Bicarbonate of soda, or more commonly known as ‘baking soda’, is used in the kitchen as a baking ingredient for the most part. But did you know that this product can be used for other things? Oftentimes, baking soda is used in household products and has a lot of health benefits.
Clean Dirty Fruit And Vegetables
Before you eat your fresh fruits and veggies, it’s known that they need to be washed. However, there is a better way to do this rather than just rinsing them off with water. You can let the produce sit for a few minutes in a bowl with a mix of 1 tsp of baking soda per 2 cups of water. Or, you can scrub the fruit with a soaked washcloth.
Clean Dirty Fruit And Vegetables
Clean Rugs And Carpets
If your carpet has stains or a bad smell, all you need to do to help that is sprinkle a good amount of baking soda on the problem area and pour hot water over it. Leave this mixture to sit on the stain overnight, and then vacuum it up in the morning. If the stain doesn’t come out on the first try, you can repeat the process.
Mouthwash
Do you feel like you have bad breath often but don’t know how to manage it? Mouthwash can reach areas in your mouth that your toothbrush might be missing, causing this problem. One easy and budget-friendly ingredient is, of course, baking soda. Since it has antibacterial properties, it’s great for this use. It’s simple: just mix half a tsp of baking soda and equal parts warm water.
Deodorant
If you prefer avoiding deodorant that is full of all kinds of chemicals, this hack is perfect for you. You can make yourself deodorant by mixing some baking soda and water until you have a paste. Apply it under your arms as needed and there you go!
Air Freshener
A lot of times, the air fresheners bought at a store just mask a bad smell instead of getting rid of it entirely. To top it off, these air fresheners contain a lot of harmful chemicals. Baking soda is a natural ingredient that’s good for this use and it will actually get rid of the odor instead of just masking it. All you have to do is mix some baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and place it in a bottle or bowl. Place it in the room you want and that’s it!
Whiter And Brighter Clothing
To make your clothing to be cleaner and have a brighter look to them, add one cup of baking soda to your load of laundry. The reason this works is that baking soda is an alkali, meaning that it is a soluble salt that removes stains.
Bathroom Cleaner
One of the most frustrating things is trying to clean every inch of the bathroom and finding stains that just won’t come out no matter what you do. There are countless products of the market, but none of them are as effective and cheap as baking soda. It will serve as a whitener as well as a disinfectant to these surfaces. You can use it on any surface in the bathroom, from floor tiles to toilets and bathtubs. Just rub a paste of baking soda and water on the area and wipe it away 20 minutes later.
Polishing Silverware
One difficult part about owning silverware is maintaining them. Over time, they just stop looking as shiny as they once did. Don’t worry, though, because baking soda can fix this problem easily. It reacts with a chemical in the silver and eliminates the tarnish on the pieces of silverware. Pour some hot water and baking soda over the silverware and watch them look like new again!
Spa Treatment
If you want to get a pedicure but don’t want to spend money on one, you can give yourself one at home in the bathtub! Mix some hot water with an ounce of baking soda and soak your feet to your heart’s content. This way, you won’t have to leave the house, plus, you’ll save money!
Disinfect Toothbrush
While most people clean their teeth with their toothbrushes, a lot don’t think about cleaning the toothbrush itself. Sanitation is something very important to keep in mind, no matter what time of year. Since it’s something that goes in your mouth every day, it’s a good thing to keep it sanitized. All you need to do is mix water, vinegar, and baking soda. Soak the toothbrush for 30 minutes and you’re good to go.
Treating Bug Bites
Even though it’s not safe to apply baking soda to your skin every day, it can be useful with reducing redness, itching, and stinging that you get after being bitten by a bug. Most of those expensive creams you buy at the store have baking soda as their main ingredients, so why not skip that and save a bit of cash by making a paste at home? You probably guessed it by now – just mix some water with baking soda.
Burnt Pot
If you’re struggling with a completely burnt pot and have no idea how to remove all the stuck-on food, try using some baking soda. Boil water and add baking soda to it while still hot. Then pour it over the burnt areas of the pan.
Cleaning Shoes
Are you self-conscious about the bad smell coming from your running shoes? The good news is that there’s an easy fix for that. Pour two tablespoons of baking soda onto a cloth and tie it up. Leave the cloth inside the shoes while you’re not wearing them. This will take care of the problem.
Heartburn
Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, can be a truly uncomfortable experience. It can be caused by many different things, from overeating to stress and even eating certain types of fruits. Well, we have a trick to help you combat it. Since baking soda is an acid stabilizer, just drink a glass of water with a teaspoon of baking soda.
Cancer Treatments
You’ve probably heard about chemotherapy and know that it’s used for cancer treatments. Well, one way to help it work even better is with baking soda. Baking soda has the ability to make the environment for a tumor less acidic, in turn helping strengthen the chemotherapy treatments.
Fluffy Omelet
If you aren’t really a fan of eating eggs, you might not think of them as a good way to maintain your energy for the day. However, adding half a teaspoon of baking soda to every three eggs you cook will make the omelet taste lighter and fluffier. The reason for this is that the baking soda produces bubbles of carbon dioxide in the eggs, giving them that fluffy taste.
Cleaning Drains
No matter which room in the house you’re dealing with, clogged drains can seriously ruin your day. To fix this problem, use vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water. Mix the three together and pour down the drain. Within 10 minutes, the drain will be cleared.
Garbage Disposal Odors
When something that smells bad gets thrown into the garbage disposal, baking soda can save the day. Run hot water down the drain for a minute, pour a quarter of a cup of baking soda into the drain, and turn the disposal on for a few seconds. Then, wait 10 minutes and then pour one cup of vinegar down the drain. You should see bubbles, which means you can rinse it again with hot water. This will get rid of that bad smell.
Whiten Your Teeth
We all love drinking some coffee or tea, but drinking these things too often will stain your teeth. If you don’t want to give up these delicious drinks but aren’t interested in spending a lot of money on professional teeth whitening, then we have a solution for you. Put a quarter teaspoon of baking soda onto your toothbrush mixed with water and brush away.
Sore Throat
If you’re one who gets a sore throat often during the winter or even strep throat, this hack is for you. Taking too many antibiotics can start harming your body after a while. To help ease the symptoms, try gargling a mix of warm water and baking soda.
Whiten Yellow Nails
Some people tend to leave their nail polish for too long, which can eventually turn them a yellow shade. To get rid of these stains, mix baking soda and a small amount of peroxide. Scrub the mixture onto your nails and soon they’ll look as good as new!
Lighten Dark Underarms
One annoying thing that some people have to struggle with is having dark underarms, which can make them uncomfortable wearing tank tops. Fortunately, there is an easy solution to this problem. Mix some baking soda with water in a bowl until you get a paste. Massage the area with the past for one minute and then leave it to sit for up to 30 minutes. You can repeat this process 2-3 times a week for best results.
Exercise Performace
Athletes can person at their peak for a longer period of time with the help of some baking soda, believe it or not. This is true, especially during high-intensity workouts. What it does is stall the fatigue you might experience as your workout intensity rises.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Over time, chronic kidney disease causes more and more severe consequences to the kidneys. What the kidneys do is remove excess water and blood from the body, so it’s very important to keep them healthy and functioning well. If you have this problem, try consuming some baking soda. You can take it as a supplement. It’s been suggested that it helps slow the disease’s progression.
Kill Weeds
Finding a whole bunch of weeds all over the yard is truly an annoying this. Using harsh chemicals isn’t a good option both because of the high price and the unhealthy effects. What you can do is sprinkle some baking soda on the weeds. After a few days, you should be able to see a big improvement.
Clean The Microwave
Grab a clean sponge and sprinkle it with some baking soda and warm water. Scrub the inside and outside of the microwave with it and wipe it off with a damp cloth. This should clean the microwave thoroughly, leaving it as good as new!
Melt Ice On Driveway
If you live somewhere that has cold and icy winters, you must know the side effects of waking up with an ice-covered walkway or driveway. Well, if you find yourself out of road salt, try sprinkling some baking soda all over the ice. It might not be as strong as road salt, but it will help all the same.
Cure Dandruff
Dandruff can be a real pain to get rid of. If you find that nothing is working, we have something new for you to try, and you probably guessed it by now. Try replacing your shampoo with a handful of baking soda in the shower for a week or two. You should notice a huge improvement in the way your scalp looks.
Clean Your Hairbrush
After using it for some time, it’s normal for your hairbrush to start looking old and worn out. If you want to get it back to its old glory, soak it in a mixture of one teaspoon of baking soda and a small amount of warm water. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Just make sure it dried completely before using it again.
Make Your Grill Sparkle
Everyone knows that on a summer night, a barbecue is an essential for dinner with friends or family. If you live somewhere you can’t grill during the winter months, your grill might need a little pick-me-up before you start using it again. Use some baking soda on a damp brush, scrub the grate, and then rinse it all off.
Make Your Floors Shine
With wood and tile floors, after a while, the floor loses its shine. To get it back to its tip-top shape, it can be really pricey. To fix that problem without breaking the bank, dissolve 100 grams of baking soda in a bucket of warm water. Then mop the floor with this mixture and rinse off after. Now your floors will sparkle!
Appliances Like New
After using appliances like a dishwater or coffeemaker for a while, they start having a weird smell and look less-than clean. To make them look and smell as good as new again, run an empty cycle with some baking soda inside.
Litter Box
When owning a cat, you probably know the side effects that it leaves behind for you to see. If you want to keep your cat’s odors as minimal as possible, sprinkle some baking soda into the litter box. Now you’ll notice a lot less of your cat’s smell.
Exfoliate
Baking soda has been said to be a great exfoliant for your skin. Try creating a paste with three parts baking soda and one part water. Rub it on your skin gently in circular motions and then rinse it off with warm water and pat your face dry.
Hair Treatment
We all know how expensive salon treatments are, not to mention, how expensive they can be as well. If you try a treatment at home, it can take less time and money. Mix some baking soda into your conditioner and put it in your hair as usual. This will make your hair healthier and stronger, helping it avoid split ends.
Trash Bin Miracle
One unpleasant experience is opening the garbage can and getting a whiff of a terrible smell of trash. To eliminate this scent, spread out some baking soda at the bottom of the garbage can or the bag inside and say goodbye to the smell.
Rain Repellent
While it’s already risky to drive during a rainstorm, if you’re doing so with bad windshield wipers, you might be in for a wild ride that could end in disaster. Take a damp cloth, sprinkle some baking soda on it and wipe your windshield down. Next time you’re in a rain storm, you’ll see more water repelling off.
Chicken Pox Cure
If you’ve never had chickenpox, consider yourself lucky. If you did have it in the past, you’ll know that it’s no laughing matter. Mix half a tablespoon of baking soda with water to help ease the urge to itch. Soak a soft washcloth in the mixture and lay it on the itchy parts of your body until it’s dried up.
Clean Food Containers
Seeing as people put all kinds of foods in their plastic containers, it makes sense why they typically don’t look so clean anymore. Fron pasta sauces, grease, and oils, there are things that stick to the containers every time they’re used. Sprinkle some baking soda onto a clean sponge and scrub away at them to make them look new again.
Clean Your Sponges
It seems like a waste of time to clean your dirty dishes with an equally dirty sponge, don’t you think? It’s definitely not getting your dishes as clean as you think they are. If your sponges aren’t looking great, soak them in warm water and baking soda overnight and then rinse them off the next morning.
Pet Bed Odors
Most people agree that their pet is like a part of their family. However, pets just so happen to leave stains and smells around the house, which can become aggrivating. If your pet’s bed is starting to smell bad, sprinkle it with some baking soda and allow it to sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming it.
Canker Sores
Canker sores are a rather common phenomenon and they are very annoying, not to mention, painful. The way to get rid of them quickly and on a budget is with some baking soda, of course. Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash that contains baking soda twice a day every day until the sore is gone. Simple as that!
Calluses
Even though calluses aren’t a danger to your health or anything, they can still cause some discomfort while applying pressure to the feet. A study recently proved that soaking the feet in a baking soda bath can help soften the skin, eliminate scabbing, and improve callus problems.
Oil Or Grease Fire
There’s a good reason why a lot of fire extinguishers contain baking soda. It reacts with the heat in a fire in order to produce carbon dioxide. In turn, this helps extinguish the fire. Meaning, baking soda can be very helpful when putting out a small grease fire. We wouldn’t suggest to use this on a large fire. If you aren’t sure, it’s best you call for help.
Diaper Rash
Diaper rash is pretty unavoidabe and happens to most babies at some point, but that doesn’t make it easier for parents to see their babies in pain. Buying a cream from the pharmacy can be pricey at times and not even work well. Instead, try sprinkling some baby soda into your baby’s bathtub. After soaking in the water for a bit, the baby should feel much better.
Clean Walls
As a parent, you always want to encourage your kids to explore their artistic side and let their imagination run wild. However, when that means they start drawing on walls, that’s less ideal. If this happens to be the case, don’t stress. Take a damp cloth and sprinkle some baking soda onto it. Rub at the marks for a bit and then wipe it down with a dry cloth. No more drawings!
Cloth Diapers
If you’re someone who uses cloth diapers instead of disposable ones for the baby, you probably know the struggle of keeping up with all the laundry. Well, in order to make sure the diapers are sanitized properly, dissolve 1/2 cup of baking soda into 2 quarts of warm water and soak the diapers in it for a while. Once that’s done, toss them all into the washing machine and wash them as usual.
Coat Closet Cleanliness
It can be rather disappointing to open up your coat closet for the first time n the winter. After sitting in a closet for many months, your jacket might not smell the best. To solve this issue, put an open box of baking soda in the closet and let it work its magic.
Keep Flowers Fresh
People put so much love and thought into buying someone a bouquet of flowers, but it’s always so disappointing when they die only days later in the vase. To keep them fresh for a longer period of time, toss a teaspoon of baking soda into the water the flowers are in.