My mother recently gave us a nice new set of Belgique stainless
steel pots and pans with copper bottoms. Each one has a sticker
printed with the following notice:

"CAUTION: ... Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in 3 quarts of
hot water. Soak pan for 20 minutes. Rinse with cold water."

Do I put the baking soda water in the pan, or soak the outside of it
too? Is this for the copper bottom on the outside, or the stainless
steel everywhere else?

Why do this anyway? What good does it do? What happens if I don't
do this?

Thanks.
-Alex