Baking soda has been my new fascination lately (as you may be able to tell from the past few posts!) Anyway, below you will find 50 different awesome uses for baking soda. Are you ready?!
Toothpaste
A paste made from baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be
used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes.
Freshen
Your Mouth
Put one teaspoon in half a glass of water, swish, spit and rinse. Odors are neutralized,
not just covered up!
Soak
Oral Appliance
Soak oral appliances, like retainers, mouthpieces and dentures, in a solution
of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a glass or small bowl of warm water.
You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda.
Use
as a Facial Scrub and Body Exfoliant
Give yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts
baking soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the
skin. Rinse clean. Your skin will clear up in no time!
Skip Harsh
Deodorant
Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor.
Use
as an Antacid
Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach
and/or acid indigestion.
Treat
Insect Bites & Itchy Skin
For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a
salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your
hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower.
Make
a Hand Cleanser and Softener
Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on
hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, or 3 parts baking
soda to gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.
Help
Your Hair
Vinegar is amazing for your hair, but baking soda has its place in the shower
too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your
favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly–baking soda helps remove
the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more
manageable. Works great for curly hair!
Clean
Brushes and Combs
For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural
oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a
solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and
allow to dry.
Make
a Bath Soak
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and
help wash away oil and perspiration, it also makes your skin feel very soft.
Soothe
Your Feet
Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet.
Gently scrub and they will be nice and soft!
Make
a Surface Soft Scrub
For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile and sinks–even fiberglass
and glossy tiles–sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub
as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste
with baking soda, course salt and liquid dish soap—let it sit then scour off.
Handwash
Dishes and Pots & Pans
Add 2 tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the
dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots and pans. For
cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water
first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a
scratchless scouring powder.
Freshen
Sponges
Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the
mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water).
Clean
the Microwave
Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the
microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.
Clean
Coffee and Tea Pots
Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs
and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm
water.
Clean
the Oven
Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen
the baking soda. Let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking
soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.
Clean
Floors
Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no wax and tile
floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water–mop and rinse clean
for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge,
then rinse.
Clean
Shower Curtains
Clean and deodorize your shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda
directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse
clean. Hang it up to dry.
Boost
Your Liquid Laundry Detergent
Give your laundry a boost by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to
make liquid detergent work harder. Check out my homemade laundry soap!
Gently
Clean Baby Clothes
Baby skin requires the most gentle of cleansers, which are increasingly
available, but odor and stain fighters are often harsh. For tough stains add
1/2 cup of baking soda to your liquid laundry detergent, or a 1/2 cup in the
rinse cycle for deodorization.
Clean
and Freshen Sports Gear
Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to
clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf
bags and gym bags to deodorize, clean golf irons with a baking soda paste (3
parts baking soda to 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly.
Remove
Oil and Grease Stains
Use baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage
floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a
wet brush.
Clean
Batteries
Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers,
etc. because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals
before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply
with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning
and re-connecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent
future corrosion.
Clean
Cars
Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats
and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda
solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge
or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs
Deodorizing
Cars
Odors settle into car upholstery and carpet, so each time you step in and sit
down, they are released into the air all over again. Eliminate these odors by
sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes
or longer for strong odors and vacuum up the baking soda.
and
tar. For stubborn stains, use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft
brush.
Deodorize
Your Refrigerator
Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors.
Deodorize
the Cutting Board
Sprinkle the cutting board with baking soda, scrub, rinse.
Deodorize
Trashcans
Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells
at bay.
Deodorize
Recyclables
Sprinkle baking soda on top as you add to the container. Also, clean your
recyclable container periodically by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge.
Wipe clean and rinse.
Deodorize
Drains
To deodorize your sink and tub drains, and keep lingering odors from
resurfacing, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap
water–it will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. This a
good way to dispose of baking soda that is being retired from your
refrigerator.
Deodorize
and Clean Dishwashers
Use baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle
cleanser in the wash cycle.
Deodorize
Garbage Disposals
To deodorize your disposal, and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour
baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water. Baking soda will
neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain.
Deodorize
Lunch Boxes
Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to
absorb lingering odors.
Remove Odor From Carpets
Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight, or as long as possible
(the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking
soda, and vacuum up the rest.
Remove
Odor From Vacuum Cleaners
By using the method above for carpets, you will also deodorize your vacuum
cleaner.
Freshen
Closets
Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh.
Deodorize
the Cat Box
Cover the bottom of the pan with baking soda, then fill as usual with litter.
To freshen between changes, sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter after a
thorough cleaning.
Deodorize
Pet Bedding
Eliminate odors from your pets bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking
soda, wait 15 minutes or longer for stronger odors, then vacuum up.
Deodorize
Sneakers
Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them
when not in use. Shake out before wearing.
Freshen
Linens
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels.
Deodorize
Your Wash
Gym clothes of other odoriferous clothing can be neutralized with a 1/2 cup of
baking soda in the rinse cycle.
Freshen
Stuffed Animals
Keep favorite cuddly toys fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Sprinkle
baking soda on and let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off.
Camping
Cure-all
Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. Its a dish washer, pot
scrubber, hand cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, fire extinguisher and many
other uses.
Extinguish
Fires
Baking soda can help in the initial handling of minor grease or electrical
kitchen fires, because when baking soda is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide,
which helps to smother the flames. For small cooking fires (frying pans,
broilers, ovens, grills), turn off the gas or electricity if you can safely do
so. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to
help put out the fire–and call the Fire Department just to be safe.
Septic
Care
Regular use of baking soda in your drains can help keep your septic system
flowing freely. One cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable
pH in your septic tank.
Fruit
and Vegetable Scrub
Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and
vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse.
There ya have it! Google helped with this as well as the baking soda bag (so thank you!) But there you have it! 50 different uses for baking soda. Good Luck!
