Best Uses for Baking Soda:

In the kitchen:

– Use it to clean stove and countertops. It can cut through grease and oil like nobody’s business! Sprinkle the surface with baking soda and scrub with a damp cloth. Wipe clean with a dry cloth. If you notice a white, hazy film afterwards, simple wipe with a cloth spritzed with white vinegar.

– Due to its slightly abrasive texture, it’s great at cleaning a baked on oven mess, coffee cup stains and microwave explosions. Create a paste or dip a wet cloth into the soda and give the item a good scrub. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

– Sprinkle a small amount in the bottom of the kitchen trash can before inserting a trash bag. It helps keep kitchen odors under control.

– Use it with vinegar and hot water to “polish” silver in a flash. Add 1 tbsp of baking soda to an aluminum foil pan, add 1/2 c. white vinegar and 1 c. boiling water. Place silver pieces in the pan and submerge completely or rotate to ensure the item is completely covered in the mixture. Remove after one minute…yes, it works that fast! Use a clean, dry cloth and buff to a shine. As a side note, there are some who believe this method causes the silver to loose its patina and tarnish more quickly afterward. You be the judge!

– Remove scorched or burnt on food by sprinkling a generous amount into the pan and cover with boiling water. Let sit overnight and clean as usual the next day. You shouldn’t even need to scrub!

– Use it to extinguish small grease or oil fires. Keep a box next to the stove…just in case.

– It can help remove pesticide, dirt and wax coating from vegetables and fruit. Add 2-3 tbsp to a sink full of water and let produce soak for 20-30 minutes.

– Use baking soda and vinegar to unclog a drain without the use of harsh chemicals. Use a funnel to pour 1 c. of baking soda down the clogged drain. Pour 1 c. white vinegar down the drain and allow it to fizz. Once the fizzing stops, (or you can let it sit overnight) pour boiling water down the drain to remove the clog and deodorize the drain.

– Create a paste with water that can be used to remove red sauce stains from your favorite plastic food containers.

– Deodorize wood cutting boards. Sprinkle soda on the board and spray with white vinegar. Once the bubbling stops, give it a good scrub. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely before storing. Never leave your board sitting in a puddle as this can damage them. Read more about how to care for wood cutting boards.

– Rumor has it that if you sprinkle 1 tsp of baking soda in the water while beans are cooking, it will prevent the gas and bloating that inevitably follows the meal. I haven’t tried this but if you have, I’d love to know if it works!

– Want to know the secret to fluffy, restaurant-style omelettes? Yep…it’s baking soda. Whisk a scant 1/4 tsp into the eggs before cooking. Again, be mindful of additional salt use once it reaches the table.

In the bathroom:

– Use it to clean hard water deposits from bathroom sinks, toilets and bathtubs. If you can let the baking soda sit overnight, even better. Bonus: it deodorizes as it cleans!

– I haven’t tried this yet either but there are some who rave about it’s use as a dry shampoo. To use, briskly rub it into the hair and leave in or rinse with warm water.  Apparently, those same folks like to follow it with an apple cider vinegar rinse. The vinegar also helps to cut down on product buildup. Soda and vinegar together create a fizzy reaction. And while it is fairly safe to use, research suggests that continued, long-term use can affect the pH of your scalp.

– On a similar note, baking soda can also be used to clean combs and brushes of oil and product buildup. Add 2 tsp of baking soda to a sink of water and let soak for 30 minutes.

 

 

Personal Care:

– Baking soda can neutralize stomach acid. So it can be used to treat acid reflux and heart burn due to overeating, stress or spicy foods. Dissolve 1 tsp in a glass of water and drink slowly. Because of its high salt content, it should be used sparingly by those who are watching their blood pressure and salt intake.

– Mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and use to gently exfoliate dead skin from the face and body. Rinse and pat dry. A baking soda paste is also good for spot treating acne flare-ups. Apply and let dry overnight. Rinse with warm water the next morning. Because of baking soda’s drying ability, it’s recommended to use this method sparingly.

– Use it as a mouthwash. Studies show that a baking soda rinse prevents harmful bacteria that causes bad breath and gum disease. Additionally, it’s also soothes canker sores in the mouth. Add 1/2 tsp to a glass of warm water and swish, don’t swallow.

– Due to its slightly abrasive texture, baking soda can be used to whiten teeth. Make a thin paste with water and brush as usual.

– Use baking soda as a “dry” deodorant. Apply it as a dry powder or mix it with coconut oil (or some other oil) and beeswax to create a firm paste similar to commercial products.

– Use 1 or 2 cups in the bath to relieve the pain and itch of bug bites, rashes and sunburn. Don’t have a tub? Make a thick paste and apply to the affected area.

In the laundry room:

– Use it to remove dirt, stains and whiten laundry. Additionally, it can soften water meaning you won’t need as much laundry soap to get the job done. All you need is 1/2 cup of baking soda added to the wash cycle.

–  Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to underarm stains. Let sit one hour and launder as usual.

– Use it to remove gas and oil odor from clothing. Place items in a trash bag and sprinkle in a generous amount of baking soda. Seal the bag and let it sit for a few days. Launder as usual.

In the home:

– Baking soda actually neutralizes odors, unlike room sprays which only mask odors. Sprinkle some on the carpet before vacuuming. Use it to clean and freshen car floor mats too! Keep an open box or small bowl of baking soda in any area (fridge, closet or basement) where you want to eliminate odors or a musty smell.

– In addition to freshening up the carpet, it can also be used to remove carpet stains. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the stain. Fill a spray bottle with equal amounts of water and white vinegar. Spray the stain until the mixture fizzes. Let dry completely. Scrub to loosen the paste and vacuum. No more stain!

– Remove shoe odor. Make sachets filled with baking soda. Place one in each shoe and leave overnight.

– Make a thin paste of soda and water and use in the place of “soft scrub” to remove stains. Apply with a damp sponge or cloth and rinse well.

– Use it to remove crayon marks from walls. Simply dip a wet cloth into baking soda and gently rub to remove marks. Wipe clean with a dry cloth.

– Use it as the first layer in the cat’s litter box before adding litter. Also, it can be sprinkled on top of the litter to control odors in between cleanings.

– Do your hands smell like that onion you just chopped up? Gently scrub with a small amount of baking soda and water. No more onion odor!

– Add 1 tsp of baking soda to a vase of water. It will keep cut flowers fresh longer. Change the water every couple of days.

– Got a book (or three) that are musty-smelling after being in storage? Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda into a plastic bag, add the books and let them sit for a week. No need to sprinkle the books themselves or shake the bag. Used book stores use this trick a lot!

Outside the home:

– Did you know that baking soda can be used to kill weeds in the driveway? The salt in the baking soda creates a hostile environment that plants and weeds don’t like. Use it between cracks in sidewalks or anywhere that you don’t want weeds growing. Just be careful not to sprinkle it on plants that you want to keep around.

– Use baking soda in the place of salt to prevent a slippery step or sidewalk during winter. It’s much safer for the environment and doesn’t cause corrosion.

When should you not use baking soda?

– As I mentioned previously, people with high blood pressure or who have been told to lay off the salt should limit their use of baking soda. So if you have heartburn or acid reflux, check with your doctor for an appropriate treatment option.

– Don’t use it on your favorite aluminum pans. If you do, just be sure to rinse the pans really well. Baking soda can react with the aluminum and cause some serious discoloring.

– Although it can put out small grease fires, it’s no match for a full-blown blaze. In that situation, reach for the fire-extinguisher instead.

– Don’t use it in place of baking powder. Both provide that light, fluffy texture in bread and biscuits but they are two very different critters!

– Avoid using it to clean glass and mirrors. Its abrasive quality can scratch the glass surface. This applies to glass cooktops as well.

– For the same reason as above, it shouldn’t be used on marble, ceramic or wood furniture. Although it’s only mildly abrasive, continued use can cause damage to surfaces or possibly remove any protective sealant.

– Don’t use it for cleaning gold-plated items like dinnerware or silverware. Gold is a soft metal and baking soda is abrasive. Never the twain shall meet!

– Remember that when used with vinegar, it can cause a reaction. People with sensitive skin should avoid using one or both as it can cause dryness and even change the pH of your skin. If you love it as a cleaning powerhouse but worry about it’s affect on your skin, simply wear gloves while using it.

A final thought…

If you’re serious about getting rid of chemicals in your home, baking soda should be at the top of your list as a replacement. Used in conjunction with water, vinegar or even lemon juice, it has the ability to clean just about everything in your house. And it only cost pennies to use!

If you have a favorite use for baking soda, I’d love to hear about it. Just leave a comment below. And feel free to share this post with someone you know who is looking for a healthier, more economical way to clean.

Until next time,

lisa