Baking soda? Life changing? Really? Yes. Really. Think about it. If one product has the power to simplify your life, save you money, and make things easier, wouldn't you consider that product life-changing? I do. Baking soda is that one thing. Baking soda is affordable, natural, and a true workhorse around the home. Get these 72 Uses for Baking Soda and don't look back. Ever.
72 Life-Changing Uses for Baking Soda
Baking soda, also referred to as sodium bicarbonate, is the powder form of a naturally occuring chemical compound. Plain ol' baking soda. Amazing what it can do. Of course, our mothers, grandmothers, and aunts knew all about it. And we're digging into some of that forgotten knowledge and bringing it to the NOW.
Many of you are wise to the wonderful ways of baking soda, and probably can add to this list. (Please do, see the comments section at the bottom and let's keep this list growing!)
Frankly, I am a little overwhelmed with all of the "stuff" in my cabinets. Under the kitchen sink, in the pantry, in the bathroom, and garage. Chemicals and solutions and bottles and tubs of things. I am taking action and decluttering. I am condensing. Combining. Downsizing.
Simplifying.
Below is a list of known uses for baking soda. How many of these have you tried?
Uses for Baking Soda - Kitchen
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1. Soft scrubs your kitchen sink - Baking soda with water makes a mild abrasive perfect for cleaning most sinks.
2. Cuts grease naturally - The alkaline nature of baking soda helps it cut right through grease.
3. Makes great floor cleaner - Add ½ cup of soda to a bucket of warm water. Mop your floors, then rinse.
4. Use for baking - Baking soda acts as a leavening agent. The chemical reaction of baking soda with other ingredients causes a rising action (such as breads, cakes, etc.).
5. Cleans your microwave - Stir together a couple tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate (BS) in a microwave safe bowl of water. Zap on high for 3 minutes. Let the bowl sit and steam. Then wipe clean. (You can also make a paste of soda and water for stuck on gunk.)
6. Stir a pinch into sweet tea to keep it clear - That's right. Just a little pinch of soda to a pitcher of brewed tea will help keep it clear instead of cloudy. Plus it neutralizes the bitterness in tea for a smoother taste.
7. Polish silver flatware - Place your utensils in the bottom of a foil lined pan. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of table salt. Then pour ½ cup of vinegar over the top. The mixture will bubble. Pour a cup or two of VERY hot water over the top and let the silverware soak for 30 seconds up to 3 minutes for very tarnished items. Rinse, dry and buff.
8. Cleans your oven - Yep. Baked on, caked on messes clean up with baking soda, vinegar and a little elbow grease. Check out this article from The Kitchn to learn how.
9. Add a pinch to eggs for a fluffy omelet - Whisk in about half a teaspoon to every three eggs for extra puffy results.
10. Deodorizes the fridge and freezer - The soda absorbs the odors of other foods. Change out monthly for best results.
11. Unclogs drains - Yep. Not only will a sprinkle of baking soda down the drain keep the sink fresh, but you can also unclog most slow drain issues with this method. First, pour half a cup of baking soda down your drain. Then pour a cup of white vinegar and a cup of very hot water. Wait a few minutes for the vinegar and baking soda to react and break up the gunk, then pour a pot of boiling water down the sink. That should do it!
12. Freshen garbage cans - Soak up all of those lingering odors with a sprinkle of baking soda in the bottom of your garbage containers.
13. Cleans cutting boards - Make a paste out of baking soda and water. Scrub into your cutting board and let sit for a few minutes. Rinse with hot water and dry.
14. Eliminates smells from garbage disposal - Half a cup of baking soda down the disposal then slowly pour half a cup of vinegar. Stink be gone.
15. Cleans fruits and veggies safely - Rinse fresh produce in a mild solution of baking soda and water to remove chemicals safely.
16. Neutralizes gassy beans - When preparing dried beans, add a little bit of baking soda to the soak water. For every pound of dried beans, stir in ¼ teaspoon to the soaking process. The alkalinity of the beans neutralizes the sugars in the beans that cause gas.
17. Gets rid of sauce stains from plastic storage bowls - You know when you have leftover spaghetti or a tomato-based soup and you get that nasty orange stain on your plastic bowls? Make a paste of baking soda and water. Rub it into the stained areas and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then scrub it away, rinse and dry. Boom.
18. Scrubs pots and pans - Baking soda makes a mild abrasive to help scour away most pots and pans.
19. Scours coffee pots and mugs - For a glass coffee pot, add a cup of crushed ice and a couple tablespoons of baking soda. Swirl it around and watch the discoloration disappear. You can also make a paste of the baking soda and water for tough stains.
20. Brightens up tarnished brass - If it is real brass, you can make it shine again using baking soda and lemon. Here is the how-to from Apartment Therapy.
21. Extinguishes small kitchen fires - Sodium bicarbonatecan be used to extinguish small grease or electrical fires by being thrown over the fire. (Call 911 if major!)
22. Shines up stainless steel - Sprinkle stainless steel with baking soda. Dampen a sponge with warm vinegar and scrub away.
23. Deodorize and sanitize the dishwasher - In three easy steps, deep clean your dishwasher. Get the step-by-step from One Good Thing.
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Uses for Baking Soda - Home + Garden
24. Freshens the air - Make your own personal air freshener. In a small jar, combine ½ cup of baking soda. Stir in about 20 drops of your favorite essential oil. You can leave the lid off for maximum power, or tone it down a little by poking holes in the lid.
25. Removes crayon stains from walls - Baking soda paste to the rescue again. Make a 50-50 mix of soda and water and rub those crayon stains away with a damp cloth.
26. Boosts your laundry detergent - Magical magical. Adding about half a cup of baking soda to the washing machine will soften your water and allow you to use less detergent. Plus it makes colors pops and whites just a little whiter. (I think it makes the clothes fluffier, too. But that might just be me.
27. Revive old, smelly stuffed animals - Sprinkle stuffed animals with a bit of baking soda and rub through with your hands. Let sit and shake off the excess, then fluff them in the dryer.
28. Removes water stains on wood - Yep. It does this, too. Check out this article from Merry Maids.
29. Mix with sugar to kill co*ckroaches and other insects - Sugar lures them in, then they eat it with the baking soda. The sodium bicarbonate creates a gas and causes the bugs organs to burst, thus causing death. Usually not a big fan of death, but in the case of nasty pests, yes.
30. Removes corrosion from car batteries - Read this article from WikiHow that shows you how to maintain your car battery using baking soda.
31. Scrubs away dead bugs from windshields - Make a paste with water and soda in a 2 to 1 ratio. Gently scrub away the sticky insects without scratching your ride.
32. Freshens car interiors - Make mini air fresheners like in Baking Soda Use #24. You can also sprinkle it on your car's carpet and floor mats to absorb odors.
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33. Deodorizes carpets - Sprinkle a little on your carpets 15 minutes before vacuuming for added freshness.
34. Keeps flowers fresh longer - Add a half teaspoon or so to the water for fresh cut flowers. It balances the water'sacidity and alkalinity and keeps the flowers fresh longer.
35. Repels ants when mixed with salt - Similar to the method to kill roaches. Ants are lured in and then die.
36. Freshen your mattress - Lightly sprinkle your mattress and let the baking soda absorb all the odors. Vacuum and enjoy your fresh mattress.
37. Refresh cleaning sponges - Combine a quart of warm water with 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Let your sponges soak in the mixture for 30 minutes. Squeeze and rinse until the water runs clear.
38. Gently cleans baby clothes and cloth diapers - Chemical free for baby. Learn how to clean your little one's clothes with baking soda in this article from LiveStrong.
39. Freshen stinky sports gear - For washables, add a half cup or more to the wash. For non-washables, sprinkle on a generous amount and let the soda absorb the funk.
40. Create sachets to keep drawers fresh - Now doesn't this sound like an old-fashioned thing to do? Maybe,, but if it works, it works. Using fabric squares, create little sachets filled with baking powder and a drop or two of your fave essential oil. Tie tightly and place in the back corner of your clothing drawers.
41. Deodorizes vacuum cleaners - Know that funky vacuum cleaner smell? Using baking soda on your carpets (which in turn gets in your vaccuum) keeps that funk away.
42. Helps freshen smelly shoes - Anyone with kids needs to know this! Shake baking soda into the bottom of the offending pair of shoes. Shake it to get the soda into the toe area. Let sit and then take outside and beat the shoes together to get rid of the excess baking soda.
43. Kills weeds - In an empty spray bottle, add one part baking soda to two parts vinegar. (Be careful it bubbles up.) Gently mix the two together and go kill those weeds. (Cheaply.)
Uses for Baking Soda - Bathroom
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44. Deodorizes toilet - Sprinkle. Let sit for several minutes. Swish with a toilet brush and flush. Ta-da! For seriously dirty toilets, add a splash of vinegar when you add the baking soda.
45. Gets rid of stinky hamper odors - Lingering smells be gone with a little sprinkle of the soda.
46. Cleans dirty kid's toys - Know how plastic toys get grimy? Soak them in a sinkful of warm water with baking soda mixed in. Scrub and rinse.
47. Cleans hairbrushes and combs - Soak brushes and combs in a quart jar full of HOT water and a few tablespoons of baking soda. Let sit, then rinse.
48. De-cruds jacuzzi jets - Have a jetted jacuzzi or bathtub. Bob Vila shows you how to clean it up using baking soda.
49. Freshen and cleans shower curtains - Before you toss that funky vinyl shower curtain, grab the sodium bicarbonate. Damp sponge + baking soda. Wipe down the curtain, rinse and hang to try. Voila!
50. Obliterates soap scum on showers, tile and grout - I've been using this cleaning solution for YEARS. First, get your shower wet with hot water. Sprinkle it with baking soda. In a spray bottle, mix a 1 to 1 solution of dish washing liquid and HOT white vinegar. (I zap mine in the microwave.) Now spray the solution over the baking soda covered surface. And walk away. In about 15 minutes, wipe and rinse. Amazing.
Uses for Baking Soda - Beauty + Hygiene
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51. Freshens your breath - Mix a teaspoon of baking soda into warm water and use it as a mouthwash / gargle. Fresh!
52. Makes a refreshing bath soak - Half a cup of baking soda to a warm bath = relaxing.
53. Cleans your teeth - My dad has been doing this forever. Add baking soda to a damp toothbrush and brush away. It helps whiten and polish your teeth safely with no chemicals.
54. Exfoliate your skin - Create a paste of baking soda and water and scrub gently. The mild abrasive baking soda will slough away those dead skin cells.
55. Cleanses hair - Ever hear of "No 'Poo"? Baking soda can be used as a natural, suds-free hair cleanser that doesn't strip away natural oils.
56. Treat dry elbows and knees - Problem areas, right? Make a thick mixture of soda and water and scrub away. The baking soda exfoliates and softens the skin.
57. Soothes tired feet - Even Dr. Oz approves. Per the doc : "Mix two to three tablespoons of baking soda with water for a soothing foot soak. Add your favorite essential oil (like lavender oil) and soak for 20 minutes. Then scrub your feet with a paste of baking soda and water to help exfoliate rough spots."
58. Removes odors from your hands - Ever cut up onions and strong garlic and can't get rid of that smell on your hands? Rub with a little baking soda and water and the smell will disappear.
59. Makes a natural deodorant - I have never tried this, so if you do, let me know how it works. Here's a great articule from Wellness Mama explaining how to make your own natural homemade deodorant using baking soda.
60. Soaks your dentures and retainers - After all we have read this totally makes sense, right? Warm water and a little soda safely cleans and freshens dentures and retainers.
61. Naturally treat and soothe acne - Say what? Yep.First wash your face. Mix equal parts water and baking soda into a paste. Apply to the affected area and let sit for 3 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
62. Create a facial scrub - Make your own gentle facial scrub with water and baking soda.
Uses for Baking Soda - Pet Care
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63. Stops stinky litter boxes - Add baking soda to your cat's litter box to help neutralize odors.
64. Freshen up your stinky pet's fur - Sprinkle baking soda on your pet's fur. Ruffle in with your hands, and brush out the excess.
65. Sanitize dirty dog toys - Soak icky dog toys in a mild solution of warm water and baking soda. Rinse and dry. Safe!
66. Deodorize animal sleeping quarters - Freshen up that doggy bed with a shake or two of baking soda.
Uses for Baking Soda - First Aid
67. Relieves bug bite irritation - A paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water applied directly to a bug bite can help with the itch, pain, and swelling.
68. Helps with heartburn - You can treat indigestion and heartburn by mixing water with baking soda and swallowing it. The sodium bicarbonate relieves the gas by reacting with your stomach acids and turns it into salt, water and carbon dioxide. Science!
69. Stir into a glass of water and drink at the first sign of a UTI - I have never tried this, but I have read several articles (and testimonials) to drink a warm glass of water mixed with a tablespoon of baking soda at the first sign of a urinary tract infection. The baking soda helps balance the tract's pH...and that totally makes sense.
70. Soothes sunburn - Did you know baking soda helps relieve the pain, itching and burning of too much sun exposure? I'm totally trying this!
71. Aids with pain of mouth sores - Rinse your mouth with a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda to ½ cup of warm water. Continue treatment as needed.
72. Eases diaper rash - Now we've reached the bottom of our list. Literally. Baking soda naturally eases the pain of diaper rash, with no chemicals.
Do you have more Uses for Baking Soda we can add to our list? We would love to hear your tips, so leave them in the comment section below this post. Until then, I've gotta go buy some more baking soda. Seriously!
Here are more articles you may enjoy:
Grocery Shopping List of Kitchen Staple Ingredients
How to Clean Your Kitchen in 5 Easy Steps
Essential Spring Cleaning Checklist
My Perfect Kitchen Pantry Makeover
5 Free Farmhouse Printables
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