You may bake with it; you may have a box in the fridge to
absorb odors; but did you know that baking soda can be used for so many other
things?
Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate. It is
slightly alkaline, is generally sold in small crystals that are so fine they
resemble a powder, and is a reactive salt.
These characteristics make it wonderful for non-toxic cleaning of all
kinds of things!
Personal Care
Sprinkle on a toothbrush as a toothpaste. It is salty and icky tasting at first, but
you will do more to whiten your teeth and neutralize the acid in your mouth
than any expensive toothpaste. Because
it is slightly abrasive, it will really get your teeth clean.
If you can’t stand the taste as a toothpaste, then after
brushing with your chemical-laden toothpaste, rinse your mouth with a solution
made from a teaspoon baking soda and one cup of water. You will neutralize acids in your mouth and
you will destroy odors in your mouth, not just cover them up!
After you take care of your teeth, you can use baking soda
as a gentle exfoliant. Just mix one part
water to three parts baking soda and scrub your face or your whole body! Oils will be removed, dead skin cells washed
away and your skin will feel softer.
This scrub is gentle enough to use every day. This mixture is also great for washing really
dirty hands (like when you have been working in the garden) or really smelly
hands (like when you have been cutting up fish or chopping lots of
garlic).
Want to soak in a relaxing tub but are out of Epsom
salts? Just add ½ cup baking soda to
your bath tub and deodorize, relax, and soften your skin. Because baking soda reduces the hardness of
your water, you will use less soap in the tub and create fewer water spots.
Just want to sooth your tired feet? Once again, instead of Epsom salts add baking
soda to your warm water foot bath to soothe away the aches and pains in your
feet and make the skin on your feet softer.
In the Kitchen
Use baking soda in place of harsh scrubbing powders to
remove baked on food from casseroles, pots, pans, and skillets. Sprinkle on and scrub lightly with a clean
sponge. For really dried/baked on messes
add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to your dishwater and let soak. Then, sprinkle and scrub.
Want to scrub that sink but afraid of scratching? Just sprinkle a bit of baking soda on the
surface of the sink and scrub with a damp sponge. Rinse and look at that sparkle!
Baking soda can be used to wash kitchen counters, microwave
ovens and the surface of your stove.
Scrub your cutting boards with a solution of baking soda and
lemon juice. You will clean, disinfect
and deodorize all at one time.
Wash fruits and vegetables with a solution of baking soda
and water instead of buying expensive produce washes.
Because baking soda reacts with the acid in meat, you can
sprinkle it on or add to your marinades to tenderize even tough cuts of meat.
Laundry Uses
Add baking soda to your liquid or powdered detergent to
boost the cleaning power. It will adjust
the pH of the water and soften the hardness to make your soap work better.
Add baking soda to the wash to help deodorize stinky
athletic or work clothes. Be sure to put
baking soda in the laundry when you wash sneakers.
Soak diapers in baking soda and water before washing. It will control diaper pail odor and make
washing dirty diapers easier.
First Aid
Add baking soda to bathwater and soak to relieve the pain
and itch from windburn, sunburn, and poison ivy.
Make a paste of baking soda and water to put on insect
stings. It will neutralize the acid in the venom and ease the pain.
Rinse your mouth with baking soda and warm water to ease the
pain from canker sores and help them heal faster.
Make your own antacid by mixing baking soda with water. It will neutralize the acid in your digestive
system to bring relief from heartburn and indigestion.
In The Yard
Spray a solution of baking soda and water to treat plants
for fungal diseases.
Baking soda is listed with the EPA as a biopesticide. Use it to repel cockroaches and ants in the
home and sprinkle around your plants to deter pests.
