From eco-cleaning to personal hygiene, baking soda is a multi-functional substance. Environmentally friendly cleaning agents and organic beauty products are expensive; besides, they come in packaging that will end up in the landfill.
Next time when you wash your hair, remove stains or scrub dishes, you should pull out the good old box of baking soda. This powder has many uses from deodorizing carpets to brushing teeth. We will now present 15 ideas on various uses of baking soda not everybody knows about.
1. Wash your hair
If you mix baking soda and vinegar to wash your hair, you can avoid using shampoos, which contain harsh chemicals. Take a handful of baking soda, pour some water over it, and then massage your scalp with it for a minute. Next, mix a spoonful of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and massage your hair and scalp with it, and then wash it off after a minute. You can prepare the mixture beforehand and store a larger quantity of it so you don’t have to waste time preparing it every time you wash your hair. The baking soda-water ratio you should choose depends on your hair type: if it is greasier than normal, use more baking soda and vice versa.
2. As a Deodorant
Mix thoroughly 10 drops of your favorite essential oil with ¼ cup of baking soda. Rub a small quantity of the mixture in your armpit and wipe off the excess amount.
3. As a Facial scrub
You can make an excellent facial scrub suitable for normal skin. Mix a small amount of sugar and baking soda with sesame oil or honey until you obtain a creamy consistency. Massage your skin with the mixture and then wash it off.
4. To Treat Acne
Mix baking soda with some water to create a paste. Put a small amount on each pimple before going to bed and leave it on all night. Because baking soda is a salt, don’t put any on open pimples, to avoid the pain salt would cause.
5. As A Dry shampoo for dogs
Your dog is a little smelly but you don’t have time to give it a bath? No problem. Sprinkle some baking soda onto its hair and give your dog a thorough brushing until the baking soda is completely removed.
6. On the feet
Make a cream from baking soda, water and camomile or lavender essential oil, and massage your feet with it.
7. To treat urinary tract infections
Add a teaspoon of baking soda to water and drink it to soothe the symptoms of the infection. However, you need to see a doctor too as kidney inflammation may be present, which requires a more serious treatment.
8. To clean stainless steel
If you have stubborn food residues stuck on stainless steel kitchen utensils and dishes, sprinkle some baking soda onto the dishwashing sponge. Baking soda dissolves grease and the rough powder will help eliminate the residues.
9. To deodorize jars
Empty jam or canned vegetable jars have many practical uses, but first you should get rid of any unpleasant smells. Here’s the solution: put ¾ teaspoon of baking soda in the jar, pour ¼ cup of water over it and then cover and shake the jar. Repeat the procedure with water only.
10. To clean Baby toys
Use baking soda instead of soap to clean baby toys that always end up in the little ones’ mouth. Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with 250 ml water and rinse the toys with this solution.
11. To clean upholstery
Forget about poisonous deodorants; sprinkle some baking soda on your sofa instead. Leave it on for 15 minutes, and then vacuum it out thoroughly. Not only the sofa but the whole room will smell better after this treatment.
12. As A water soluble paint
Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 teaspoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of water. This will be the base for the paint. Divide it into small containers and add a different food coloring to each portion.
13. To clean the shower curtain
Your shower curtain is covered in lime scale but you don’t want to throw it out? Use baking soda, water and a sponge to remove the lime and even mold deposits.
14. As a detergent
Baking soda is an active ingredient in homemade detergent. Mix half a cup of baking soda, half a cup of grated soap, half a cup of washing soda and half a cup of borax. Put 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture into the washing machine.
15. To wash fruit
You can remove pesticide residues and wax from the skin of apples and pears easily by rubbing them with baking soda and then rinsing them with water.