14 Valuable Household Uses of Baking Soda Aside Baking

Baking soda (not baking powder) is one of the many cooking/baking ingredients with valuable alternative uses. I bake occasionally, so I usually have Baking Soda, Vinegar, etc. lying in the kitchen unused. Hence my interest/ quest for an alternative good use.

Adding baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate) to your baking recipe  produces carbon dioxide  when it reacts with other ingredients (like vinegar, yoghurt or buttermilk)  giving extra rise and lightness to the baked food.

It’s cheap and has a lot of DIY (do-it-yourself) household and beauty benefits; Here are 12 incredible uses of Baking Soda apart from making baked food rise:

1.      Body Care

Feel like having a Spa treatment? Give yourself a treat at home;

Use As a Body exfoliator and Facial Scrub: Mix 3 parts baking soda to one part water, rub the paste with your fingertips in a gentle circular motion to scrub the face and skin, rinse with warm water and pat dry or make a bath soak by adding half cup baking soda to your bath to wash away oil and sweat from the body.

Use baking soda to soothe your feet by soaking your feet in a solution of baking soda and warm water in a tub or bowl for as long as you want, gently scrub, rinse with water and pat dry.

Also as a hand softener, rub hands with same paste and rinse with water.

As a pre-shave and after-shave treatment: Men can soothe their skin by applying a mixture of some baking soda and water on the face (avoid the eye area), let it stay on the face for a few minutes, then rinse with water.

To treat insect bites, sunburn and itchy skin; Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to the affected area or simply rub some baking soda on your palm and rub onto damp skin after bathing to relieve itchy skin.

2.      Hair care

Adding a small quantity of baking soda to your regular shampoo to wash your hair removes dandruff and leaves your hair cleaner.

Soak combs and hair brushes in a solution of baking soda and warm water to remove oil build-up caused by hair product remains, then rinse thoroughly.

3.      As a mouth freshener.

For fresher breath and whiter teeth, dip your toothbrush in baking soda together with your regular toothpaste or you can just put 1 teaspoon in half a glass of water and use as a mouthwash.

4.      Removing odour

To deodorize kitchen sink and bath tub drains, pour some baking soda down the drain, then run some warm water over it.

Put some baking soda in a cup and let it stand in your refrigerator to absorb odour.

5.      Cleaning Veggies and Fruits

Wash fresh vegetables and fruits in a solution containing little quantity of baking soda and water to remove bacteria and other residues, then rinse under running water. Vinegar can also be used for this purpose.

6.      Add a pinch of baking soda to beaten eggs to make your omelette lighter and fluffier.

7.      For the perfect delicious and crispy fish in batter, add some baking soda to the batter (for coating the fish) and deep fry.

8.      Pots, Dishes and Pans

Dry baking soda can be used as scouring powder for pots, add some to your regular dish washing soap to thoroughly hand wash the dishes.

9.      To clean the microwave, sprinkle baking soda lightly on a damp sponge to clean the interior of the microwave, then clean with water and dry. Vinegar also is good for this purpose.

10.  To Clean the Oven; Sprinkle baking soda lightly on a damp sponge, scrub and remove the grime out of the oven with the sponge, then put a napkin in clean water to mop inside the oven. For a cleaner effect, leave for a few hours after dampening the oven with baking soda and water before you scrub.

11.  Cleaning the bathroom

Clean tubs, sinks and tiles by sprinkling baking soda lightly on a damp sponge, you can add some detergent, scrub and rinse surface with water.

It can also be used to clean and deodorize shower curtains by sprinkling baking soda on a damp brush or sponge, scrub and rinse clean with water, then hang up to dry.

12.  Floor tiles

To make your floor regain its shine and sparkle, add about half cup of baking soda to warm water in a bucket, mop the floor with it or scrub to remove dirt and grime on the floor, rinse by re-mopping with clean water.

13.  Cleaning the Car

A solution of baking soda and warm water can be used to clean car windows, floor mats, chrome, lights and even tyres without leaving unwanted scratch marks. Apply the solution using a soft duster to remove dirt and grime. Eliminate odours in the car by sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric seat and floor mats for about half an hour and dust off the baking soda with a duster.

14.  As a Fire extinguisher

To put out minor electrical and kitchen fires, stand back and pour a handful of baking soda over the fire.

Do you know other tips? Please share by leaving a comment.

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