Since you don’t need too much of either ingredient, start off with 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of baking soda and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of laundry detergent. Stir them together to create a paste. This method works great when you simply need to spruce up the soles of your shoes but don’t need to clean the rest of them. Take a toothbrush and dip it into the baking soda and laundry detergent. Scrub it into the soles of the shoes, taking care to get all the sides and the bottoms of the shoes, too. Don’t be afraid to really pile the paste onto the soles. You can always make more if you run out, and it won’t hurt anything if you use a lot. Once you’ve scrubbed in the paste, take a sponge and saturate it with cold water. Wring it out so it’s not dripping wet, and then start to wipe away the paste from the soles. Scrub away at any areas that are still dirty, and rinse out the sponge as often as you need to. Use a sponge rather than running the shoes under a stream of water. The sponge will keep the rest of the shoe from getting wet, which means you won’t have to wait for them to dry after you’ve cleaned them. Don’t forget to dry the bottoms, too, so that you don’t slip if you decide to wear them right away. Enjoy your clean shoes! If you notice any sections that are still dirty, you may want to apply a second coat of the baking soda paste to see if that helps lift the remaining dirt.
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One-sentence summary -- Mix together equal parts of baking soda and laundry detergent. Apply the mixture to the soles with a clean toothbrush. Wet a sponge with cold water and wipe away the baking soda mixture. Wipe the soles down with a dry towel.


You do not need to go through this alone. For 24-hour help in the United States, call 800-273-TALK; in the UK call 116 123; and in Australia call 13 11 14. For hotlines in other countries, visit befrienders.org, suicide.org or the IASP website.  If online text chat is easier for you, find a service in your country in this directory. In the US, try SuicidePreventionLifeline.org or CrisisChat.org. For TTY (Text Telephone) services in the US, dial 1-800-799-4TTY (1-800-799-4889). If you're gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, or sexually self-questioning in the US, call 1-888-843-4564 or 1-866-488-7386. . If you have a plan to die by suicide, get to the hospital or ask someone to drive you there. You'll receive professional treatment and stay in a safe place until you're no longer in danger of harming yourself. Call an emergency number immediately if there's a chance that you will make the attempt before you get there, or if you have already taken steps to seriously harm yourself. Never let shame, embarrassment, or fear stand in the way of seeking help from friends. Call up someone you trust and talk for as long as you need to. Ask them to come stay with you until you can safely be alone again. Say exactly what you are thinking and/or planning, so your friend understands how serious this request is.  It may be easier to write the friend an email, a letter, or a chat, even if you are sitting next to her. If the crisis lasts for an extended period, arrange other friends to be with you on a rotating schedule, or ask your friend to arrange this for you. You have a serious condition that needs to be treated by an expert, just like someone with a broken leg needs to see a doctor. In fact, calling your doctor is a good place to start. Alternatively, a hotline may already recommend you to a counselor, psychiatrist, or psychologist in your area, or you can find one in your local phone book or through searching online.  It is also possible to talk to an online therapist. A therapist can work with you to make all of the coping steps below easier, and to identify specific treatments that can help you. She may refer you to a psychiatrist, who can prescribe medication. While waiting for help to arrive, distract yourself for as long as you can with a shower, a meal, or a busy activity. Take deep breaths and make a promise to yourself that you aren't going to take your life for at least 48 hours, and not before seeking professional attention. As hard as it might be, put off your plans for two days to give yourself a more time to rest and think things through. Right now suicide might seem like the only option, but circumstances can quickly change. Promise to give yourself at least two more days to find a better option, or reason to keep looking. Try to see your emotions and actions as separate. The pain can feel so overwhelming that it distorts your thoughts and behavior. But thinking about suicide isn't the same thing as going through with it. You still have the power to make a choice not to take your life.
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One-sentence summary -- Call a suicide hotline. Seek emergency services Find a friend. Get professional help. Give yourself time.


If your baby's hair tangles easily, then use a baby-safe conditioner every time you shampoo their hair. Apply the conditioner after you shampoo and rinse your baby's hair. Use enough of the conditioner to coat the hair from roots to ends. Then, gently work the conditioner through the hair with your fingertips. For extra soft hair, only rinse about 75% of the conditioner out to help keep your baby's hair soft and tangle-free. If your baby's hair is badly tangled, then spraying the tangles with a leave-in conditioner may be necessary. This will lubricate the strands and make it easier for you to comb through the tangles. Spray on the leave-in conditioner and let it set for a few minutes before attempting to comb out the tangles. Make sure to use a leave-in conditioner that is meant for babies. Check the label to be sure. To avoid pulling your baby's hair, hold the section of hair that you want to comb or brush about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the roots. Then, focus on detangling that section of hair. After you have detangled that section, grasp the next section of hair that you want to detangle. Continue to do this until you have worked through all of the tangled sections of your baby's hair. Try combing through the hair with a wide-tooth comb or soft bristle brush. Start near the ends and work up the shaft of your baby's hair until you can easily comb through the full length of their hair without resistance. Just be careful not to pull their hair.  You can also do this after applying conditioner. This will help to work the conditioner through your baby's strands and work through any tangles that are already there. Keep in mind that you should only comb kinky hair when it is wet.
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One-sentence summary --
Use conditioner prevent tangles. Spray on leave-in conditioner to work through stubborn tangles. Hold your baby's hair near the scalp. Comb or brush your baby's hair starting near the ends.