More commonly known as baking soda, bicarbonate of soda is an everyday household item that’s best known for its use in baking. However, not many people know that this item isn’t limited to just baking! Baking soda is a very versatile ingredient that’s used in plenty of household products. Surprisingly, it also has some health benefits. So, here are 25 new ways you can use baking soda!
25+ Baking Soda Hacks You’ve Never Heard Of
Clean Your Produce
The best way to get rid of all those pesticides from your fruits and vegetables is by using baking soda. Simply soak your produce in a bowl with 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 2 cups of water. You can also scrub the produce with a damp sponge.
Clean Your Produce
Clean Rugs And Carpets
Refresh your rugs and get rid of those pesky stains by sprinkling baking soda on the carpets. Sprinkle a generous amount over the carpet before pouring hot water on top. Let the mixture sink in overnight and then vacuum, over it for the best results. If the stain is more stubborn, you can repeat the process in the desired area.
Clean Rugs And Carpets
Mouthwash
Having bad breath is something that no one wants. It can be tough to get rid of, too! Mouthwash is the perfect way to reach those far ends of your mouth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Baking soda is the perfect solution for this as well. It provides antibacterial and antimicrobial benefits as well. Just mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with warm water.
Mouthwash
Deodorant
Using baking soda as a deodorant supplement is an easy way to avoid unpleasant odors. Not to mention, you won’t be exposing your body to chemicals. All you’ll need is a little baking soda and some water. Mix the two into a paste and rub the mixture into your underarms.
Deodorant
Air Freshener
Most air fresheners just mask bad smells instead of eliminating them altogether. In addition, do we even know what chemicals those bottles contain? Baking soda is a safer alternative and it eliminates the odors instead of just covering them up.
Air Freshener
Whiter And Brighter Clothing
Add 1 cup of baking soda to your laundry load along with the regular detergent you use in order to get cleaner and brighter clothing. This is due to the fact that baking soda is an alkali, a soluble salt that helps remove stains.
Whiter And Brighter Clothing
Bathroom Cleaner
We all know how difficult it can be to clean bathrooms. With those bathtub marks that won’t budge, it can get frustrating. While there is a variety of products available, baking soda is your best option, even in terms of cost. Not only does it whiten bathroom surfaces, but it also disinfects them. It’s suitable for anything from bathroom tiles to toilets. Just create a mixture with baking soda and water and rub it on the intended area, let it sit, and wipe it down after 20 minutes.
Bathroom Cleaner
Polishing Silverware
One annoying thing about silverware is that it tarnishes with time. However, they can be restored to their former shine. Baking soda will help with this as it initiates a chemical reaction that targets tarnish marks. Pour hot water mixed with baking soda over the silverware and simply watch the reaction that takes place.
Polishing Silverware
Spa Treatment
We all have those weeks when we’re stressed but don’t have the funds to treat ourselves to a relaxing getaway. Well, you can create your own mini spa in your bathtub by combining a hot bath with 1 oz of baking soda sprinkled into the water.
Spa Treatment
Disinfect Toothbrush
You probably don’t really think about cleaning your toothbrush. However, it’s a very important thing to do. Baking soda can get rid of all the bacteria when combined with water and vinegar. It will just take 30 minutes for you to have a clean toothbrush.
Disinfect Toothbrush
Treating Bug Bites
While it isn’t safe to apply baking soda to your skin every day, it can be helpful with reducing redness, itching, and stinging from insect bites. Most of the creams you would normally buy contain baking soda.
Treating Bug Bites
Burnt Pot
You’ve tried everything and are about to throw away your favorite pot since you’ve accidentally burned the bottom of it while cooking. These types of things can be hard to clean but that’s before you heard of this baking soda solution. Just boil some water and baking soda together and pour it over the burnt areas.
Burnt Pot
Cleaning Shoes
To get rid of that embarrassing smell in your shoes, baking soda is your go-to remedy. All you need to do is pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a couple of cloths. Secure them and place them in the shoes for the best results.
Cleaning Shoes
Heartburn
Commonly known as acid reflux, heartburn is a burning sensation from your throat to your stomach, essentially going down your esophagus. It can be caused by overeating, stress, spicy foods, and specific fruits. It can be very painful, however, we have a solution for it. Drink a glass of water with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and you should be feeling back to normal soon.
Heartburn
Cancer Treatments
Typically, chemotherapy is the treatment cancer patients get since it slows the growth of cancer cells. However, there is something that helps these treatments work even better. Baking soda can make the environment for tumors less acidic, which helps the chemotherapy treatments.
Cancer Treatments
Fluffy Omelet
For those who don’t love eggs, they might feel like omelets aren’t a sufficient way to fill them up. Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to every 3 eggs. This makes bubbles of carbon dioxide and lightens the omelet.
Fluffy Omelet
Cleaning Drains
No matter if it’s your kitchen or bathroom, backed up drains are awful. All you need to solve this problem is vinegar, baking soda, and a pot of boiling water and within 5-10 minutes, your drain will be completely cleared out.
Cleaning Drains
Garbage Disposal Odors
Every now and again, something gets thrown in the garbage disposal that racks up a horrible smell. This is where baking soda comes in. Run hot water in the garbage disposal for about a minute. After that, pour in 1/4 tablespoon of baking soda into the drain and turn on the disposal for 2 seconds. Ten minutes later, add 1 cup of vinegar and the bubbles will start showing up. End with water and you’ll be good to go!
Garbage Disposals
Whiten Your Teeth
Everyone is addicted to tea or coffee. However, too much of these guilty pleasures can have unwanted effects, like staining our teeth. If you don’t want to give up these hot drinks, you can use this solution. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda with water and brush your teeth as usual.
Whiten Your Teeth
Sore Throat
If you’re someone who’s prone to sore throats or even strep throat, this trick is for you. This kind of sickness can be awful. However, taking antibiotics too often can do more harm than good. Try gargling baking soda and water three times a day for some pain relief.
Sore Throat
Whiten Yellow Nails
Some of us tend to leave on nail polish for too long or picking it all off until our nails turn yellow. It’s not a pretty sight. You can get rid of these stains easily by mixing baking soda with a small amount of peroxide. Scrub the mixture onto your nails and your nails will be bath to normal in no time.
Yellow White Nails
Lighten Dark Underarms
With summer around the corner, no one wants to have dark underarms, right? You can get rid of these marks, don’t worry. Just grab baking soda, water, and a bowl. Make a mixture that has the consistency of a paste and apply it to the area for 1 minute. You can leave it for up to 30 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. For best results, you can repeat this process 2-3 times a week.
Lighten Dark Underarms
Exercise Performace
Believe it or not, baking soda can be very useful for athletes as well. It can help them perform at their peak for longer, especially during high-intensity workouts. Baking soda does this by delaying the fatigue you might experience as your workout gets more intense.
Exercise Performance
Chronic Kidney Disease
When a person has chronic kidney disease, they have a gradual loss in kidney function. As we all know, functioning kidneys are vital for a person’s health since they remove excess water and waste from the blood. Luckily, baking soda can slow the progression of this disease and be taken through supplements.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Kill Weeds
Keep those unsightly weeds away from your home by sprinkling some baking soda on the cracks of your driveway and sidewalk. Repeat when needed. With time, you’ll see how you won’t have to pull out weeds anymore!
Kill Weeds
Clean The Microwave
Sprinkle some baking soda onto a damp sponge. Gently rub it along the inside and outside of the microwave and rinse well with warm water. Watch how your microwave will look and smell like new!
Clean The Microwave
Melt Ice On Driveway
If you happen to live somewhere that has harsh winters, then you know the pain of having a driveway covered with a sheet of ice. For those times when you just happen to run out of salt, try sprinkling some baking soda on the driveway. While it isn’t as strong as the salt, it will still get the job done.
Melt Ice On Driveway
Cure Dandruff
For those of us who suffer from dandruff, the pain is real. If you’ve tried everything and nothing has worked, we have another trick you can try. Instead of using shampoo for a few weeks, simply massage your scalp with a handful of baking soda in the shower and rinse it out well.
Cure Dandruff
Clean Your Hairbrush
To restore your hairbrush or comb to its former glory, soak them in a mixture of 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a small amount of warm water. Rinse them off and dry them completely before using them again.
Clean Your Hairbrush
Make Your Grill Sparkle
As summer approaches, there’s nothing quite like going into the backyard for a family barbecue. After the grill has been sitting all winter, you can be sure it will need a nice deep clean to get it back into shape. Put some baking soda on a damp brush, scrub the grate and then rinse it.
Make Your Grill Sparkle
Make Your Floors Shine
If you happen to have wood or tile floors, then you know the pain of watching the shine fade away. Not to mention, the hefty price tag that comes along with fixing it. To brighten up a dull floor finish at home, dissolve 100g of baking soda into a bucket of warm water. Mop and rinse it off and watch your floors shine again!
Make Your Floors Shine
Appliances Like New
After being used a lot, appliances like your dishwasher or coffeemaker can begin looking less clean and fresh. To fix this, clean the dishwasher and coffeemaker by running an empty cycle with a scoop of baking soda inside.
Appliances Like New
Litter Box
This one is for all those cat lovers out there. No one wants their cat’s litter box to give off a bad smell that somehow travels throughout the house. To solve this issue, simply sprinkle some baking soda in the litter box, then add the litter on top to keep the smells to a minimum.
Litter Box
Exfoliate
Who doesn’t love a good spa night? Sometimes you need to mix things up and take your pampering to the next level. Try this: exfoliate your skin by creating a paste made with three parts baking soda and one part water. Gently run it into your skin using your fingertips in a circular motion. Rinse it off with warm water.
Exfoliate
Hair Treatment
Everyone wants healthy, strong hair. To get this at home without breaking the bank, mix some baking soda into your conditioner and lather it on your hair as usual. Doing so will keep your hair healthy and resistant to those annoying split ends.
Hair Treatment
Trash Bin Miracle
There is nothing worse than opening up the trash and being hit with a terrible smell coming from deep down. To fix this, sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the trash can. This will help eliminate bad smells.
Trash Bin Miracle
Rain Repellent
While driving in the rain is bad, doing so when you don’t have good windshield wipers can be impossible and even dangerous. To help repel rain from your windshield, wipe a damp cloth sprinkled with baking soda on it. You’ll see the difference the next time you drive in the rain.
Rain Repellent
Chicken Pox Cure
If you never had the chickenpox, consider yourself lucky. If you did have it, you’ll know the pain and suffering you go through. To help the itchiness, mix 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Then, use a washcloth yo put the mixture on the affected parts of the body and let it dry completely.
Chicken Pox Cure
Clean Food Containers
We all know how quickly food containers can become all stained and smell bad. Between all those packed lunches of pasta, and soups, it’s no wonder that the containers don’t look so good anymore. To make them shine again, sprinkle a clean sponge with baking soda and give them a good scrub and rinse.
Clean Food Containers
Clean Your Sponges
There’s no point in cleaning your dishes with a dirty sponge. You always want to make sure the sponge you’re using is clean. If your sponge needs some help, leave it to soak in warm water and baking soda overnight and then rinse it well in the morning.
Clean Your Sponges
Pet Bed Odors
Everyone adores their pets more than anything else. However, most people wish they could somehow eliminate the smells that come along with their pets. If your dog or cat bed is becoming a bit stinky, sprinkle it with some baking soda and let it sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming it up. The bed will smell like new.
Pet Bed Odors
Canker Sores
Canker sores are very common but also very painful. The best way to ease the pain? Rinse your mouth with a baking soda mouthwash twice a day until the canker sore has disappeared. It’s that simple.
Canker Sores
Calluses
While they aren’t a serious health concern, callises can cause pain and discomfort when applying pressure while walking. Recently, studies have show that soaking your calluses in a baking soda bath will help soften them, remove scabbing, and reduce discomfort.
Calluses
Oil Or Grease Fire
Did you know that some fire extinguishers have baking soda in them? Baking soda reacts with the heat to produce carbon dioxide which smothers and extinguishes fire. Meaning that baking soda can be used sometimes to extinguish small oil and grease fires. However don’t expect baking soda to put out large fires. Those absorb more oxygen and can counter the effects of baking soda. When in doubt, call for help.
Oil Or Grease Fire
Diaper Rash
The last thing that any parens want is to see their child in any sort of pain. Unfortunately, sometimes diaper rashes are inevitable. Creams and cures can come at a high price, but there’s something much cheaper and just as effective. Sprinkle a little baking soda into your baby’s bathwater and let them soak in it for a while. This will provide instant relief.
Diaper Rash
Clean Walls
We all know that kids have the wildest imaginations. Sometimes they’re convinced that the world, and their house, is a literal canvas. If your kids decide to go Picasso on the walls, don’t worry, there’s a solution. Apply some baking soda to a slightly wet cloth and rub it in slightly. Wipe it off with a clean, dry cloth.
Clean Walls
Cloth Diapers
If you happen to use cloth diapers, you probably know the struggle of cleaning them and ensuring they’re sanitary for another use. To keep the diapers in perfect shape, dissolve 1/2 cup of baking soda into 2 quarts of warm water and soak the diapers well before putting them into the wash.
Cloth Diapers
Coat Closet Cleanliness
Have you every opened your coat closet for the first time in the season only to realize that your jackets aren’t smelling great? Put an open box of baking soda on the shelf in your closet to keep those pesky odors at bay.
Coat Closet Cleanliness
Keep Flowers Fresh
Getting a bouquet of flowers from your loved one is as heartwarming as it gets. However, it’s sad to watch the flowers die so quickly. In order to keep them fresh for a little while longer, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water in the vase.
Keep Flowers Fresh