Bicarbonate of soda, sometimes known as “baking soda,” is a versatile home item that may be used for a variety of purposes. Some of the great homes uses for baking soda include eliminating stains, cleaning teeth, and even curing a sweet tooth.
We always kept baking soda on hand when I was a kid for leavening biscuits, dumplings, and different fast foods. Mom put an unsealed box in the fridge to absorb smells and had us drink a bit of it mixed with water to settle our stomachs.
I’ve discovered new applications for it during the last year. During quarantine, like many of you, I learned to get by with fewer home items, discovering new applications for everyday products that were easily available and never in short supply.
Refrigerate an open box of baking soda to absorb any leaking odors so that other foods won’t. When you clean the fridge, replace it with a fresh box. Scrub tasks with the contents of the old box.
Home Uses For Baking Soda
In the Toilet
- Baking soda is excellent for eliminating oil, filth, scum, and smelly odors from just about anywhere. It is also used as a health remedy.
- Toilet bowls should be kept clean. In an empty basin, combine a quarter cup of baking soda and half a cup of white vinegar. There will be bubbles! Flush after scrubbing with a firm brush. If required, repeat the process. The outer surfaces of the toilet, tank, and cover can also be cleaned with a moist cloth dusted with baking soda.
- Clean the faucets and doorknobs. Make a thick paste with baking soda and a little water, apply it to dirty places, then scrub with a stiff brush (I use an old toothbrush for the tightest spots).
- I save all of my toothbrushes for such occasions). Rinse immediately or wait until it dries before rinsing.
- To clean toothbrush bristles, soak them overnight in baking soda and warm water.
- Sprinkle baking soda inside your rubber gloves to keep them dry and odor-free. They’ll also be easier to put on!
- Pour a cup of baking soda down the clogged drain’s opening, followed by a cup of hot vinegar. After a few minutes, pour a quart of boiling water down the drain.
In the Kitchen Area
- Clean coffee mugs, tea glasses, and carafes as follows: To remove the stains, sprinkle baking soda inside the cup or container and gently scrape with a damp cloth. After that, thoroughly rinse the cup or container.
- Stainless steel cookware with burned-on meals should be removed. Add enough baking soda to the pot/pan to make a thick slurry, let it soak for a few minutes, hours, or overnight, then clean with a new scrubbing pad. As needed, repeat the process.
- Use a solution of one teaspoon of baking soda to one-quart warm water to clean your refrigerator.
- To get rid of the burnt smell from drippings and crumbs, sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda on the bottom of your toaster oven.
- Wash fresh fruits and vegetables in a big basin of cold water and two to three teaspoons of baking soda to remove pesticides, grime, and wax.
- Red sauce stains on plastic can be removed using a baking soda paste.
- Pour a cup of baking soda down the clogged drain’s opening, followed by a cup of hot vinegar. After a few minutes, pour a quart of boiling water down the drain.
Baking and cooking
- Make omelets that are fluffier. A sprinkle of salt (14 tsp or less) added to your morning eggs can make your omelets or scrambled eggs fluffier.
- Make the most delicious cookies! BuzzFeed made 400 cookies to compare various leavening agents in a study to determine the best leavening agent for chocolate-chip cookies and discovered that baking-soda-only cookies won hands down. Show them they’re incorrect!
- To keep the boiling syrup from crystallizing, add a sprinkle of baking soda.
In the Interest of Health
- Teeth that are free of plaque Baking powder’s antibacterial characteristics aid in the reduction of bacterial plaques that cause tooth decay and gum disease, while its moderate abrasive capabilities aid in removing light stains. To form a thick paste, combine a little baking soda with a few drops of water, moisten brush, coat teeth with paste, cover with paste, brush gently, and rinse thoroughly.
- To treat burnt or irritated skin, add baking soda to your bathwater.
- To relieve a burn or bug bite, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area.
- If you’re craving something sweet, gargle with a teaspoon of baking soda diluted in a glass of warm water. Spit out the mixture rather than swallowing it. Your desire should go in an instant.
- Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a glass of warm water (or peppermint tea) and swish it about in your mouth for 30 seconds or more before spitting it out to freshen your breath.
- Reduce the frequency of heartburn and indigestion: Half a teaspoon of baking soda in half a cup of water is the typical dosage for this age-old treatment. Consult a doctor if you have regular heartburn or other digestive issues.
On the subject of clothing
- Make a thick paste of baking soda and water to erase sweat stains. Rub the paste into the stain, wait an hour, and then wash as normal. Learn how to get rid of other common stains.
- Garments with gasoline or oil scents can be eliminated by placing them in a garbage bag with baking soda for a few days before washing.
- Remove the smells from your stinky shoes. Sprinkle baking soda liberally into shoes (and under the inserts, too). Place your shoes in a big paper bag and set them aside for the night. Shake out the soda when you’re ready to go again.
- Stains on hatbands should be removed. Spray a quarter cup of white vinegar mixed with a tablespoon of liquid detergent around the inside of a baseball or sports hat with a mixture of a few tablespoons of white vinegar and a spritz of spray. After that, liberally sprinkle baking soda around the brim and apply to the brim, allowing the hat to set for up to an hour. Spray the stain with distilled white vinegar and scrub it again. Rinse well in cold water. Allow the hat to air dry entirely after patting it dry with a towel.
- Keeping a steam iron clean. Scrub the ironing surface (soleplate) carefully with a baking soda and water mixture when it becomes dirty.
- Allow it to dry completely before removing it with a delicate brush. If it doesn’t work, soak a small towel or washcloth in white vinegar, place it on the ironing board with newspapers, and sprinkle baking soda on top. Then, without plugging in the iron, “iron” the towel back and forth.
In the Automobile
- Sprinkle baking soda on the upholstery and floor mats to deodorize your car (or trunk). Allow for some time to pass before vacuuming it up and wiping away any excess baking soda with a moist towel. Some individuals store baking soda in their ashtrays.
- Bugs and tar may be removed from autos using a mild baking soda paste applied to a moist cloth. Allow a few minutes for the paste to dry before wiping and rinsing clean.
For Your Dog
- Stains on hatbands should be removed. Spray a quarter cup of white vinegar mixed with a tablespoon of liquid detergent around the inside of a baseball or sports hat with a mixture of a few tablespoons of white vinegar and a spritz of spray. After that, liberally sprinkle baking soda around the brim and apply it to the brim, allowing the hat to set for up to an hour. Spray the stain with distilled white vinegar and scrub it again. Rinse well in cold water. Allow the hat to air dry entirely after patting it dry with a towel.
- Keeping a steam iron clean Scrub the ironing surface (soleplate) carefully with a baking soda and water mixture when it becomes dirty.
Miscellaneous home uses for baking soda
- Hands that are smelly should be deodorized. Dust your hands liberally with baking soda and clean them under running warm water for a few seconds after cutting fish or handling other odorous products.
- Clean the garbage cans. Simply sprinkle inside the garbage cans in your kitchen and bathroom, or within the trash bags themselves. I take mine outdoors once a year and clean it with a little liquid soap and a vigorous hose spray.
- To keep carpenter ants, silverfish, and roaches out, place a layer of baking soda behind sink-pipe holes and along with basement windows. The baking soda is consumed by the roaches, who then dehydrate and die.
- Baking soda sprinkled on your front stairs will give traction while also melting the ice. It won’t harm outdoor or indoor floors or shoes, unlike rock salt, kitty litter, or sand.
- Baking soda should not be used to clean glass, cutlery, stone worktops, or hardwood floors or furniture. Baking soda should not be used as a dry shampoo or underarm deodorant on a regular basis, according to experts, since its alkalinity will alter the skin’s and scalp’s natural acidity.
FAQs
- What should you avoid doing with baking soda?
4 Things Baking Soda Should Never Be Used To Clean
- Cookware made of aluminum. While baking soda may be used to clean many metal surfaces, caution should be exercised while cleaning aluminum cookware.
- Silver from the 1800s.
- Serving pieces with gold plating.
- Surfaces made of marble.
- Is it safe to use baking soda with vinegar?
Yes, in general; the reaction isn’t particularly explosive, and the gas generated, carbon dioxide, isn’t particularly dangerous. But whether it’s a good concept or not is another thing. When the two compounds are mixed together, they neutralize each other and become useless.
- Is it possible that baking soda and vinegar may harm you?
When you combine baking soda and vinegar, nothing bad happens, but they practically neutralize each other and you lose all of the benefits of the two components.
- Does baking soda have antibacterial properties?
Is baking soda, on the other hand, a disinfectant? Unfortunately, you can’t disinfect with baking soda since it’s ineffective against most germs, including salmonella and E. coli.
- Is baking soda effective in killing germs and bacteria?
Baking soda, rather than harsh chemicals, may be used to clean your baby’s tray, highchair, and toys. It’s important to remember that it doesn’t destroy microorganisms. You may, however, combine it with vinegar, which acts as a disinfectant. Make sure you rinse thoroughly.
Conclusion
Home uses for baking soda have been well known among people for ages. Despite its many disadvantages, it has several advantages among people. So make the best use of this natural remedy for its best outcome!
Author
Sarwar Abdullah
Founder at VAtask.com
Content writing is my passion. And I believe in following my dreams to achieve my goal in life! I am a full-time entrepreneur who believes in investing his time in his profession and passion equally.