Is there anything that baking soda can’t do? It seems like this compound, also known as sodium bicarbonate, can pretty much be used for any purpose. This classic baking tool seems to be able to do just about anything. Not only can it clean virtually every part of your house, but it has also proven to be a useful ingredient in health drinks – especially those that treat heartburn. There are ways to use this product nearly everywhere, including the kitchen, the bedroom, the bathroom, and the garden. It will even help you solve certain problems in your car. Here are some of the best examples.
It Helps Whiten Your Teeth
While we can spend so much money in an attempt to make our teeth white and pristine, baking soda is actually an effective, affordable alternative.
There’s no doubt that it’s an unexpected chemical to apply to one’s molars. Nevertheless, sodium bicarbonate actually helps remove stains, as well as the build-up of plaque. It’s an easy method: apply some baking soda to your toothbrush and start brushing away like you usually would. Your teeth will look as good as new.
Preventing Trash Cans From Smelling
It’s inevitable – your trash can is going to start to stink when it’s full enough. Instead of giving your trash can a spring cleaning every weekend, you can simply apply some baking soda and it will rid the vessel of any strong odors.
It’s pretty simple. The next time you unload the trash can and replace it with a new bag, sprinkle some soda at the bottom and your can will smell as good as new.
It Can Clean Your Car Battery
You can even use baking soda to fix issues in your car. A vehicle’s battery eventually runs out. If it is dead though, there’s a good chance that a buildup of grime caused this to happen quicker than hoped.
If you give your car battery a good clean with baking soda and water, then you’ll get a bit more time and value out of it. The key is to clean the battery’s terminals after turning it off and taking it out.
A Unique Dry Shampoo
Let’s face it: maintaining one’s hair can be quite tedious. It requires daily attention and we might spend our entire life trying to find the perfect product for it.
However, one should consider applying some baking soda as a cheap, dry shampoo for those days when you’re too tired to give your hair a thorough wash. It is believed that it can remove excess oil from your scalp. Just take a bit of baking soda and rub it throughout your scalp.
It’s Good For Your Skin
Believe it or not, but baking soda can actually do wonders for your skin. According to Gina Vaynshteyn, who suffered from serious breakouts in the past, she ended up seeing terrific results after applying a mixture to her face for seven days.
“The baking aisle ingredient totally worked for me,” she said. “It was easy to use, mega cheap…and seemed to brighten up my face within mere days.” However, she did insist that it might not work for everyone.
It Can Help Treat Heartburn
Anyone who has had heartburn knows how uncomfortable it can be. It’s that burning sensation you have just above your stomach that quickly spreads up to your throat.
While this might be the result of stress or eating certain foods, there is a trick to getting rid of this painful feeling – baking soda. Put a teaspoon of it into a glass of cold water and after slowly drinking the mixture, your pains will soon be gone.
No More Foot Odor
Foot odor is an issue that many people can’t avoid. After a long run or even just a hard day at work, you want to make sure that your shoes smell fresh for the following day.
However, if your feet are still stinking, then baking soda could help eliminate that problem. A useful method is to make a foot bath consisting of water and baking soda. You can also sprinkle some of the product into your shoes.
Relieving Bug Bites
Some of us are more prone to bug bites than others. However, pretty much all of us can get them. If we do, then baking soda can help numb the pain.
All you have to do is make a paste, mixing the soda with some water, and then apply it to the bite. Once it’s dry, the mixture will help to draw out any nasty fluids. Another benefit is that it will prevent that uncomfortable itching feeling.
Keep Your Grill Clean
While many of us love nothing more than pulling out the grill and inviting our friends over for a BBQ, it’s inevitable that this cooking device will build up some grime over time.
All the burgers and hot dogs in the world won’t stop the need to keep your grill in good condition. All you have to do is ensure that the grill isn’t being used and that it’s cool. Then, take some baking soda and brush over it.
Prevent Your Fridge From Stinking
The following method is unlike most of the others in the way baking soda is used to solve the problem. Naturally, refrigerators also develop nasty odors. So a useful way to eliminate these smells is by creating a small opening in your baking soda box and placing it inside the fridge.
Basically, the sodium bicarbonate will interact with any odorous particles and eliminate them completely, ridding your fridge of the funky smell in the process.
Removing Mildew From Your Bathroom Walls
It’s a classic rule of thumb – when things get wet, mildew arrives on the scene. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that one’s bathroom is the prime stage for this type of fungus.
However, if you make yourself a paste out of baking soda and water, simply get into the tight nooks and crannies and your tub will look as a good as new. You could even use some white vinegar to seal the deal.
It Keeps Flowers Fresh
Like many things in life, flowers eventually wither into nothingness. However, there are many ways to keep your beautiful bouquet in top condition, and one of those ways is with baking soda.
All you have to do is take a teaspoon of that powdery compound and pour it into the vase that is holding the flowers. Of course, water should also be in the vase and we recommend using an ice cube as well to give it an extra kick.
Keep Your Oven Pristine
Another cooking tool that is bound to get dirty over time is your oven. As you can see though, there is definitely a recurring pattern in this article. You can use baking soda to clean virtually anything in your house – especially if it’s in your kitchen.
When it comes to cleaning one’s oven, you need to sprinkle the compound onto the base of it and then dampen the soda by spraying some water onto it. Rinse the day after.
Keeping Fruit & Vegetables Pesticide-Free
Before you sink your teeth into fruit or vegetables, you need to make sure that they are fresh and free of any harmful pesticides or chemicals.
Washing these foods is always recommended and studies show that baking soda is an effective tool for washing fruit and veg. All you have to do is put your desired fruit and vegetables into a pot of cold water, pour in a spoon of baking soda, and wait for 15 minutes.
Keeping Stuffed Animals Clean
Every baby deserves a stuffed animal. However, those teddies can get dusty and dirty very easily. So what’s a useful solution to the problem? Baking soda.
All you need to do is take the stuffed animal in question, place it inside a plastic bag, add some baking soda and seal it shut. Then, you take the bag, shake it from side to side, up and down. This way, the soda will go all over the animal and eliminate dust and dirt.
Removing Carpet Stains
Carpets are prone to getting all sorts of stains. That’s just the laws of physics. What goes up must come down and we’ve all been known to spill a condiment from time to time.
However, if you mix some baking soda with some vinegar, you will be able to get pretty much any stain out of your toughest fabrics. The two compounds create a fizzling kind of sensation. Ladies and gentlemen, this method just goes to show how useful science can be!
Brighter Laundry
Keeping whites and colors separate can be a bit of a logistical nightmare from time to time. However, if you add half a cup of baking soda with some standard laundry detergent, then you don’t have to worry about your light clothes getting darker.
Sodium bicarbonate will keep your clothes bright. Moreover, they are guaranteed to stay free of odors after a spin in the laundry machine. We’re not sure what will be brighter – the soda or your T-shirts.
Keeping Walls Clean
Our walls at home are like canvasses waiting to be painted with the most inconvenient messes. Not only do our kids have a tendency to vandalize them with their crayons, but we end up getting all sorts of dirt on them without even noticing.
However, if you have a box of baking soda at your disposal, you can rest assured that your walls will be free of blemishes and marks. Just use a sponge and mix with some water.
Getting Rid Of Book Odors
The older a book gets, the smellier it tends to get. If you take a look around your local library, you might end up agreeing with us.
However, if you have your very own collection at home, and you haven’t already, it’s about time you gave them some much-needed maintenance. Believe it or not, baking soda tends to rid books of their antique smell. Simply sprinkle some in between each page and voila.
Polishing Your Silverware
We all like to pull out our finest collection of silverware every once in a while. However, if you have them long enough and use them enough times, then they are naturally going to get cloudy.
That’s where baking soda comes into play. Simply take two teaspoons of the compound and put in an aluminum pan full of boiling water. All you have to do next is put your desired silverware into the mixture and make sure to take them out with a pair of tongs.
Salvaging Burnt Pans
Ever had a pan that is carrying some burnt marks that seem impossible to get off? We know we have! You can spend hours on end trying to get that burnt pan pristine.
However, if you ever considered using baking soda to solve this problem, you’d know that it’s 100% successful. The method is simple. Generously sprinkle the compound over your pan and fill it with hot water. Then, start scrubbing away and your pan will look as good as new.
Your Microwave Will Look Good As New
There are a variety of ways to clean a microwave. Some simply put some water inside and let it steam up the entire interior.
However, we recommend an alternative method and, of course, it involves baking soda. All you have to do is sprinkle some onto a damp cloth and then scrub all the mess out of it. Not only does it give the interior a much needed clean, it extracts odors as well.
Cleaning Stains Out Of Coffee Cups
OK, coffee or tea rings might be a cool indicator that you love having a hot drink. You have drunk so many hot drinks that you feel like it is some sort of achievement.
However, it gets to a point when coffee stains simply look disgusting. As soon as you realize, it appears to be too late. No matter how hard you try, you cannot get rid of them. But have no fear, because baking soda is here.
A Cheap Air Freshener
Fine, air fresheners are pleasant to have around, but they are usually pretty expensive. With baking soda, you can make your very own air freshener without the need to spend a lot of cash.
Seeing that it is a natural odor neutralizer, it is an ideal compound for the job. All you have to do is put some baking soda in a jar with some fragrant oils and place a string in it. Give it a shake when the scent fades.
Killing Weeds
Weeds can be extremely frustrating to get rid of. Just when you think you eliminated all of them, another bunch appears out of the blue.
Don’t worry though, baking soda is back to save the day. Just take some and sprinkle it into the cracks of your driveway or patio, or wherever the weeds are. Seeing that baking soda is devoid of toxics and is also biodegradable, it will do your outdoor surfaces no harm. In just a few days, you will be weed-free.