Baking soda is what people commonly call bicarbonate of soda. This household product is best known for its baking uses. However, you can use it for so much more than just cooking! It is versatile and even included in the ingredient lists of many household products. But what else can you use this substance for?
You Never Would Have Thought That Baking Soda Can Help With These Household Problems
Clean Your Produce
You can get rid of filthy pesticides from fruits and veggies with baking soda. All you have to do is to soak the produce in a bowl full of 1 teaspoon of baking soda for 2 cups of water. You can also scrub using a damp sponge and it should be all good!
Clean Your Produce
Clean Rugs And Carpets
You can get rid of stains and freshen up rugs by adding baking soda on the carpet. Pour a generous amount of it over the surface and add hot water on top of it. Let the mixture sit overnight and vacuum it! For tricky stains, reapply it several times. Your carpet will be fresh for cheap!
Clean Rugs And Carpets
Mouthwash
Bad breath can be hard to get rid of. Mouthwash can help reach parts of your mouth that your toothbrush can’t. Baking soda is good for freshening up your breath thanks to its antimicrobial and antibacterial benefits. You only need half a teaspoon of it and mix it with warm water as needed!
Mouthwash
Deodorant
Baking soda is good at getting rid of odors, so you can use it as a deodorant supplement. You only need a little baking soda and water. Rub the mixture on your pits, and you should be as good as new!
Deodorant
Air Freshener
Many air fresheners only mask bad odors instead of eliminating them. They are full of chemicals, so baking soda will be safer for you. It also interacts with the smells instead of just covering them up!
Air Freshener
Whiter And Brighter Clothing
Add a cup of baking soda to the laundry together with detergent to give your clothes a better clean. Baking soda is an alkali, so it can help remove messes by interacting with the acids present in the stains.
Whiter And Brighter Clothing
Bathroom Cleaner
Bathrooms can be a pain to clean. While there are products out there, baking soda is cost-effective! It will whiten and disinfect bathroom surfaces from tiles to toilets! Just make a mixture, apply, and wipe after 20 minutes!
Bathroom Cleaner
Polishing Silverware
Silverware tends to tarnish over time. They sure look great when they are clean and shiny, however. Baking soda is handy since it triggers a chemical reaction that targets tarnish marks. Add hot water with baking soda to silverware to do this.
Polishing Silverware
Spa Treatment
Are you overwhelmed after a long week but can’t treat yourself to a spa day? Make your spa in the bathtub by adding an ounce of baking soda to a hot bath. This is a great way to relax on a budget.
Spa Treatment
Disinfect Toothbrush
You should clean your toothbrush regularly! Cold and flu season might be here but baking soda can get rid of bacteria when you add it to water and water. Your toothbrush will be clean in half an hour!
Disinfect Toothbrush
Treating Bug Bites
It is not safe to add baking soda to your skin every day, but it will sooth redness, stinging, and itching from an insect bite. A lot of creams come with baking soda, but you can make your own mixture by adding water to it.
Treating Bug Bites
Burnt Pot
There is no need to throw away your pot if you scorch the bottom. It is not easy to clean but baking soda might do the trick. Boil water and baking soda and then pour the mixture over the scorched areas.
Burnt Pot
Cleaning Shoes
Baking soda is a good remedy if you are embarrassed by your stinky shoes. You just need to pour 2 tablespoons of it on two clothes and secure them together. Just them in your shoes afterward. Voila!
Cleaning Shoes
Heartburn
Heartburn or acid reflux is the burning sensation from the throat to the stomach. It is often caused by stress, overeating, certain fruits, and spicy food. It can be painful but baking soda can fight this issue by neutralizing stomach acid. Drink one glass of water with a teaspoon of it to solve the problem!
Heartburn
Fluffy Omelet
We all love eggs, but they sometimes do not feel enough to get you through the day. If you add half a teaspoon of baking soda for every 3 eggs, your omelet will lighten, appear fuller, taste better, and produce carbon dioxide bubbles.
Fluffy Omelet
Cleaning Drains
Clogged drains can be a nightmare be it in the bathroom or kitchen. You just need vinegar, boiling water, and baking soda. In 5 to 10 minutes, your drain should be totally cleared out. What a relief!
Cleaning Drains
Garbage Disposal Odors
You will, at one point, throw something in the garbage disposal that smells terrible. A mixture of baking soda and vinegar should come in handy here. Run hot water in the garbage disposal for a minute then pour a quarter cup of baking soda into it and leave the disposal on for 2 seconds. Next, add a cup of vinegar ten minutes later. Finish it off with running water and enjoy a fresh-smelling kitchen!
Garbage Disposals
Whiten Your Teeth
Tea and coffee are great, but they can end up yellowing your teeth when you have too much of them. You don’t have to spend a lot for whitening procedures. Just get a quarter teaspoon of baking soda and mix it with water. You can use your toothbrush to apply it to your teeth!
Whiten Your Teeth
Sore Throat
Are you a victim to sore throats or strep throat? If so, you should know that it is not good to take so many antibiotics. Gargle with baking soda thrice a day to enjoy healthy and speedy relief.
Sore Throat
Whiten Yellow Nails
Many people leave their nail polish on for too long and just pick it off. This will turn your nails yellow! Get rid of the stains by mixing baking soda and peroxide. Scrub your nails with it to see the difference!
Yellow White Nails
Lighten Dark Underarms
With summer around the corner, dark underarms can be stressful. If you want to show them off, you can trust baking soda and water to help. Make a mixture, apply, and massage for a minute. Leave it there for up to half an hour and rinse with warm water. This will work best when done 2-3 times a week.
Lighten Dark Underarms
Exercise Performace
Baking soda is helpful for athletes as well. The product will help you stay at your peak for longer. Baking soda delays the fatigue you feel during high-intensity workouts. Who would have thought that huh?
Exercise Performance
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease leads to a gradual loss in kidney function. This organ is important for our health since they remove waste and excess water from the blood. Luckily, you can consume baking soda supplements to slow the disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Kill Weeds
No one likes ugly weeds in their property! You can keep them away by sprinkling baking soda in the cracks of sidewalks and driveways. Just repeat when necessary so that you don’t have to pull them out again and again!
Kill Weeds
Clean The Microwave
Sprinkle some baking soda on a clean damp sponge. Just rub it gently along the sides of the microwave and rinse with warm water. The microwave should look and smell like brand new after this!
Clean The Microwave
Melt Ice On Driveway
Do you live somewhere with harsh winters? If so, you must know the difficulties of a driveway covered with ice. If you have no road salt, you can sprinkle baking soda to get rid of the sheet of ice instead!
Melt Ice On Driveway
Cure Dandruff
Do you have dandruff? Instead of relying on shampoo to help, you should just massage a handful of baking soda into your wet scalp when you shower. Just make sure to rinse it out as well as you could!
Cure Dandruff
Clean Your Hairbrush
If you want your comb or hairbrush to look new again, simply soak them in a mixture of one teaspoon of baking soda and some warm water. You simply need to rinse it off and dry it before using it again.
Clean Your Hairbrush
Make Your Grill Sparkle
When summer is approaching, there is nothing better to do than go into the backyard for a barbecue. The grill must have been there for a while, but you can apply baking soda on a damp brush, use it to scrub the grate, and rinse it out for a deep clean.
Make Your Grill Sparkle
Make Your Floors Shine
Do you have tile or wood floors? You do not need to spend a lot of money to get their shine back! If you want to brighten your dull floor, dissolve 100 grams of baking soda in warm water. Just mop and rinse!
Make Your Floors Shine
Appliances Like New
After a lot of use, your coffeemaker or dishwasher would no longer be clean and fresh. If you want to fix this, you can clean them by running an empty cycle with just a scoop of baking soda in it.
Appliances Like New
Litter Box
Cat lovers, listen up! The litter box might give off a foul odor, but you can fix this easily. All you need to do is to sprinkle baking soda in it and then add more litter on top of it to keep the smells manageable.
Litter Box
Exfoliate
If you want a DIY spa night, you should exfoliate with the use of a paste made with one part water and three parts baking soda. Just rub it in gently with circular motions and rinse it all off using warm water.
Exfoliate
Hair Treatment
Everyone wants to have strong and healthy hair. If you want to do this on your own, just mix baking soda into the conditioner and apply it to your hair! Your locks will be healthy and free of split ends.
Hair Treatment
Trash Bin Miracle
Isn’t it horrible when you open the trash can and get hit by that terrible odor? If you want to fix this, add a little baking soda at the bottom of the bin or bag. It will get rid of all those gross smells!
Trash Bin Miracle
Rain Repellent
It is annoying enough to drive in the rain, but it can also be dangerous. If you want to repel water from the windshield, use a damp cloth with baking soda and wipe the surface. This is such a great tip!
Rain Repellent
Chicken Pox Cure
Consider yourself lucky if you have never gotten chickenpox. If you do, however, you can stop the itching by stirring half a tablespoon of baking soda into a glass of water. Put a soft washcloth in the mixture and use it on the affected parts of the body before letting it dry completely.
Chicken Pox Cure
Clean Food Containers
Food containers tend to stain and get yucky really quickly. If you want them to look as good as new, you can sprinkle some baking soda on a clean sponge and give it a good old scrubbing!
Clean Food Containers
Clean Your Sponges
Why even bother washing the dishes if your sponge is filthy? If your sponge is looking worse for wear, just leave them in warm water and baking soda overnight. Don’t forget to rinse it well in the morning!
Clean Your Sponges
Pet Bed Odors
We all love pets, but we can’t deny that they sometimes come with odors we could do without. If your pet bed smells, sprinkle some baking soda and let the solution sit for 15 minutes before you vacuum it.
Pet Bed Odors
Canker Sores
Canker sores are common but painful. If you want to know how to ease it, you can rinse your mouth with baking soda twice a day until they are finally gone. Who would have thought it was that easy?
Canker Sores
Calluses
Calluses might not be all that serious, but they cause a lot of pain and discomfort. It’s a good thing that soaking them in a baking soda bath will soften them, reduce discomfort, and remove scabbing!
Calluses
Oil Or Grease Fire
Some fire extinguishers come with baking soda, which reacts with heat to make carbon dioxide to smother the fire. It means that baking soda can help extinguish grease and oil fires. It won’t do much for bigger fires, however.
Oil Or Grease Fire
Diaper Rash
No parent out there likes to see their kid in pain or discomfort. Sadly, diaper rash is common. You do not need pricey cures and creams when you can sprinkle some baking soda into the bathwater instead!
Diaper Rash
Clean Walls
Kids think that the world is their canvas. Does your little angel like to draw on the walls with crayons? Don’t worry, you can add baking soda to a damp cloth and rub it on the wall. After you wipe it off with a dry cloth, the walls should be fine again!
Clean Walls
Cloth Diapers
If you use cloth diapers on your baby, you must know that it can be hard to clean them. If you want to keep them in good shape, just dissolve half a cup of baking soda into 2 quarts of warm water. Let the diapers soak thoroughly before you put them in the wash.
Cloth Diapers
Coat Closet Cleanliness
Your jackets would not smell very fresh when you open the coat closet for the first time in months. Put an open box on the shelf in the closet to keep the odors at bay. This will freshen your jackets and the air!
Coat Closet Cleanliness
Keep Flowers Fresh
We all love getting bouquets from people we love, but they do tend to wither quickly. You can keep them fresh for a little while longer by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to the vase water!
Keep Flowers Fresh
Shower Curtain
Shower curtains are not expensive, but it is a waste to get rid of them. Moreover, they are made of PVC, which can give off fumes when new. It is easy to clean shower curtains. All you need is laundry detergent, a cup of baking soda, 10 drops of tea tree oil, and light-colored towels. Toss the curtain and towels in the washing machine along with the mixture on 40-60. It should come out clean afterward!
Shower Curtain
Oil Spills
Do you want to get rid of an oil stain? Baking soda will absorb oil and grease on any type of cloth. Before you sprinkle it in, scrape off excess grease and wait 10 to 15 minutes to let it absorb the oil. Simply vacuum off the excess and wash the fabric in a cold cycle.
Oil Spills
Cloth Furniture
Cloth furniture often absorbs weird scents and odors. Keep your chairs and couches fresh by sprinkling baking soda and leaving it overnight. Just use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the residue the next day!
Cloth Furniture
Vacuum Cleaners
Baking soda comes with deodorizing properties, so it works magic on vacuums too. Just add a mixture of water and baking soda to wash off its parts. Don’t forget to rinse and dry before using it again!
Vacuum Cleaners
Diamond Rings
The acidity from natural body oils and sweat can tarnish the shine of your diamonds. Don’t buy cleaner before you try out a mixture of hot water and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. This should do the trick!
Diamond Rings
Dry Shampoo
The main ingredient of many dry shampoos would be baking soda. You can make your own and save a lot of money! Sprinkle some of it onto a hairbrush and then brush your hair with it. Leave it for 5 minutes and shake your fingers to get rid of residue. It will also add volume to your locks!
Dry Shampoo
Fabric Softener
Many times, fabric softeners come with chemicals that are bad for you. It is not surprising to think that baking soda can replace this too. Simply add half a cup of it to a rinse cycle if you want softer clothes!
Fabric Softener
Clean Fridge
Fridges can smell terrible after some time. If you want to clean it out completely, simply leave a pot of baking soda open. This will absorb other strong odors. Stir it occasionally to make it more effective. Simply replace one batch with a new one after a few weeks. You can also dip a damp cloth in it and wipe the walls and shelves before you wipe it down with a cloth dipped in warm water.
Clean Fridge
Remove Mold And Mildew
If you are dealing with mildew stains on shower curtains and tiles, you do not have to worry. Just mildly wet a sponge and use baking soda to scrub all the mold off! This will get the job done, trust us.
Remove Mold And Mildew
Tile Grout
Tile grout is yet another common issue. If you want to clean it, make a paste using equal parts water and baking soda. Put it along the grout between the tiles and let it soak for 10 minutes. You can use a toothbrush to scrub the grout and use a damp cloth to wipe it off.
Tile Grout
Clean Children’s Toys
Plush toys often get dirty really quickly. If you want to freshen them, just put them in a huge plastic bag and add 100 grams of baking soda. Secure the top well, bring it outside, and shake it well! The baking soda should draw out the dust and get rid of bad odors! Take out the toys and vacuum them afterward.
Clean Children’s Toys
Clean A Mattress
You can freshen the mattress up with baking soda since it will draw out dirt, dust, and bad smells. Put some on the surface, wait for 15 minutes or even overnight. After that, vacuum it thoroughly.
Clean A Mattress
Patio Furniture
You can clean patio furniture by wiping down some baking soda and water on a piece of cloth. If the furniture smells dirty and musty, sprinkle baking soda and let it sit for 15 minutes before you vacuum it!
Patio Furniture
Washing Machine
Do not forget to clean the washing machine itself! Front-loading units need to be cleaned a lot in particular. Baking soda is a good cleanser for this. Start a big hot load with no clothes in the washer and put in vinegar and baking soda to eliminate mold and buildup.
Washing Machine
Treat Athlete’s Foot
Medical sources say that baking soda comes with antifungal properties. It inhibits fungal growth in skin and nail infections. You should apply a paste of it to treat fungal infections between the toes or on the feet! Add a tablespoon to lukewarm water and rub it on the infection before you rinse it off and dry.
Treat Athlete’s Foot
Soften Skin
Weather changes can be harsh on the skin. If you want to give life to your skin, you can use some baking soda and warm water. Just apply it to your skin and rinse if you want to make it soft and shiny!
Soften Skin
Jellyfish Sting
The jellyfish season is truly the worst. No one likes to get stung, right? However, it is not the end of the world. After all, you can just apply baking soda there to relieve yourself of the pain when it happens.
Jellyfish Sting
Relieve Bee-stings
Beestings also tend to be painful. When you are that telling buzzing sound, you probably also run for your life. If you get stung by a bee, baking soda will be there to save the day. Don’t you worry!
Relieve Bee-stings
Unblock Stuffy Nose
If you have a cold that won’t go away, this hack might help. Mix a quarter teaspoon of salt and a quarter teaspoon of baking soda in 8 oz of warm water. Use a nasal irrigation kit or bulb syringe to squirt the mixture into your nose! Just keep a nostril closed as you skirt the mixture and let it drain.
Unblock Stuffy Nose
Modeling Clay
If you like arts and crafts but hate dirtying your hands, you should combine cornstarch and baking soda in a saucepan. Gradually add water and stir it over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes! It will be just like playdough because it thickens quickly.
Modeling Clay
Clean Ashtrays
Ashtrays tend to get dirty quickly too. The ash and burns often leave a lot of stains. Replace the sand with baking soda since it will absorb the odors. When you clean it, use baking soda to make it shine!
Clean Ashtrays
Flowerbeds
You spend a lot of time in the garden, so no one likes it when rabbits come in and take advantage of it. Keep them at bay by adding baking soda to the flowerbeds. This will keep the pests away!
Flowerbeds
Sports Drink
Sports drinks can add up, but you can make your own at home! All you need is salt, boiled water, and Kool-Aid. Try it the next time that you plan on going to the gym.
Sports Drink
Remove Fishy Smell
Fish is a good source of protein. It is also delicious. Sadly, it often comes with a fishy stench. You can prevent this by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda mixture for as long as an hour in the fridge.
Fishy Smell
UTI Treatment
UTIs are painful! Many recommend medication or cranberry juice for relief, but it is not good for your body. Luckily, you can instead drink a mixture of 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 32 ounces of water.
Remove Fishy Smell
Skunk Smell
It can be hard to get rid of skunk odors since it sticks to the body. Luckily, you will smell good right away with this hack. You just have to add some baking soda to the bath to get the stench off your body.
Skunk Smell
Freshly-Brewed Tea
It is always nice to make a pitcher of iced tea for your loved ones in the summer. You should know that baking soda can help! Add a dash of it to lessen the bitterness and make it more pleasant for everyone.
Freshly-Brewed Tea
Bad Spray Tan
Are you going on vacation but do not want to get a tan? Bad spray tans are nothing to worry about! You only need to mix baking soda and lemon juice to get your normal coloring back.
Bad Spray Tan
Clean Curling Iron
The curling iron gets dirty when you use it a lot. You can make a paste out of baking soda and warm water to clean off the gunk that accumulates. There is no need to buy a new one just because of this!
Clean Curling Iron
Freshen Luggage
Your luggage must get pretty dirty when you store it away. The best way to keep it looking and smelling fresh would be to sprinkle baking soda and then vacuum it after a few hours.
Freshen Luggage