Baking soda, boiling water, and aluminum foil clean tarnished silver-plated heirlooms. Photo: Noricum, Flickr
Baking soda isn't just for deodorizing your fridge or for cooking: We explore he many joys of using baking soda around the house.
How can baking soda be good for cleaning, baking, deodorizing -- and even weeding -- all at the same time? Vicki Lansky's book, Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, and Frugal Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of, explains it all. The book was a runaway hit in 2003, and it still is today, because frugal times call for frugal ingredients that get the job done as well as store-bought formulas. We scoured our sources and found a few more unusual ways to put inexpensive baking soda to work at home. (For more on this miraculous green ingredient, refer to Lansky's book.)
1. Washing food
Make a paste of baking soda on a clean sponge, and then wash toxins off the skin of fruits and vegetables. Rinse well before eating.
2. Drain cleaner
Okay, baking soda it isn't as powerful as commercial de-cloggers, but it costs virtually pennies to make and is a great first line of defense. Take a half cup of baking soda, pour down drain followed by half cup of white vinegar. Place a glass bowl over the top of the drain for two hours, then rinse with hot water. This should remove grease and dirt build-up through the pipes.
3. Vacuum odors
Sprinkle baking soda on the floor, then vacuum it up to kill odors in your vacuum.
4. Welcome mats
Speaking of floors, according to Lansky's book, you can ditch and deodorize the dirt at your front door by sprinkling baking soda on welcome mats, then vacuuming up the powder.
5. Soft hands
Make baking soda into a paste and use on hands while washing dishes. It'll help remove tough baked-on food while softening your hands at the same time.
6. Musty books
Do you have some old and musty books that you can't bear to throw out? Sprinkle some baking soda between the pages, and brush it out a few days later for a fresh scent
7. Mothball smell
According to the blog, Green Eco Services, the smell of mothballs on clothing can be removed by adding ½ cup of baking soda to your washing machine's rinse cycle to eliminate the odor.
8. Oil and grease
Sprinkle soda on the garage or basement floor to soak up oil and grease.
9. Weathered look
If you want a quick way to eliminate mold and mildew while achieving a weathered look for your deck, Green Eco Services recommends you use baking soda. Wash your deck with a solution of two cups baking soda in one gallon water, and use a stiff straw brush to work the solution into the wood, then rinse with cool water for a clean, yet aged patina.
10. Weed killer
Sweeping large amounts of sodium-rich baking soda into the cracks of your paved walks and driveways will eliminate weeds and dandelions.
11. Canvas cleaner
To clean anything canvas, rub on a paste of baking soda, then rub off.
12. Burnt pots
To eliminate seriously burnt-on food, pour in a thick cushion of baking soda, add an inch or so of water, and put the pot on the stove to boil. After boiling for a minute, try scrubbing again (don't burn yourself). The burned-on mess should come right off.
13. Plastic shower curtains
One of the best tips in Lansky's book alleviates this stubborn problem and cuts down on the amount of money spent on shower curtains: Wash mildewed or dirty plastic shower curtains in the washing machine on the gentle cycle with a couple of bath towels, and add in a half cup of baking soda and detergent during the wash cycle. Add in one cup of vinegar during the rinse cycle, then let drip dry.
14. Automatic dishwasher detergent
Make an automatic dish washing detergent using baking soda (and it works): Simply mix two tablespoons baking soda and two tablespoons borax, as a alternative to commercial detergent.. If you prefer to use your dish washing detergent, but want a cleaning boost, then just sprinkle a good amount of baking soda over dirty dishes, then wash as usual.
15. Stinky clothes
We know that baking soda deodorizes just about anything, but here's another way to use it for clothing with a deep smoke or gasoline odor. Place the clothing in a plastic bag with baking soda for two days, then wash as usual.
What about you, dear readers? How do you use baking soda around the house? If you have a tip on cleaning with baking soda that isn't listed here, and possibly not in Lansky's book, please share the wisdom here with our readers.
Reader comments (Page 1 of 11)
My father ALWAYS used baking soda for brushing his teeth
ReplyI use it for minor bug bites. For example, masquito (sic) bites. Make into a thick paste & put it on. It's kinda messy...perhaps you may want to wear article of clothing, but this works.
I agree with your dad, teeth and tongue, no chemicals and your mouth feels great.
My dentist told me that straight baking soda is too strong to use on your teeth.
it's a good gargle, with warm water at the start of a sore throat, also!
one cup of baking soda to one gallon of water is great for cleaning acid buildup on golf cart batteries or car batteries.
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a naturally occurring earth mineral
I have used Baking Soda for years to brush My teeth :o)
I use every a.m. for brushing my teeth, gives them a just gone to the dentist feeling !!!
It is excellent for the teeth and gums especially if you have a gum inflammation...make a paste
of 1/2 tsp of baking soda and add 1/2 tsp of hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 tsp of listerine(purple)
I do the same thing so I know your dad must have clean teeth and a bright smile
I also made a mouth wash with it just mix a lil warm water and swoosh then rinse
In a pinch, Baking Soda makes a pretty good anti-acid.
Never buy metal cleaner. Be careful what proportions you use, but sprinkle baking soda on metal where there is hard to clean stains or old burned on muck. Spritz some white vinegar and it will bubble. Still stubborn, add a little peroxide before you add the vinegar. There is a whole page on peroxide, too.
I do too!! Especially right before a big event! :)
Baking soda (or ebsom salt) is good for a mask after I shave or just washing my face . The area around the neck, especially during the summer gets more oily during the hot humid months, so after I wash my face or even shave, I put some in the palm of my hand and pat it on the neck, cheeks and forhead (while face is moist or damp). All cuts or bumps are gone.
I also use it to scrub on my tennis shoes to clean out the pores before I put them in the wash.
When I was a child, We used Bakingsoda for brushing our teeth. It made them white
was he in the navy? i had a petty officer that use to brush his teeth with baking soda. i was station on the uss wasp. his teeth were stone white.
I used to use it to clean off the battery connections in my car. Not exactly the same as brushing your teeth with it but it sure beat not having your car start
I use a paste of baking soda to remove bugs and stubborn tar from my car before washing.
Replythanks for the tip its good for bird deposits