Author: Lou

I pulled a shirt out of the washing machine and found a rust stain along the collar I had not put there, an orange-brown streak I could not explain. I had no idea where it came from until I looked at my machine drum and noticed...

Most of us treat the freezer as an insurance policy. Something about to turn? Freeze it. Bought too much? Freeze it. But the freezer is not a neutral holding tank. It is a harsh chemical and physical environment that permanently...

You find a bag of powdered sugar in the back of the cabinet that has been there for two years, or longer. The best-by date has passed and the sugar has some soft lumps. Before you throw it out, there is something important to...

You found a five-pound bag of sugar in the back of the pantry with a best-by date two years ago. It looks fine. It might be clumped. You’re not sure whether to use it or throw it out. Does sugar go bad? The short answer: White...

You find a box of baking soda in the back of the cabinet with a date from two years ago. Or you use the same box for baking and the fridge deodorizer and wonder whether any potency is left. Does baking soda go bad? The short...