You don’t need to use cleaning products that can harm your health. Instead, use baking soda/sodium bicarbonate. This household staple is a safe cleanser capable of creating an absolute wonder in your home.
Baking soda benefits include:
- Low price.
- Easy-to-use.
- Nontoxic.
- Absorbs moisture and dirt.
- Removes unpleasant odors.
- Can kill many microorganisms.
- Replaces many cleaning products.
Baking soda is a versatile ingredient with various applications, from cleaning countertops and microwaves to aiding oral care. Here is a comprehensive list of household uses and how to make homemade cleaners with baking soda.
1. Mouthwash
Mouthwash is a recommended addition to your dental hygiene routine since it reaches areas that brushing might miss, like the corners of your mouth and the crevices of your gums, teeth, and the roof of your mouth and tongue.
Baking soda is frequently used as a mouthwash substitute. According to some research, it may help freshen your breath and possibly have antibacterial and antimicrobial effects. While one study revealed that baking soda mouthwash did not significantly reduce oral bacteria levels, it raised saliva pH levels, which is critical for bacterial growth inhibition.
Make your own baking soda mouthwash by combining 1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) baking soda with half a glass (120 mL) warm water, then swish as usual.
2. Teeth Whitener
Baking soda is a well-known home treatment for tooth whitening. However, many studies have revealed that toothpaste containing baking soda is more effective at whitening teeth and eliminating plaque than toothpaste without baking soda.
This is likely due to baking soda’s moderate abrasive characteristics, which allow it to disrupt the connections between molecules that stain your teeth. Additionally, it has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, which could fight against harmful bacteria.
3. Deodorant
Human sweat, oddly enough, has no odor. Sweat only produces an odor after bacteria in your armpits break it down. These bacteria turn your sweat into acidic waste products responsible for the smell. Baking soda is frequently used as a natural deodorant to reduce perspiration odor by neutralizing acidic aromas, albeit there is little evidence that this method works.
Pat baking soda onto your armpits or mix it with a bit of shea butter, coconut oil, or cornstarch to make homemade deodorant.
4. Fridge Odor Neutralizer
Have you ever opened your refrigerator and noticed a foul odor? There’s a good chance that some of the foods in your fridge have begun to rot. In addition, this odor may linger after you’ve cleaned and emptied your refrigerator. Baking soda can assist in deodorizing a stinky fridge by neutralizing scents. Remarkably, it eliminates the smell of odor particles rather than disguising the smell of odor particles.
To try this hack, fill a cup with baking soda and store it in the back of your fridge.
5. Air freshener
Commercial air fresheners don’t always get rid of odors. Instead, some just emit scent molecules that cover up other smells. Additionally, only about 10% of air fresheners include a list of ingredients. This can be a significant issue if you are allergic to chemicals present in air fresheners. Baking soda is a safe substitute for commercial air fresheners because it is odor neutralizing and free of industrial chemicals.
To make an air freshener with baking soda, gather the following ingredients:
- A small jar
- 1/3 cup (74 grams) of baking soda
- 10–15 drops of your favorite essential oils
- A piece of paper or cloth
- A ribbon or string
Fill the jar with baking soda and the essential oils. Put it in your bedroom, bathroom, living room, or kitchen after covering it with a towel or paper and securing it with the string. Give the container a good shake when the aroma begins to diminish.
6. Laundry Whitening Agent
Baking soda is an inexpensive way to clean and whiten your clothes. It’s an alkali (a soluble salt) that can help eliminate grime and stains. However, according to older research, when an alkali such as baking soda is dissolved in water, it interacts with acids in stains.
Combine 1/2 cup (110 grams) baking soda with your standard washing detergent to test it. It also softens the water, so you might not need as much detergent as usual.
7. Kitchen Cleaner
Baking soda’s versatility makes it an excellent kitchen cleanser. It may also help inhibit the growth of harmful microbes, like bacteria or mold, when combined with vinegar or lemon juice.
When using baking soda in your kitchen, form a paste using equal parts baking soda and lemon juice, and a little water. Using a towel or sponge, apply the paste to the chosen surface and scrub thoroughly.
Baking soda can be used to clean the following kitchen appliances, surfaces, and items:
- Countertops
- Ovens
- Microwaves
- Stained coffee cups
- Kitchen tiles
- Grease stains
- Clogged drains
- Tarnished silver
- Stained marble
8. Deodorizer for Garbage
Full trash bags generally have a foul odor since they contain decomposing material. Unfortunately, this odor can travel to your kitchen and other parts of your house if it’s awful. Thankfully, sodium bicarbonate can help remove waste odors by neutralizing acidic odor molecules. According to studies, placing sodium bicarbonate at the bottom of trash cans can reduce rubbish odor by 70%.
9. Mattress Cleaner
This mattress cleaning method effectively removes dead skin cells, sweat, dust, and odors. Vacuum the mattress from top to bottom first. Then, using a sifter, evenly sprinkle one package of baking soda over the entire surface (if desired, add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil). Leave it on the mattress for several hours, preferably a day. After that, carefully vacuum it to remove all of the baking soda.
10. Carpet Stain Remover
The most persistent carpet stains can be removed with sodium bicarbonate and vinegar. Carbonic acid is formed when sodium bicarbonate and vinegar are combined, a typical cleaning component. This reaction produces a lot of fizzing, which may help break down stubborn stains.
Here’s how to get rid of carpet stains with sodium bicarbonate and vinegar:
- Apply a thin layer of sodium bicarbonate to the carpet stain.
- Fill an empty spray bottle with a 1-to-1 mixture of water and vinegar, then spray it over the stained area.
- Wait 1 hour or until the surface is dry.
- Scrub the sodium bicarbonate loose with a brush, then vacuum the residue.
Hopefully, the stain is now completely gone. First, wipe away any remaining sodium bicarbonate residue on the carpet with a moist towel. If the stain is still there, repeat this process.
However, remember that while sodium bicarbonate and vinegar solutions can be used for any fabrics, they should not be used on natural materials.
11. Multipurpose Bathroom Cleaner
Bathrooms, like kitchens, may be tough to clean. They have a range of surfaces that you use regularly and must be cleaned frequently. While there are a variety of commercial bathroom cleaners available, many individuals prefer more natural, cost-effective cleaning methods. Baking soda is helpful since it whitens and disinfects various washroom surfaces, albeit it isn’t as effective as commercial cleaners.
Baking soda can be used to clean the following surfaces:
- Bathroom tiles
- Toilets
- Showers
- Bathtubs
- Bathroom sinks
Mix baking soda with a bit of lukewarm water to create a thick paste. Rub the mixture onto the surface you want to clean with a cloth or sponge, then wipe it off with a damp cloth 15–20 minutes later.
12. Pesticide Remover for Veggies and Fruit
Pesticide residue on foods is a source of concern for many people. Pesticides protect crops against rodents, insects, germs, and weeds, yet many of them have negative health consequences. Pesticides are best removed by peeling fruit. However, you won’t gain the vital nutrients present in the skins of many fruits, such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
New research suggests that washing fruits and vegetables with baking soda is the most efficient approach to removing pesticides without peeling them. For example, according to one study, soaking apples in a baking soda and water solution for 12–15 minutes eliminated nearly all pesticide residue.
Remember that this procedure does not eliminate pesticides that have entered the skin of the fruit or vegetable. Furthermore, more research is required to establish if this method applies to other types of produce.
13. Silverware Polisher
Baking soda is used as a substitute for commercial silver polishers. Only a few additional items are required:
- A baking dish lined with aluminum foil or an aluminum baking pan
- One tablespoon (14 grams) of baking soda
- 1/2 cup (120 mL) of white vinegar
- 1 cup (240 mL) of boiling water
Pour the vinegar carefully into the aluminum baking pan after adding the baking soda. Next, add the boiling water and the silver to the baking pan. Almost immediately, the tarnish should start to fade. Most silverware can be removed from the pan in only 30 seconds, but significantly tarnished silver may require up to 1 minute in the mixture.
Silver reacts chemically with the aluminum pan and baking soda in this mixture. It transfers the tarnish from the silverware to the aluminum pan, leaving a faint, yellow residue at the bottom.
14. Scorched Pot Cleaner
It’s relatively easy to scorch the bottom of a pot by accident while cooking. These can be a pain to clean, but a burnt pot can be quickly saved with sodium bicarbonate and water.
Add enough water to cover the scorched areas, then sprinkle a sufficient amount of sodium bicarbonate on the bottom of the saucepan. Bring this liquid to a boil, then remove it from the heat and dump the pan. If any stains or burnt food debris remain, gently clean them with a sponge or scouring pad and a tiny bit of washing liquid.
15. Oil and Grease Fire Extinguisher
sodium bicarbonate is found in various fire extinguishers. These varieties sometimes called dry chemical fire extinguishers, are used to put out flames caused by oil, grease, or electricity. When sodium bicarbonate comes into contact with heat, it produces carbon dioxide, suffocating the fire. As a result, sodium bicarbonate can be used to put out tiny oil and grease fires.
On the other hand, larger house fires are unlikely to be put out with sodium bicarbonate. These fires readily counteract the effects of sodium bicarbonate by drawing in more oxygen.
16. Homemade Weed Killer
Weeds have deep roots and are difficult to eradicate without chemical weed killers. sodium bicarbonate is a particularly less expensive and safe substitute. This is due to the high sodium content of sodium bicarbonate, which makes it difficult for weeds to grow.
Sprinkle sodium bicarbonate over weeds in the cracks of your driveway, sidewalk, or patio. However, don’t use sodium bicarbonate to control weeds in your flowerbeds or gardens because it could harm your other plants.
17. Shoe Deodorizer
Baking soda is a wonderful way to freshen up stinky shoes. That’s because (you guessed it!) it has the potential to neutralize foul odors.
Sprinkle two tbsp (9g) of baking soda in two cheesecloths or thin fabric pieces, then secure the cloths with a string or rubber band. Place one in each shoe. Remove the baking soda bags once you’re ready to put your shoes on.
Other Potential Uses:
18. May Relieve Canker Sores
Canker sores are tiny, painful ulcers that develop in the mouth. Canker sores, unlike cold sores, aren’t contagious and don’t form on your lips. Although further research is needed, some older studies suggest that using sodium bicarbonate mouthwash can help alleviate canker sore pain.
Using the recipe from above, you can make a sodium bicarbonate mouthwash. Then, rinse your mouth once a day with this solution until the canker sore has healed.
19. May Relieve Sunburns and Itchy Skin
A baking soda bath is recommended to relieve itchy skin caused by bug bites or bee stings. Additionally, baking soda can also help reduce itchy, sunburned skin. However, some people believe that combining it with other substances like cornstarch and oats makes it more effective.
To prepare a baking soda bath, fill a lukewarm bath with 1–2 cups (220–440 grams) of baking soda. Make sure the affected region is entirely wet. Create a thick paste with a little water and baking soda for specific areas, then apply a thick layer to the affected area.
Baking soda may also be an inexpensive and safe way to treat autoimmune disease.
