10 Helpful Uses For Baking Soda
Baking soda is for more than just baking. Check out this list of its many helpful uses!
What is Baking Soda?
Baking soda is also known as “bicarbonate of soda,” a naturally occurring substance present in all living things. It helps living things maintain the pH balance necessary for life. Baking soda is made from soda ash, which is sodium carbonate.
This product is a must-have in every home as it’s a great all-purpose cleaner and deodorizer.
Check out these great baking soda uses:
1. Doing Dishes?
Don’t forget the baking soda. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of baking soda to your dishwater. It will help cut grease and loosen food on dishes, pots, and pans. For cooked-on, baked-on foods, soak in a baking soda and detergent mixture, then use dry baking soda on a damp sponge or cloth as a scratch less scouring powder. In fact, if you run out of dishwashing liquid, make a paste with baking soda and water and use it as detergent to get dishes clean.
2. Cleaner Fruits and Vegetables
The experts agree—you should wash produce before consuming it. To clean more of the dirt, chemical residues, and waxes from all varieties of fruits and vegetables, use baking soda. Shake some onto wet produce, scrub, then rinse. Works better than water alone.
3. Remove Product Buildup
For extra clean hair, try adding a small amount of baking soda (about the size of a quarter) to your shampoo. Wash, rinse, and condition as you normally would. The baking soda helps remove built-up residues from styling products and mineral abundant waters.
4. Great For Dental Gear
Baking soda works well as a cleaner for dentures, retainers, or mouth guards. Add 2 teaspoons of baking soda to a bowl of water. Then soak dental gear for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with cold water after soaking. It’s also a great replacement for toothpaste if you’ve run out. Just dip your wet toothbrush in a bit of baking soda and brush your teeth, then rinse.
5. Camping Necessity
Baking soda is a must for any camper. It can serve as a dishwasher, pot scrubber, hand cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, fire extinguisher, and first-aid treatment for insect bites, sunburn, and poison ivy, as well as much more. Plus, it saves space (one box compared to many products!).
6. Lawn Furniture Cleaner
To clean and deodorize lawn and pool furniture, mix a solution of 1/4-cup baking soda to 1 quart of warm water. Wipe the furniture with this solution, then rinse clean. For tougher stains, sprinkle baking soda directly onto a damp sponge, scrub with it and rinse.
7. First-Aid
Relieve the itching and pain of an insect bite with a baking soda paste. After you have removed any stinger, make a paste by combining 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Apply it to the affected area and let it dry. Wash it off and repeat, if needed.
8. No More Smelly Dogs!
Instead of heading for the bathtub every time Fido smells, try giving him periodic dry baths. Rub dry baking soda into his fur, then comb or brush it through and out. Baking soda is non-toxic and safe for use on and around your pets.
9. Quell Sweet Cravings
If you’re having a strong craving for sweets, rinse your mouth with 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed in 4 ounces of warm water. Do not swallow. Simply swish for 10 seconds and spit. Your craving should disappear!
10. Clean Car Lights and Chrome (remove bugs, tar, and grime)
Make a paste with baking soda and water. Using a damp sponge, rub the paste on affected areas in a circular motion; rinse.
This article was published by the staff at Farmers' Almanac. Do you have a question or an idea for an article? Contact us!
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
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Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
my mom grew up on a farm in Old Town Maine and they used Baking Soda for everything. I am 81 yrs. old now and I still use baking soda to clean stains off my teeth, for cleaning baked in food in bread loaf pans, and add it to my laundry. I use it with vinegar tpclean out the drains in the sinks. I really foams up nicely and the drains are clean and no smells. I also use it to clean out the inside of toilet tanks.I buy it by the big bags at BJ’s. My Mom always had stomach problems with digestion and she would mix baking soda with water and drink it. Luckily I don’t have those problems, but I always wondered if it really was OK to do that.