20 Unusual Uses for Baking Soda !!!
Baking soda is a lazy housekeeper’s best friend.
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Dissolving baked-on drips in the oven
Get rid of those gross, blackened globs on the bottom of your oven
without scrubbing yourself sore or flavoring your next meal with chemical-based
cleaner. It really is as easy as sprinkling a liberal amount of baking soda all
over the oven floor, spraying it with water until well dampened, and forgetting
about it for a few hours. Come back, wipe it out and rinse with vinegar to
prevent a white film of baking soda residue.
Carpet deodorizer
All those little fibers in carpeting really hold on to all kinds of
smells that you don’t exactly want lingering in your home. Sprinkle baking soda
liberally, let it sit overnight and then sweep most of it up before vacuuming
what’s left. Baking soda absorbs the odors instead of trying to cover them, so
you don’t end up with a disturbing melange of floral perfume and cat vomit.
Acne-curing face scrub
Just coarse enough to slough off dead skin cells, baking soda makes
an ideal natural face scrub. Many acne sufferers swear by the stuff, saying
that mixing it into a paste with either water or facial cleanser can help clear
up breakouts and prevent them from occurring in the first place. Just be sure
to moisturize afterwards to prevent excessive drying.
Treat itchy insect bites
A paste of baking soda and water will relieve itching brought on by
insect bites, and soothe the pain of stings. To get relief from poison ivy,
chicken pox and other widespread sources of intense itching, add 1/2 cup of
baking soda to a warm bath and soak.
Fruit and vegetable wash
Pests and, worse, pesticides are common contaminants on produce, so
washing our fruits and veggies is essential. Sure, you could buy a pricey
spray, but you know what works even better? A few tablespoons of baking soda in
a bowl of cool water. Just soak them for five to ten minutes, giving some
hard-to-clean veggies like potatoes and celery a little scrub with a vegetable
brush.
Scrub out the toughest dirty dishes
Baking soda makes those dreaded dishes covered in dried crud so
much easier to tackle. Dunk the dishes into soapy water, then sprinkle the
trouble spots with baking soda. Let them sit a little while to soften. You can
also add a dash of baking soda to the dishwasher for a boost in cleaning power
and a reduction in funky smells.
Deodorize sneakers
Pour a few tablespoons into a paper coffee filter or scrap of
tissue paper, tie it up with a rubber band and stick it into a
less-than-fresh-smelling shoe and it will absorb the odor without making a mess
or damaging delicate materials like suede.
Eliminate musty smell in books
Mold growth makes old books, photographs and other stored items
smell musty. Get rid of both the odor and the cause, excess moisture, by
sealing the items in an airtight container with a large, open tub of baking
soda. You can also sprinkle the baking soda directly onto the items and brush
it off.
Spackle substitute
If you want to fill a small hole in plaster or drywall but would
rather not purchase a whole tub of spackle for such a small job, try this odd
tip: mix baking soda and white toothpaste into a stiff paste. Once it hardens,
you won’t be able to tell the difference.
Brighten your smile
Baking soda is a common ingredient in toothpaste, but you can give
your teeth a little boost by scrubbing them with a paste of baking soda and
water between brushings. Baking soda is just abrasive enough to scrape off
coffee, wine and other yellowing substances before they penetrate your teeth.
Clean patio furniture
Even cleansers that are specifically made for resin or plastic
outdoor furniture can be too abrasive, scratching or dulling the surface. A wet
sponge dipped in baking soda will dissolve dirt without causing damage.
Buff out bug splatters and clear cloudy headlights
It may be among the most unusual uses of baking soda, but a paste
with water will remove most insect carnage from unpainted car surfaces like
bumpers and windshields; add a little dish soap for extra cleaning power if
necessary. Headlights that have lost much of their brightness due to hazy,
yellowing plastic can also be cleared considerably with the same mixture.
Waterless dog bath
Just like it freshens sneakers and smelly carpets, baking soda can
make even the world’s most water-phobic dog smell freshly bathed. Rub it onto
your dog’s coat, leave for a few minutes and then brush it out for a quick dry
bath that won’t end with the scent of wet dog all over your couch.
Cut kitty litter odor
A shake or two of baking soda is all it takes to make your cat’s
litter box a far less intrusive presence in your home. This super-cheap
additive works just as well as commercial litter box deodorizers, and it won’t
mingle artificial perfumes with the odor of pet waste.
Chemical-free ice melt
You don’t want to break your neck on icy steps in the winter, but
you don’t want people tracking chemicals into your house, either. Melt that ice
naturally without substances that put animals at risk and eat away at your
flooring. Just shake on a layer of baking soda, then apply a little bit of sand
for traction.
Remove oil, grease and wine stains
Sometimes, scrubbing a stain just makes it worse. Let baking soda
do most of the work. Sprinkle it on, let it sit and it will lift much of the
offending substance from the surface. Brush it off and then rub the area with a
paste of baking soda and water if necessary. This baking soda cleaning trick
will remove oil stains from concrete floors, and can save carpets and couches
from permanent splotches of spilled red wine.
Clarifying hair treatment
Remove the product build-up that makes your locks limp and dull. A
teaspoon of baking soda mixed in with your regular shampoo can be used as a
clarifier once a week or so, and a little baking soda dissolved in hot water
will clean crusty hairbrushes, too.
Polish silver, chrome and stainless steel
You don’t need a special polish for every surface in your home. A
damp cloth dipped in baking soda makes chrome and stainless steel shine; add a
little lemon juice to brighten brass.
Real Simple notes that baking soda will even take the tarnish off
silver: place the items on a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of a pot and
add a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda, 3 teaspoons of salt and a quart of
boiling water. Cover the pot for a few seconds, and the ensuing chemical
reaction will do all the work.
Neutralize battery acid corrosion
The ability of baking soda to neutralize acid can save even the
most corroded battery terminals. Mix six heaping tablespoons of baking soda
into four cups of water and pour the mixture over the corrosion, allowing it to
sit for about five minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush, then rinse.
Extinguish fires and control flames
Toss a little baking soda onto the coals if your cookout flames get
too high for your liking. In an emergency, baking soda can also be used to
extinguish small fires like stove top grease fires.
