Baking soda has always been known for its leavening properties in baking bread for thousands of years. But the powder has a lot of other household and even medical uses too. Here are just a few you might not be aware of:
In the Kitchen:
1) General cleaning – Baking soda makes a great kitchen cleaner. Mix up a paste of baking soda with a small amount of water and use it on a sponge or cloth to scrub stained coffee cups, marble, tiles, appliances, and a lot more places until they are fresh and clean.
2) Garbage bag odors – Most of your garbage smell comes from decaying waste in the bag. Baking soda sprinkled into the bottom of the bag and in the bin will neutralize the odors and keep everything smelling fresher.
3) Cleaning fruits and vegetables – If you’re concerned about pesticides that might linger on your fruits and vegetables, soak them in a baking soda wash. Use a few spoonfuls of baking soda in a sink of water to remove nearly all pesticide residue.
4) Deodorize the refrigerator – If your refrigerator seems to have a foul odor, neutralize the bad odors by placing a cup or two of baking soda on a back shelf. The powder will absorb the bad odors and keep the fridge smelling fresh.
5) Smoothing plate scratches – If your dinner plates have a few unsightly scratches, make a paste of baking soda and water and dip a cloth in the paste. You’ll find that the scratches will buff out in only a few minutes.
6) Polishing silverware – Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of baking soda into a small aluminum baking pan and then, slowly, pour in 1/2 cup of vinegar. Add 1 cup boiling water and add the silver for a minute or less and the tarnish will disappear. Then rinse and dry.
7) Remove blender gunk – Fill your blender bowl with warm water and add a few spoons of baking soda and a squirt of dishwashing liquid. Pulse the mixture for a few seconds. Rinse thoroughly and it will look like it’s brand new.
Everywhere Else:
8) Whiten Laundry – Remove dirt and stains from your clothes by mixing in a half cup of baking soda with your regular laundry detergent. Then run your washing machine through its regular cycle. The baking soda also softens the water so you can use less detergent.
9) Air Freshener – Baking soda neutralizes odor particles in the air instead of masking them. Fill a small jar with a mixture of 1/3 cup baking soda and a dozen or so drops of your favorite essential oil. Cover the top with a cloth and a ribbon or string and shake it once a week to make a great air freshener.
10) Carpet stains – Sprinkle the stained area lightly with baking soda. Spray the area with equal parts of baking soda and vinegar and then let the area dry for about an hour. Scrub the baking soda loose and vacuum and you’ll find the stain should be completely gone.
11) Clean your mattress – About once each month, vacuum your mattress and apply a liberal sprinkling of baking soda. Let the powder sit for an hour or two and then vacuum it all away. The result will be a fresh and clean-smelling mattress almost like new.
12) Deodorizing shoes – Deodorizing shoes – Roll up two sections of cloth and tie the ends of each one together. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to each one and stuff each one into your shoes at night. Remove the bags the next morning and your shoes will be completely deodorized.
13) Keep cut flowers fresh – You can help your cut flowers in a bouquet last longer by adding 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt to the water. The mixture will feed the flowers and keep them stay fresh a few days longer.
Health Benefits:
14) Treating Heartburn – Baking soda neutralizes stomach acid and relieves heartburn. Dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of cold water and slowly drink the mixture. Your heartburn will be gone before you know it.
15) Mouthwash – For an inexpensive mouthwash, try rinsing your mouth with half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed into a half glass of warm water. Then rinse as usual for a clean fresh taste.
16) Soothing canker sores – Baking soda is also good for helping heal canker sores. Use the same formula as before with mouthwash and rinse once a day until the sores heal and go away.
17) Whitening Your Teeth – Whiten Your Teeth – Baking soda not only has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties but it is also mildly abrasive. This makes it an effective choice for whitening your teeth while also fighting harmful bacteria.
18) As a Deodorant – Pat a little baking soda into your armpits instead of using your expensive roll-on or stick deodorant. You’ll find that it eliminates the smell of sweat while also keeping bacteria under control.
19) Relieving insect bites – Add 1 or 2 cups of baking soda to a lukewarm bath and thoroughly soak the affected area. To treat a specific spot, make a paste using a small amount of baking soda and water and apply it directly to the spot.
20) Weedkiller – Sprinkle a few handfuls of baking soda over weeds and other pesky plants that grow in the cracks of your driveway or walkways. They will be gone in a jiffy. For wider areas, spray with a mixture of vinegar, water, and a half cup of baking soda for fast results.
Take advantage of some of these cleaning tips by using that small box of baking soda you keep in the pantry or on a shelf in the kitchen. And, if you have some other uses, please let us know! We’d love to hear from you!
