Twenty Five Uses For Baking Soda

Now that we have so much of it after our 7 days of beauty...I thought I'd sit back and ponder some other ways we can incorporate baking soda into our lives.

1. Make a cleaning paste out of it: using Dr. Dronner's magic castille soap. Just add enough of the liquid soap until you get a good paste and scrub away! Works for tubs, sinks, counters you can't scratch...

2. Use it in the fridge to deodorize: Everybody knows about keeping a box of it in the fridge, but did you know you can clean the funk out of a fridge by scrubbing the fridge out with it? Add some to water and wash away. Keep it paste like thick to make a "scrub" or just dilute it to wash.

3. Clean your brushes and combs: mix up 2 tbsp baking soda and 2 cups of warm water, soak your brushes/combs in this mixture (poured into a basin). Rinse and allow to dry.

4. Clean Tea/Coffee Pots: Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. For stubborn stains, soak overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent or scrubbing with a baking soda paste on a clean damp sponge.
5. Clean the microwave: Sprinkle baking soda on a clean damp sponge and wipe gently around the inside. Rinse away with fresh clean water. Works well on the outside too!

6. Freshen up smelly sponges: soak used sponges in a mixture of  baking soda and water. (4 tablespoons to one quart water). Finish by disinfecting in the microwave.

7. Hand washing dishes: Add 2  tablespoons baking soda a along with regular detergent to a sink full of warm water. This will help cut the grease and food left on. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratch less scouring powder.

8. Clean golf irons with a baking soda paste: (It won't scratch). Sprinkle baking soda into a gym or golf bag to deodorize.

9. Clean a vinyl shower curtain: Sprinkle soda directly onto a sponge or brush. Scrub the curtains down and rinse to with clean water.

10. Clean out your cars: Use a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda to 1 quart warm water to wipe down your seats, dashboard, steering wheel, car lights, chrome...all without scratching! Sprinkle some down on fabric seats and floors, leave for 15 minutes then vacuum up to remove odors.

11. Clean out and deodorize the dishwasher: Scrub down the inside of the dishwasher with baking soda sprinkled on a wet sponge then add baking soda to the detergent cup and run the machine on a quick wash cycle.

12. Wipe out a lunch box: Sprinkle baking soda inside the and then wipe out with fresh water to remove odors.

13. Stop smelly sneakers: Sprinkle baking soda into sneakers when not in use, then dump out before wearing to stop outrageous food odors.

14. Keep Teddy fresh: Sprinkle dry baking soda onto a smelly stuffed animal and let sit for 15 minutes, then brush off.

15. Keep Fido's bedding fresh: Sprinkle pet bedding liberally with baking soda. Wait 15 minutes then vacuum clean.

16. Clean dirt off of fruits and veggies: Sprinkle a little soda onto a damp sponge then scrub away at the vegetable/fruit. Rinse clean with warm water.

17. Take the sting out of a bee sting: make a paste of baking soda and water. Rub over bee sting and let sit for 15 -20 minutes

18. Help heart burn: traditionally you can take 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1/2 glass water for heart burn relief.

19. Keep flowers longer: Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase.

20. Gardening: Scatter baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies.

21. Toilet Cleaning: add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.

22. BBQ: Sprinkle it on barbecue grills, then rinse it off.

23. Clean up grease stains: Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse.

24. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles: Sprinkle some onto a sponge and wipe out, then rinse with clean water.

25. Bugs: Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants.