    • Letters To Editor
    • Loos Tales by Trent Loos
    • Managing for Success by Dennis Roddy
    • Market Outlook by Naomi Blohm
    • Sorghum Outlook

    Latest Headlines

    • County fair: An American tradition
    • The best place to be a kid is outside 
    • Finding a solution for illegal immigrants
    • Trent Loos: Rural Route – July 7, 2026
Home and Family, Pennywise

Helpful household tips

By Paula Vogelgesang
February 17, 2020
Listen Now 0:00

Homemade fridge fresh

Put one-half cup of baking soda in the bottom of a clean recycled jelly jar, poke some holes in the lid and set in the corner of the fridge. The soda absorbs any bad odors and costs almost nothing. After about six months, I take the jar out and dump the soda in my sinks—using it to scour the sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms. I replace the old soda with new and put the jar back in its corner for another few months. Cheap and easy!

Free storage boxes

A reader wrote, “I’ve seen in some of the fancy mail order catalogs sell those boxes with compartments in them to store your glass ornaments from one year to the next, but they have a really hefty price tag. My friend runs a liquor store and told me they have all kinds and sizes of boxes with dividers in them that the fancy wines and liquors are shipped in. Off I went to the liquor store. They had loads of boxes holding from 12 to 24 items in separate spaces. I got some, took them home and then covered the outsides of the boxes with that sticky backed contact paper you can get in some stores. I made a paper tag for each of the boxes as I packed them and then covered the tag with clear contact paper so I can find what I want, when I want it.

All of the packed boxes fit in my storage room closet on the top two shelves. Safe from little hands and are sturdy enough to last for many years. Best of all, they were free. 

Start saving now

The holidays are over and a lot of folks are still paying on the Christmas bills. A reader writes, “When you use those cents-off coupons at the grocery store, save the money in a pickle jar stashed away somewhere. When the jar is full, start a savings account at the bank for next Christmas.

If you have hints or ideas to share, send them to PennyWise, Box 518, Kadoka, SD 57543; or email them to [email protected]. 

TAGS: christmas, commerce, jar, liquor store, price tag, reader, savings account, soda

Trending Now

Follow HPJ:

Corn

Cotton

Livestock

Soybean

Wheat

Related Articles

Helpful household hints

Helpful household tips

Helpful household hints

Helpful household tips

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletters
  • Advertise
Explore HPJ
  • Ag Cares
  • Livestock
  • Crops
  • Opinion
HPJ Events
  • Cattle U
  • Soil Health U
  • Alfalfa U
  • Cotton U
  • Sorghum U
  • Wheat U
  • Wheat and Sorghum U
Subscriber Services
  • Digital Edition
  • Subscribe to HPJ
  • My Account
  • Change of Address
  • Forgot Password
  • Manage Auto Renewal
About HPJ
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Promote Your Event
High Plains Journal is a publisher of agricultural news, information, and analysis for farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness professionals across the High Plains region. For 75 years, our mission has been to deliver trusted news and insights that help our readers stay informed and make informed decisions in the ever-changing world of agriculture.

Copyright © 2021. All market data is provided by Barchart Solutions. Futures: at least a 10 minute delay. Information is provided 'as is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice. To see all exchange delays and terms of use, please see disclaimer.
Copyright 2026 707 3rd Ave, Ste. B Dodge City, KS 67801

Website by Hub & Spoke
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Acceptable Use
  • Refund Policy