Baking soda is easily one of the most common household items in any part of the world. And although most of us are aware that there are one or two ways in which we can use the brilliant item, you probably don't know that there are actually dozens of uses for this one simple product. And what’s even more amazing is that baking soda is extremely accessible and affordable, making it the perfect item to have on hand. From its ability to treat heartburn to actually managing to put out small fires, these are the many incredible reasons why always having baking soda around is a no-brainer.
Always Keep Your Flowers Fresh
Believe it or not, but you could actually use baking soda to extend the lifespan of your favorite flowers. How many times do we get a wonderful bouquet that inevitably gets old and sad with time?
Well, resolve that by placing a teaspoon of baking soda in a vase full of water. You might also want to add an ice cube to give it that extra boost.
Use It To Whiten Your Teeth
This one might not come as a surprise to most of us, but it's still worth a reminder. If there is one affordable item that you should definitely use if you'd like to whiten your teeth, then that item is baking soda.
Baking soda can help to remove plaque build-up in your teeth, and also the surface stains that appear with time. After brushing your teeth with toothpaste, just brush them with some baking soda and you're good.
You Can Use It As Dry Shampoo
You have probably heard about the hype around dry shampoo. It's easy, it keeps your hair clean on the go, and it allows you to feel as presentable as possible on busy days.
But did you know that instead of buying from expensive brands, you could use baking soda? Just sprinkle some baking soda into your hair and rub it in gently. That will allow you to easily remove the excess oils from your scalp.
Deeply Wash Your Fruits And Veggies
If you would like to properly remove pesticides and other chemicals from your food then baking soda is your friend. In fact, research has shown that baking soda is one of the most effective ways to properly wash your produce.
All you have to do is add a spoonful of baking soda to the water and let the vegetables sit for about 15 minutes. Then rinse it, dry it, and you're good to go!
Freshen Your Trash Cans
With time, trash cans can get pretty smelly, especially if you don't clean them often. So in order to help those odors get absorbed, use some baking soda on your trash can.
All you have to do is sprinkle a good amount of soda onto the bottom part of your trash can, and that should help with freshening not only the trash can, but the entire kitchen.
If You Have Heartburn, Treat It With Baking Soda
Heartburn can often be extremely uncomfortable, especially if it is a recurring symptom. Since baking soda is a natural antacid, you could use it to neutralize your stomach acid and help with heartburn almost instantly.
Simply dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda into a full glass of water and drink it all very slowly. Hopefully, the heartburn won't last much longer.
Clean Up Your Batteries
Now here's another incredible use of baking soda. If you own a car, then you'll probably know that the car's battery's lifespan can be reduced if there is too much build-up on the engine.
To avoid that, clean your battery grime by using a mixture of water and baking soda, which should create a liquid paste. Then, disconnect the battery and brush it with a regular toothbrush.
Say Goodbye To Foot Odor
Amongst many other benefits, baking soda has essential anti-microbial properties that may help you eliminate that annoying foot odor. You can just grab a bucket and pour some water with baking soda, and soak your feet in it to eliminate the odor.
For your shoes, sprinkle some baking soda and let it absorb overnight. You should never have a problem with smelly shoes again after this.
Relieve Yourself From Bug Bites
Bug bites can be a total pain. If you do get bitten and you don't have bug spray in the house, no need to worry. A baking soda and water paste can easily relieve you from the pain caused by the bite. Just apply some paste in the affected area and let it dry.
The mixture should help to draw out the fluids and alleviate irritation and itching.
Clean Your Outdoor Furniture
Outdoor patio furniture does not only get consistently dirty, but it can also get way too much wear and tear. You could remedy this by wiping all of your sets with some baking soda and water helping them stay clean, especially during the hot summer months.
When you store the furniture away during winter, place some baking soda in different places of the storage to keep everything fresh.
Clean Up Coffee Stains
Nothing like an unwanted coffee stain to take that excitement from drinking coffee away. So just get some baking soda and clean those stained coffee cups. All you have to do is sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into the cup, and leave it soaking for a few minutes.
Afterward, dip a cloth into some cold water and scrub the entire inside of the cup.
Take Care Of The Odor Coming From Your Fridge
Refrigerator odor is often an inevitable part of owning a fridge. No matter how much you clean it, sometimes it's just not enough to completely remove that recurring smell.
If you use baking soda though, you will be able to neutralize this unwanted fridge smell. Simply create a tiny opening in the actual baking soda box and place it in the refrigerator.
Alleviate Sores
Mouth ulcers or canker sores are extremely common among many people, especially during wintertime. Since they can hurt and be really uncomfortable, you can use baking soda as a natural remedy.
By applying a little bit of baking soda directly on the sore, you will be helping to neutralize the acids on your mouth, which should help soon after. Don't forget to rinse it after.
Relieve Yourself From Razor Burn
Though razor burn doesn't necessarily hurt, it can be really uncomfortable on your skin. Sometimes you just want to shave without having to worry about your skin becoming irritated.
To help alleviate this, create a small mixture of baking soda and use a cotton ball to slowly dab on your skin. In no time, the mixture will help reduce irritation and redness.
Thoroughly Clean Stuffed Animals
Stuffed animals can be the cutest thing in the world, but they too are prone to becoming full of dust. If you would like to keep them as sanitary as possible, simply grab a plastic bag with some baking soda inside and put your toy in it.
Then start carefully shaking it, which will help the baking soda draw out every single particle of dirt and dust. Then, vacuum the stuffed animal and you're done!
Kill Uninvited Weeds
If you'd like to keep those unwanted weeds away from your pavement just sprinkle a bit of baking soda in between the cracks of the walkway, driveway, or garden beds. If you're worried about it being toxic, don't be.
Baking soda is not only biodegradable but also nontoxic, which makes it pretty eco-friendly and a perfect alternative if you'd rather use something more natural. The roots of the weeds should shrivel away in a few days.
Clean Your Shower Curtains
As time goes by, shower curtains may get stained, dirty, and really unsightly, especially if their color is quite bright. But instead of simply changing them out for another one, try to use some baking soda to clean them thoroughly.
To do so, just scrub some baking soda with the help of a damp brush. In no time, you should be able to start seeing results.
Put Down A Small Cooking Fire
How about this? You can actually put down a small fire in the kitchen with some baking soda. Remember though, this may only work for small cooking fires that often come with oil and a lot of grease.
If this happens, reach for some baking soda, which should instantly add carbon dioxide to the flame, working its way into putting it out.
Clean Carpet Stains
Another thing that can be a total pain is getting a stain on your carpet. Unfortunately, carpet stains are not that easy to clean and there aren't that many affordable products that work well.
So if you'd like to save money and avoid too much hastle, simply make a mix that combines vinegar and baking soda. The mixture will create a bit of a fizzling effect that works pretty well with stains.
Make A DIY Mouthwash
Baking soda can be so useful for your oral health and it costs almost nothing in comparison to pharmaceutical products. For example, did you know that you could create a DIY mouthwash as an alternative to the common store-bought one?
Just mix half a teaspoon baking soda with some warm water and that's it, you've created your own effective mouthwash.
Alleviate The Pain From A Jellyfish Sting
Unfortunately, jellyfish stings are much more common than we would like them to be. It can happen to anyone anytime. In order to help treat it, rinse the affected area with some vinegar, and then apply a mix made of baking soda and hot water.
Though it might sting more when you do it, the treatment should help alleviate the pain in a second.
Strip Paint With Baking Soda
Instead of settling for really harsh chemicals, you can use baking soda as the perfect, easy, and fast way to strip paint. Plus, it's free from any toxins. You can simply combine hot water with baking soda and begin applying it to the paint's surface.
Then, start slowly scraping it and that should do the job. Or you can also place pieces of small hardware directly into the mix if that's the case.
Brighten Your Laundry
If you would like to brighten some of your clothes, add half a cup of baking soda to the laundry load. This should work flawlessly with both colors and whites.
Preferably, try to use the baking soda mixed with your laundry detergent so that the results are more effective. This will not only help with the process of brightening your clothes but also with the odor.
Keep Unwanted Pests Away
None of us can escape from the annoying feeling of having to deal with unwanted pests in the house. In fact, some of us have tried literally everything, but products barely work - unless you do a full fumigation in the home.
If you're up for trying something simple, just pour some baking soda near the pests' homes and that should help control the infestation.
Remove Splinters
Splinters are no fun, but you can easily help remove them with a tiny bit of baking soda. Make a paste of water and baking soda and begin applying it to the splinter.
That should help to not only remove it but it will also help with the swollen skin that comes as a result of it. Don't leave it open though - cover it with a bandaid and, later that day or the next day, the splinter should be out.
Clean Your Walls
When you have small kids, there is a high probability that they will draw and paint on your walls at least once or twice. But no need to worry, this is easily fixable.
Mix some water with baking soda and get started cleaning the walls with a damp sponge. It shouldn't take too long until you start seeing the walls clear up.
Combat Book Odors
Though these days the shift towards electronic books continues, some of us still love having full and dreamy libraries at home. But sadly, too many books stuck together for a while may create an odor that is not so magical and pleasant.
To fix this, just sprinkle a little bit of baking soda in between the pages of the smelly books, which should certainly help.
Polish Your Silverware
If you feel like it's time to polish your silverware, grab your baking soda because we're about to teach you an awesome trick. Just boil some water and pour it into an aluminum pan, add one or two teaspoons of baking soda and stir it.
Wait a few seconds and add the silverware you'd like to clean into the pan. Let the utensils sit for a bit, and then remove it with tongs. Before drying it, let it cool down for a bit.
Unclog Your Drains
Now here's another tiny glitch that usually takes us to spend tons of money and time to fix, either with expensive store-bought products or by calling a handyman.
Well, what if we told you that some baking soda may resolve your problem in ten minutes? Just make the magical vinegar and baking soda mix, pour it on the drain, and let it bubble. After 10 minutes flush it with hot water and voila!
Clean Up Your Water Stains
Water stains are not the best, and they can be really hard to remove too if you don't have the right products, that is. But nothing like a combination of baking soda and water to clear everything up.
Just use a soft cloth, put it into the mixture, and then begin wiping in circular motions. In no time, the water stains will be gone.
Relieve Your Sunburn
Hopefully, when the world opens up again, we will be able to get that very necessary vitamin D from public pools and beaches. And when we do, it's important to always remember to wear sunscreen!
If you do happen to get a sunburn though, no need to panic. Help alleviate the sting with some baking soda and cold water, and then use aloe vera to relieve it even more.
Use It To Disinfect Your Sponges
We often forget how important it is to clean our sponges regularly. In fact, they are known to be one of the biggest breeding grounds for unhealthy bacteria. So remember to clean your sponges regularly, and make sure to use some baking soda to make it even more effective.
Just soak the sponge in a bit of baking soda and that's it - it's clean!
Clean Those Stains From Leftovers
Leftovers can be very convenient to have, especially if you live a busy life. But no one likes to have leftover stains all over the place. If you'd like to clean that up, simply make a mixture of baking soda and water and place the stained leftover containers into the mixture.
Let it soak for about 30 minutes and then use a sponge to clean it well.
Deodorize Your Pet's Bed
Though we may absolutely love our pets and see them as part of the family, they are still pets who play outside, step on pee, and inevitably bring some dirt into the house and, consequently, into their beds.
So it's important to clean their beds regularly. If you'd like to elevate the process, sprinkle a bit of baking soda over the pet's bed and let it soak for 15 minutes until you can vacuum it.
Clean Up The Grill
Though cookouts are awesome, fun, and yummy, it can be so hard and tiring to clean the grill after using it. But if you use some baking soda, you might be able to reduce your efforts and cleaning time right away.
After you finish flipping the patties, wait until the grill cools of and use some baking soda and a brush to remove the grit.
Use It To Disinfect Retainers
Many of us are not aware that baking soda is actually one of the best disinfectants we probably have lying around the house. It helps to easily kill unwanted bacteria, it's safe, and it's as natural as possible.
So if you need something great to clean your retainers, brush some baking soda and water mix into the retainers on a regular basis. You can also use the trick on dentures.
Clean Mildew From Bathroom Walls
Our bathrooms often have a lot of build-ups, especially within the bathtub to the shower. In order to remove mildew from those really hard to reach areas in your bathroom use baking soda.
You can create a paste made of baking soda and water, and then put some of the mix into an old toothbrush and begin scrubbing. Afterward, rinse it with water and it should be clean.
Deep Clean A "Ruined" Pan
Sometimes, a pan may look so burnt and worn out that we may think that it can't be saved. But that's not always true. You can use some baking soda in pans that require a little bit of extra work to be cleaned, especially when they're a little bit burnt.
Sprinkle a bit of baking soda, add hot water and scrub it with a sponge.
Clean Up Grease Stains
By now, it's pretty clear that baking soda is definitely one of the most versatile products out there. And well, if you find yourself with grease stains all over your garage, baking soda should take care of that too.
You can grab a good hand of baking soda and sprinkle it over the grease, then let it sit for 20 minutes. Then, use either a damp sponge or cloth to scrub it.