Natural Baking Soda

Natural baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO₃. Also termed as sodium hydrogencarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate, baking soda is a white solid substance which is crystalline in nature but usually appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste quite similar to the taste of washing soda (sodium carbonate). It is a component of the mineral natron (a natural mixture of sodium carbonate decahydrate, sodium bicarbonate, salt and sodium sulfate) and is found dissolved in many mineral forms. In its natural mineral form, baking soda is known as nahcolite.

Although baking soda is commonly used in different fields like food, personal care and manufacturing industries for making glass and other chemicals, it is one of the main ingredient in scouring powders and powerful cleaning agents. Therefore, let us have a look at baking soda as a natural cleanser and its other applications.

Baking Soda as a Natural Cleanser

Baking soda is a natural cleaner, used with many other natural substances to scour, clean, deodorize and remove dirt from a variety of fabrics and materials. It is a considered to be one of the best cleaning solution as it acts as a neutralizer for different substances that cause smells and stains. Everyday in our home we are always surrounded with stains, clogs, and numerous other tasks related to cleaning which are not only tedious but time-consuming as well. Therefore, using natural baking soda in our weekly cleaning can make our home more manageable and fresh smelling. So here we are going to talk a little more in detail on how you can use baking soda to clean variety of things at home.

• A thick paste of baking soda and vinegar can be used to clean bathtub greased with body oils and soap scum, spa or whirlpool where rings around the tub builds up and even jewelry.
• A mixture of baking soda and water can be used to clean the walkways of an indoor pool to keep the moisture from turning in to mold and mildew.
• Likewise, tub and shower doors, tiles and grouts or sink can be scrubbed or cleaned using a paste of one cup of baking soda and a half-cup of vinegar. Using a toothbrush or a comb while cleaning to reach in to small areas will also aid in better and fast cleaning.
• Fish tanks, windows, mats and carpets, etc. can be cleaned by preparing a thick paste of baking soda, vinegar and water and then rubbing or scrubbing the mixture on dirt areas with a clean cloth. Later you can rinse it off with another cloth using hot water to have clean and shiny windows, screens and tanks.
• Baking soda also acts as a natural air freshener. Combine one cup of baking soda with three drops of your favorite oil and place it on a shelf in a vase on a bookcase or cedar chests to have a fresh scent you always liked.
• Similarly if you are getting new carpeting in your home or office, sprinkle the floor with natural cleaning baking soda before and after padding to absorb the odor and enhance overall freshness in the home.
• One of the oldest and the most well proven method for whitening teeth is to brush teeth with a baking soda and salt mixture. This natural teeth whitening baking soda is highly effective in removing stains, especially if used along with peroxide. It helps to kill bacteria that causes plaque, and subdue acids which can harm tooth enamel.

Just like other commercial abrasive cleaners, baking soda can be used to scrub dirty and greasy surfaces. The main advantage of natural baking soda besides home cleaning and smelling fresh properties, is that it's economical and fits within a thin household budget.