Things to do with Baking Soda

Recently I’ve been hearing about a lot of useful things to do with baking soda.  I researched some and added some from my own experiences (in purple). I promise I don’t work for Arm & Hammer... but you should  probably buy more baking soda :-)

For Your Health

1.  Use it as underarm deodorant by mixing one part baking soda and six parts cornstarch.  Apply it with a powder puff. It doesn't smell like "teen spirit" but it gets the job done.
2.  Mix half a teaspoon with peroxide paste and use it as toothpaste.
3.  Use it as a face and body scrub.
4.  Add a cup to bathwater to soften your skin.
5.  Relieve skin itch from insect bites and pain from sunburn.
6.  Remove strong odors from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda and water.
7.  Put two tablespoons in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash.
8. Apply it on rashes, insect bites, and poison ivy irritations.
9. Take a baking soda bath to relieve skin irritations.
10. Heartburn? Take a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one-half glass of water.
11. Relieve canker sore pain by using it as mouthwash.
12. Use it to relieve stings and burns.
13. Unblock stuffy nose by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer.
14. Use it to scrub off your baby’s cradle cap.

In the Home

1.  Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase.
2.  Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors.
3.  Sprinkle it on your slippers, boots, shoes, and socks to eliminate foul odor.
4.  Turn baking soda into modeling clay by combining it with one and 1/4 cups of water and one cup of cornstarch.
5.  Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain.
6.  Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor.
7.  Freshen the air by mixing baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put the mixture in small sachet bags.
8.  Restore stiff brushes by boiling them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and a cup of baking soda.
9.  Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants.
10.  Scatter baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies.
11.  Sweeten your tomatoes by sprinkling baking soda on the soil around your tomato plants.

In Cooking

1. Wash fruits and vegetables with it to get rid of that bitter taste left from chemicals or pesticides.
2. 
   
   1. Use it as a substitute for baking soda by mixing it with cream of tartar or vinegar.
3. Soak dried beans to a baking soda solution to make them more digestible.
4. Make a sports drink by mixing it with boiled water, salt, and Kool-Aid.
5. Remove the fishy smell from your fillets by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda solution for an hour inside the fridge.
6. Make fluffier omelets by adding half a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs used.
7. Reduce the acid content of your tomato-based recipes by sprinkling them with a pinch of baking soda.

Cleaning Purposes

1. Use it to scrub sinks, showers, plastic and porcelain tubs.
2. 1. 1. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor
3. Spray it on walls, mirrors, and countertops.
4. Add a spoonful to your dishwasher to make scrubbing dishes easier.
5. Remove grease from pots and pans.
6. Dry clean carpets and upholstered furniture by sprinkling baking soda over the fabric and gently brushing it. Leave it for an hour or overnight, then vacuum.
7. Boost your laundry detergent’s cleaning power by sprinkling a handful on dirty clothes.
8. Combine it with water to make a paste for polishing stainless steel and chrome.
9. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles.
10. Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution, then rinse.
11. Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse.
12. Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes before washing.
13. Keep your drains clean by putting four tablespoons of baking soda in them each week. Flush it down with hot water.
14. Use it to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from a toaster. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp rug, then use the rug to clean the toaster.
15. Clean silver with it.  Set your silver jewelry on a sheet of aluminum inside of a glass pan.  Sprinkle with baking soda.  Pour boiling water over it and let sit for a minute... Drain and polish to find bright silver again!