Baking Soda Uses

Also known as sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate or bicarbonate of soda, baking soda is a mineral which is found in nature. It is a white powdery substance which is available at a grocery store. As baking soda is found in nature, it is safe and will not harm you, your family or your environment. It is used in a huge variety of food that we consume daily. The uses of baking soda are not confined to only food, it can also be used for a lot of other purposes.

In the Kitchen

• Use baking soda to wash fruits and vegetables. To do this, add 2-3 tablespoons in a pot of cold water and put the vegetables in. You could also put a small amount of baking soda on a wet sponge and brush the vegetable or fruit with it. Do remember to rinse the vegetable or fruit thoroughly before serving.
• Make meat tender by wiping it with baking soda. After this is done, refrigerate the meat for 3 to 5 hours, and then rinse it well before cooking.
• To get rid of the smell of fish, soak the raw fish in 1 quart (1 liter) of water with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Keep the fish in the refrigerator for an hour. Rinse and wipe the fish before cooking.
• Fluff up your omelets with baking soda. Add ½ a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs.
• To get rid of nasty food odors, wet your hands and rub them with 2 teaspoons of baking soda.
• Make a paste out of 1 tablespoon baking soda, salt and water. Use this to clean your cutting board. Rinse the cutting board thoroughly with hot water after scrubbing.
• Clear a clogged drain with baking soda. Pour a cup of it down the drain followed by a cup of hot vinegar. (You could heat the vinegar in a microwave). Wait several minutes for it to work, after that, pour 1 quart (1 liter) of boiling water.
• Use baking soda to deodorize your garbage pail. Clean the garbage pail using a wet paper towel dipped in baking powder. Rinse the pail with a damp sponge and let it dry. You could also scatter a little baking soda into the pail before putting in a new bag.
• Simply boil a few cups of water and add 5 tablespoons of baking soda in it. Put the burned or scorched pots and pans into it and leave it like that for a few hours or even overnight. The dirt will just slip off and your pots and pans will be as good as new!
• Remove annoying coffee and tea stains from your china by gently rubbing the cups and saucers with a moist cloth dipped in a paste of baking soda.

At Home

• To remove crayon marks from the walls or wallpaper, use a damp cloth dipped in baking powder. Scrub the marks lightly.
• When going out with your child, never leave home without a bottle of baking soda. You can use it to get rid of the odor and the potential stain when you child spits up. To do this, brush of the solid matter, and then dab the spot with a moistened washcloth dipped in baking soda.
• The simplest way to clean carpets and rugs is to lightly sprinkle them with baking soda and vacuum after 15 minutes or so.
• Wine and grease stains can be removed from carpets by first blotting up the stain and then sprinkling a liberal amount of baking soda on the area. Let the soda remain for an hour and then vacuum the emaining.
• If you have musty odors in dresser drawers, cabinets or closets, fill the toe of a clean sock with about 3 to 4 tablespoons of baking soda. After tying a knot, hang it in the closet. To keep odor away, replace the baking soda every month.
• To remove the tarnish from silver jewelry, make a thick paste of 2 tablespoons of water and ¼ cup of baking soda. Use a damp sponge to apply it to the jewelry. Rub gently, rinse and buff it dry. To polish gold, cover the jewelry with a light coat of baking soda. Pour a little bit of vinegar over it and then rinse it clean. This technique should not be used with jewelry that contain pearls or gem-stones.
• The lingering smell of cigarettes can be got rid of by lightly sprinkling the upholstered chairs and sofas with some baking soda. Let it remain on the furniture for a few hours and then vacuum it off.
• Place a decorative dish filled with ½ a cup of baking soda either on the top of the toilet tank or the floor below. This will keep your bathroom smelling fresh and clean. You could also come up with your own deodorizer by using equal parts of baking soda and scented baths.
• To get rid of white marks from your coffee table or other furniture. Make a paste containing 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water. Rub the area gently in circular motions until the marks disappear.
• Stains from bricks in the fireplace can be got rid of by washing them with a solution of ½ a cup of baking soda in 1 quart (1 liter) of warm water.

In the Cabinet

• Pour some baking soda into a container of ice water, soak a cloth and apply it to the burn. This helps prevent many burns from turning into blisters.
• To use baking soda as a mouthwash, put 1 teaspoon of baking soda into half a glass of water. It neutralizes the odor as soon as it comes into contact with it.
• If you are wearing a plaster in the summertime and would like temporary relief from the itchy feeling, use a hair dryer which is set on the coolest to blow a bit of baking soda down the sides of the cast.
• Foot odor and the dirt that gathers between the toes can be got rid of by making a soothing bath. For this use 4 tablespoons of baking soda mixed in 1 quart (1 liter) of warm water.
• Keep toothbrushes clean by plunging them in a solution of ¼ baking soda and ¼ water, and leaving them overnight. Follow this practice once every one or two weeks. Do remember to rinse the brushes before use.
• To get rid of a flaky problem, wet your hair and then rub a handful of baking soda vigorously into your scalp. After this is done, rinse your hair and dry. Do not use shampoo, and do this every time you wash your hair. Your hair might turn dry in the beginning, but, in a few weeks it will turn softer and also free from dandruff.
• Add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to lukewarm water to soothe your baby's diaper rash. If the rash does not go away or gets worse, do consult your pediatrician.
• To get relief after being stung by a bee, make a paste of 1 teaspoon baking soda mixed with drops of water. Apply this to the affected area and let it dry. Get medical treatment if you face difficulty breathing, or notice that there is a noticeable swelling.
• For quick relief from sunburn and other skin irritations, make a solution of 4 tablespoons of baking soda mixed in 1 cup of water and apply to the affected area.
• To keep combs and brushes clean, soak them in a solution made of 3 cups of warm water and 2 teaspoons baking soda, Swirl them around in the solution and let them soak for about half an hour. Remember to rinse and dry them before using.

While Laundering

• To make your clothes whiter and brighter, add ½ a cup of baking soda to your usual amount of laundry detergent. Baking soda softens the water too.
• Add ½ a cup of baking soda during your washer's rinsing cycle to remove the smell of mothballs from clothes.
• Chemicals can be removed from your baby's clothes by washing them with a mild soap and ½ a cup of baking soda.
• To get rid of perspiration, tar and other stains. Pretreat the clothes with a paste made out of 4 tablespoons of baking soda and ¼ cup of warm water. For bad stains, let the paste dry for about 2 hours before washing. For tar stains, wash the cloth in plain baking soda after applying the paste.
• Mildewed shower curtains can be washed at home, all you need to do is put it in the washing machine with two bath towels in the gentle setting and add ½ a cup of baking soda to your detergent during the wash cycle. Add ½ a cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle. Do not put it in the dryer after that, just hang them out to drip and dry.

Outdoors

• To keep weeds and grasses from growing in the cracks of your driveways and walkways, sprinkle handfuls of baking powder on to the concrete and sweep it in to the cracks.
• Wet a sponge and put it in to baking soda, use this, to wipe resin lawn furniture.
• If you want healthier blooms, give flowering alkaline-loving plants such as dianthus, delphiniums and clematis a mild shower. Use 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 2 quarts (2 liters) of water.
• If you would like to maintain proper alkalinity in your pool, add 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) of baking soda for every 10,000 gallons (38,000 liters) of water in your swimming pool. Doing this in these proportions will raise the total alkalinity by 10 ppm (parts per million).
• Make a soft paste of ¼ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of water. Apply this paste to your barbecues grill with a wire brush and let it stand for 15 minutes. Wipe it with a dry cloth and place the grill over the hot coals for at least 15 minutes to get rid of the residue.

For Pets

• To remove odor from your dog and leave his coat shiny and clean, rub a few handfuls of baking soda into his coat and then brush it thoroughly.
• If your pet is scratching his ears all the time, it could be an indication of an irritation or ear mites. To ease the itch, use a cotton ball dipped in a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda in a cup of warm water.
• To keep six legged intruders away from your pets' dish, place a border of baking soda around the food bowl. The baking powder will not harm your pet if he laps up a little!
• Put a thin layer of baking soda under the cat litter to absorb the odor. You could also mix baking soda with the litter while changing it.