Shebudgets
Baking Soda: The 8th Wonder Of The World?
We all know that baking soda is common place in the kitchen, used for baking your favorite cookies to deodorizing the refrigerator. But what makes baking soda really shine is what it can do outside of it’s natural habitat.
Baking soda makes the perfect green alternative for many cleaning, deodorizing and personal care products. It’s inexpensive, versatile, and effective. Below you’ll find 20 creative everyday uses for baking soda.
1. For Your Pets
Use baking soda to give your dog a dry bath. Lightly sprinkle baking soda onto a dry coat using a brush to work it through and then thoroughly remove. It’s an easy way to freshen your best friend’s coat between baths.
2. Cleaning Baby Toys
Harsh cleaners and toys don’t mix. To clean and deodorize baby toys safely and effectively, use 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water. Wash toys with a clean damp sponge or cloth, rinse and dry without worry of your child coming in contact with harsh chemicals.
3. For The Bathroom
For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile and sinks – even shiny fiberglass and glossy tiles- sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. Afterwards, your ready for a relaxing candle lit bath.
4. For Stuffed Animals
Keep delicate stuffed animals fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Just sprinkle on dry toys and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before thoroughly brushing/patting off to remove residue. Teddy’s all freshened up and ready for lovin’.
5. Dirty/Grungy Grills
Clean grungy grills by sprinkling baking soda on a damp brush, scrub as needed and rinse. If it’s been a while since it was last cleaned, you may need to scrub with a wire brush and baking soda paste made of 3 parts baking soda to one part warm water. Rinse thoroughly and your grill should look good as new.
6. Going Camping?
Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip! It’s a dish washer, pot scrubber, hand cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, and tons of other uses rolled into one. But my favorite, it eliminates the need to pack/haul around all the other single purpose items.
7. Upholstery Spills
Pets, kids and even adult accidents. When cleaning upholstery clean the stain according to the manufacturers directions and allow to dry. Then to deodorize, when the area is completely dry, sprinkle with baking soda and let sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming it up. Check for color-fastness first before applying.
8. Personal Hygiene
Although not ideal, it works in a pinch. Apply baking soda under arms as needed to feel fresh all day. Baking soda naturally absorbs odors instead of just covering them up and if you can do it with out making a mess, win-win.
9. For Insect Bites and Itchy Skin
For insect bites/stings, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply to affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after a bath or shower.
10. Healthy Hair
Baking soda has its place in the shower. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Baking soda helps remove residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.
11. Clean/Deodorize The Microwave
Apply baking soda on a damp sponge and gently cleanse the inside of your microwave without leaving a harsh chemical smell behind. Rinse with water afterwards.
12. Car Wash
Use baking soda to clean your your cars headlights, chrome, windows, tires and wheels without worrying about unwanted scratches. Add 1/4 cup baking soda to 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs, and tar. For stubborn stains, use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Eliminate odors by sprinkling baking soda directly on cloth seats, carpets and floor mats. Let stand for 15 minutes (or longer for strong odors) and vacuum thoroughly.
13. Freshen Your Closets
Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh. Replace every 6 months.
14. Septic System Care
One cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your Septic Tank and help keep your septic system flowing freely.
15. Scrub fruits and vegetables
Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse.
16. Make Toothpaste
A paste made from baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes. You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into baking soda for an extra boost. As always, do not swallow.
17. Clean Shower Curtains
Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it back up to dry.
18. Deodorize and Clean Dishwashers
Use Baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle cleanser during the wash cycle.
19. Repel Pesky Ants and Cockroaches
Instead of spraying harmful bug sprays, sprinkle baking soda along window sills, cracks and crevasse to repel ants and cockroaches from entering your home.
20. And For Fun – Water Colors
Have kids to entertain? These paints mix up in minutes with items you have in your kitchen. Experiment with colors but make sure you or the kids do not eat or drink the watercolors. This should go without saying, but children should use only under adult supervision.
What You Need:
2 tablespoons baking soda
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons sugar
1 packet dry unsweetened drink mix (any flavor)
2 tablespoons water
How to Make it:
1. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add water and stir until fizzing stops. (Different flavors of the drink mix will yield different colors.)
3. For more intense watercolor, a few drops of food coloring can be added to the mix.
4. Paint with them right away, or pour into jar lids or plastic try to let harden for future use.
There are hundreds of more uses out there but this is our 20 everyday uses of baking soda. If you have any tips or tricks, please share in the comments below.
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