73 Uses for Baking Soda -For Your Home and Personal Use

Baking soda is my all-time favorite cleaning product. It is free from synthetic odors and chemicals, has multiple uses and is very inexpensive. It is easily found in stores, warehouse clubs and online. Baking soda has been around a long time, its modern uses range from settling upset stomachs, to cleaning ovens and putting out fires.

Baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate is a chemical salt with diverse practical uses. Sodium bicarbonate is an alkaline product. It neutralizes acids and break down proteins. This quality makes it useful as a tenderizer and for leavening in baking. The neutralizing action also makes it an excellent deodorizer.  When added to water (for laundry use) baking soda stabilizes the pH level, which increases the effectiveness of laundry detergent. It can even be added to swimming pool water to balance the pH and keep the water clear.

So what exactly is baking soda good for? Let’s take a look.

kitchen

Kitchen:

Flat Stovetop Tough Cleaning- Make a paste of baking soda and water, spread on stovetop with damp sponge and allow to sit for thirty minutes, then scrub clean and rinse well.

Refrigerator/Freezer-Leave an open box in refrigerator or freezer to remove odors. Be sure to change every two months or so.

Stained Tea & Coffee Mugs-Make a paste with baking soda and water, spread on interior of mug. Allow to sit overnight, scrub and rinse.

Garbage Cans– Simply sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of your trash cans to help keep bad smells away.

Deodorize Cutting Boards-Sprinkle your cutting board with baking soda, scrub, rinse.

Cuts grease-Add a tablespoon of baking soda to your regular dish soap and let greasy dishes soak. Baking soda will help to cut grease and make them easier to clean.

Drain Freshener-Pour a box down the drain to remove odors.

Clogged Drain-Pour ½ -1 cup of baking soda down the drain, follow with ½ -1 cup of vinegar, allow to sit for at least five minutes, add a gallon of boiling water to remove clogs and keep drains flowing freely.

Wash Produce-Mix a ¼ cup of baking soda in a sink full of water. Wash your produce in the sink, then rinse with clean water.

Freshen Dish Cloths-Soak dish cloths in a bowl of water and baking soda. Rinse and wash as usual.

Microwave Cleanup-Sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth and gently scrub away any microwave mess. This cleans and deodorizes.

Rusted Cast Iron Pans– Use baking soda to scour cast iron pans and remove rust.

Burned Pans-Burned food inside a pan? Put a little water and baking soda in pan and let soak overnight, scrub and rinse in the morning.

Coffee and Tea Stains– Scrub your coffee and teapots with baking soda to remove stains. Rinse well.

Silverware Polish-Mix three parts baking soda, to one part water. Apply paste to polish stainless steel and chrome. Allow to sit for 20 minutes, rinse well and dry.

Picnic Cooler Odors– For coolers fill with warm water and add baking soda. Allow to sit overnight, rinse and dry.

Oven cleaner-Make a paste with baking soda and water, brush on interior of stove walls. Let dry overnight. In the morning wipe down with a damp sponge. Touch up any stubborn baked on areas. Rinse well.

Grease Fires– Pouring baking soda on grease fires will put them out instantly.

Pot and Pan Cleaner-Soak pans in a sink full of water and baking soda. Allow to soak for 15-30 minutes, grease and dried food slide right off.

Deodorize Garbage Disposal– To help eliminate odors slowly pour baking soda down your drain while simultaneously running warm water.

Plastic Containers & Lunch BoxesIn between uses wash with baking soda sprinkled on a clean damp sponge. For tough odors, soak containers in a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda to a quart warm water. Rinse and wash as usual.

 living room

Household:

Books-Remove musty odors from books. Place book in plastic bag with baking soda, until odors are absorbed. (This can take a few weeks).

Cloth diapers– Dissolve 1/2 cup of baking soda in 2 quarts of warm water. Rinse diapers and then soak thoroughly before a regular wash.

Thermos Cleaning- Put a heaping teaspoon of baking soda in thermos. Fill with hot water, tighten cap on bottle. Allow to sit overnight, scrub with a bottle brush and rinse.

Freshen Shoes-Sprinkle in shoes or boots to remove odor. Let sit overnight. The next day shake out excess.

Freshen Upholstery- Sprinkle baking soda on upholstered furniture, wait 15 minutes and vacuum.

Litter Boxes– Place a layer of baking soda on the bottom of the kitty pan, then fill as usual with cat litter.

Remove Crayons from walls– Apply baking soda to a slightly wet cloth and rub lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth. You can also make a paste with baking soda and water and scrub with a sponge. Remove residue with clean well rinsed sponge or cloth.

Flowers-Cut flowers last longer with a teaspoon to the water in the vase or bowl.

Freshen Luggage– Freshen up luggage by sprinkling baking soda inside suitcase, close the case, allow to sit for a day or two. Remove the soda with a vacuum.

Gardens-Sprinkle around your garden to keep bunnies from eating your veggies and flowers.

Freshen Carpets-Before bedtime, sprinkle carpets and rugs with a thin layer of baking soda. Vacuum in the morning.

Brass Cleaner-Using a slice of lemon sprinkled with baking soda, wipe the brass. Rinse and dry with soft cloth.

Coffee Pot Cleaner– Mix ¼ cup baking soda with a quart of warm water. Rub the mix onto the pots, let sit for a few hours and rinse.

Closets– Place an open box of baking soda on a shelf in your closet to remove odors and to help freshen the air and fabrics.

Laundry Boost-Add ½ cup baking soda to laundry to make clothes feel softer and smell fresher.

Freshen MattressesAfter removing all sheets and blankets, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on top of mattress. Allow to sit for a few hours and vacuum.

Natural Fabric Softener– Add one cup baking soda to your washing machine to naturally soften clothes.

Septic Tank Care– Add 1 cup of baking soda per week to help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank

Floor cleaner Mix ¼ cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water. Mop and rinse floors with clean water. Towel or air dry.

Freshen Musty Towels– Wash towels in hot water. Add ½ cup baking soda to rinse cycle. Dry in high heat.

Stubborn Laundry Stains– Mix 6 Tbsp. baking soda and ⅓ cup warm water into a paste. Rub on clothing stain before laundering. Allow to sit for ten minutes or more. Rinse and wash as usual. Before using, always test a hidden area of fabric for color-fastness.

Deodorize Car Sprinkle baking soda fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes or more for strong odors and vacuum.

 bathroom

Bathroom:

Clean tiles, tubs, toilets, sinks, stainless steel with a paste of baking soda and water. Consistency should be a thick pancake batter. Wipe on, rinse and dry. (I use this in place of soft scrub type cleaners).

Grout lines-Make a paste with baking soda and water, use an old toothbrush to apply and scrub. Rinse with water.

Toilet Bowl-Add a cup to the toilet, let sit for an hour, scrub and flush. It will clean toilet and leave it smelling fresh.

Toilet Bowls-Tough Stains- Pour 1 cup baking soda into the toilet, add 1 cup vinegar. Allow to bubble for 10-15 minutes then scrub toilet clean.

Air Freshener- Dissolve one-eighth of a cup of baking soda in two cups hot water and a half-cup of lemon juice for an instant air freshener.

Countertop Air Freshener– Add baking soda to a bowl and mix with your favorite flower buds or dried herbs.

Clean Tile Floors Use 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water to help mop and clean floors.

brushing teeth

Personal Use:

Athlete’s Foot– Add 1 tablespoon baking soda to a bowl with enough water to make a thick paste. Apply to affected area liberally. Allow to sit for five to ten minutes, rinse and dry thoroughly. This is soothing to the affected area and relieves itching.

Heartburn Relief.-Add 1/2 -1 tsp. of baking soda to a cup of water. Stir till dissolved and drink.

Toothpaste-Mix half a teaspoon with water or hydrogen peroxide to make a paste and brush teeth.

Peppermint Toothpaste– 2 tablespoons coconut oil, 2 tablespoons baking soda, 10 drops of peppermint oil. Simply mix baking soda and coconut oil in a small container, until it forms a paste like consistency.  Add several drops of peppermint oil and mix. Brush and rinse your teeth.

Freshen breath-Mix 1 tsp. of baking soda in a glass of water and stir till dissolved. Swish, spit and rinse.

Skin Softener-Add to bathwater to soften your skin.

Smelly Hands-Remove odors from hands, simply scrub hands with baking soda and water.

Stings-Apply paste to relieve the pain of bee stings.

Mosquito Bites– Apply a thick paste to relieve itch of bites.

Jelly Fish Stings-Apply paste to relieve pain of jelly fish stings.

Hairbrushes and Combs-Add a teaspoon to a sink full of water and add your brushes and combs. The baking soda removes the hair oils and hair spray. Rinse well and dry.

Make your own deodorant– Using baking soda, arrow root powder and coconut oil, you can make your own nontoxic deodorant. Here’s the recipe.

Exfoliate Skin– Mix 3 cups of baking soda to one part water. Rub gently on skin in a circular motion and rinse.

Irritated skin– Add a cup of baking soda to your bath to soften your skin and relieve irritated skin.

Soften feet– Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda into a small tub of warm water and soak, to soften tired feet.

Sunburn relief spray-Mix a ¼ cup of baking soda with cool water. Pour into spray bottle and spray on sunburned skin.

Sunburn relief in the tub-Add a half cup of baking soda to a tub of warm water for a pain relieving soak.

Neutralize Dry Beans-When soaking dry beans add a teaspoon of baking soda in the water to help prevent gassy issues.

Nausea-1/2 tsp. baking soda in glass of warm water. Stir till dissolved and sip to relieve nausea.

Poison Ivy Relief-Add baking soda to the bath for itch relief.

Splinter Removal– Soaking a splinter is a painless method of splinter removal. Simply add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to warm water, and soak the affected area two to three times daily.

Hand Softener-Cleaning your hands with baking soda and water leaves then clean and soft.

Tooth Whitener-Simply mix a teaspoon of baking soda with water. Put the paste on your toothbrush, allow to sit for three to five minutes and rinse.

 

 

This article was originally posted at the Hearty Soul.

 

Looking for more recipes:

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My Health Maven offers information on a wholistic approach to healthy lifestyle choices.