(Photo: Veer)
40 fantastic uses for baking soda
By Melissa Breyer
Most of us know that baking soda can be used for more than just making homemade cookies and other dough rise. It's not uncommon to see an open box of this leavening agent deodorizing refrigerators, for example. But did you know that there are at least 40 different ways to use baking soda?
Baking soda makes a perfect stand-in for many personal care, cleaning, and deodorizing products. The list of benefits is long: It is inexpensive, free of toxic chemicals, versatile, and effective.
Wondering how baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, works its magic? It helps regulate pH — keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, its natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering.
This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do things such as neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent's power). It's a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks.
And so without further ado, here are some of the many creative ways you can use baking soda.
Personal Care
1. Make 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. (Or here’s a
formula for
a minty version.) You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into
baking soda for an extra boost.
2. Freshen your mouth
Put one teaspoon in half a glass of water, swish, spit, and rinse. Odors are
neutralized, not just covered up.
3. 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. The
baking soda loosens food particles and neutralizes odors to keep appliances
fresh. You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda.
4. 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. This is gentle enough for daily use.
5. Skip
harsh deodorant
Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor.
6. Use as an antacid
Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach,
and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions.
7. Treat insect bites and 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.
8. 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
with gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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. Or just
focus on soothing your feet. Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of
warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub.
Cleaning
12. 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, coarse salt, and liquid dish soap — let it sit then scour off.
13. Hand-wash dishes and pots and pans
Add 2 heaping 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
scratch-less scouring powder.
14. 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). For more
thorough disinfecting,
use the microwave.
15. 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.
16. Polish silver flatware
Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.
Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry
for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.
17. 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. For
stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent
or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. Clean furniture
Clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by
applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a
clean, dry cloth.
21. Clean shower curtains
Clean and deodorize your
vinyl 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.
22. 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. A better balance of pH in the wash gets
clothes cleaner, fresher, and brighter. Or you can add 1/2 cup of baking soda to
the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels or to neutralize gym clothes and
odoriferous clothing.
23. 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 and clean golf irons
(without scratching them!) with a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda
to 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly.
24. 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.
25. 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 and apply
with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning
and reconnecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future
corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery — they contain a
strong acid.
26. 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, and tar. For stubborn stains
use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Eliminate 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.
Deodorizing
27. Deodorize your refrigerator
Place an open box in the
back of the fridge to neutralize odors.
28. Deodorize trashcans and recyclables
Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells
at bay. Clean your recyclables container periodically by sprinkling baking soda
on a damp sponge. Wipe clean and rinse. Also, sprinkle baking soda on top as you
add recyclables to the bin.
29. Deodorize drains and garbage disposals
To deodorize
your sink and tub drains and garbage disposal 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.)
30. Deodorize and clean dishwashers
Use baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle
cleanser in the wash cycle.
31. Deodorize lunch boxes
Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to
absorb lingering odors.
32. Remove odor from carpets
Liberally 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. (Note that your
vacuum cleaner bag will get full and heavy.) An added bonus: You'll also
deodorize your vacuum cleaner.
33. Freshen closets
Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh.
34. Deodorize pet items
Cover the bottom of your cat
box 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.
Eliminate odors from your pet's bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking
soda, wait 15 minutes (or longer for stronger odors), then vacuum up.
35. Deodorize sneakers
Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them
when not in use. Shake out before wearing.
36. 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.
Miscellaneous
37. Cure all camping needs
Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. It's a dish-washer,
pot-scrubber, hand-cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, and fire extinguisher, and
has many other uses.
38. 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.
39. Care for the septic system
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.
40. Scrub fruits and vegetables
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.
Here’s
another way to clean your vegetables as well.
OK, so there are my 40 suggestions (with a little help from the Arm & Hammond baking soda site, thank you). Do you have any tips or tricks that I missed? Please share in the comments.
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