However, you have no idea how underrated that baking soda lying in your pantry right now is. It’s a compound of wonders, indeed.
Baking soda has many undiscovered uses that we’re about to reveal in this article.
Some of the household uses of baking soda include cleaning almost everything. Baking soda will surely enhance the performance of most of your cleaners. It can also absorb unpleasant odors.
Each of them will undoubtedly come in handy if you use them accurately. Keep reading to find out about everything you’d need to know.
1. Teeth Whitening
Baking soda contains chemical compounds with an abrasive effect that can even rub the enamel of your teeth.
If you were to brush your teeth using a baking soda mix, baking soda would abrade a tiny outer layer of your enamel, making superficial stains seem lighter in color.
Making a baking soda mix is pretty simple. All you’ll need to do is mix two parts of baking soda with one part of water.
Follow these steps if you’re making a single-use portion. Otherwise, you can increase your portions according to this.
Steps:
- Grab a teaspoon.
- Add two teaspoons of baking soda to a small bowl. Make sure that you pace your index finger along the length of the spoon to even out its contents and remove any excess.
- Add a single teaspoon of water to the bowl.
- Mix both ingredients thoroughly until left with a smooth, lump-less paste.
- Pack onto your toothbrush.
- Brush your teeth gently.
It’s as simple as that, and you’ll also be able to notice the results in no time with reasonable use.
2. Mouthwash
Baking soda is, by default, a natural mouthwash. It contains antioxidants and antibacterials that can help keep your breath fresh throughout the day.
Not only that, but baking soda mouthwash helps in keeping your mouth moist for a longer time.
For example, chemotherapy and diabetes cause salivary glands to stop producing saliva or only make it in fewer quantities.
Having a dry mouth can cause many dental and oral complications, such as cavities and canker sores since one of the critical roles of saliva is washing away bacteria.
You will only need three things to make a baking soda mouthwash at home:
- A cup of warm water.
- ¼ teaspoon of baking soda.
- And ⅛ teaspoon of salt (or just a pinch of your fingers).
Mix your baking soda and salt in your cup of water. Now, your mouthwash is ready. You can rinse your mouth and even gargle this mouthwash.
Better yet, you can use it up to 3 times a day.
3. Makes Your Laundry Cleaner
Baking soda contains other chemical compounds that can react with all types of detergents to intensify their cleaning abilities.
It also sterilizes your cloth items since it has antibacterial properties. It’s a slippery slope, so you must follow the instructions thoroughly and be impressed with the results.
All you need to do is add a teaspoon of baking soda to every ½ cup of detergent.
You’ll also need to ensure you’re using lukewarm water to wash your clothes. Using hot water can activate baking soda’s bleaching compounds and ruin your clothes.
4. Removing Carpet Stains
The classic soap, water, and vigorous brushing technique are incredibly annoying for removing carpet stains.
Baking soda will help remove carpet stains regardless of their nature. There are two ways to get around eliminating the stains.
- Add soap, water, and a pinch of baking soda and scrub gently. The stain will disappear in no time.
OR - Add soap, a teaspoon of baking soda, and lukewarm water to the stain and let it be for 10–15 minutes. Wipe the bubbly mixture away, and your stain will vanish.
5. Removing Stains From Surfaces
Baking soda is a universal cleaner. It can react with many other compounds, one of baking soda’s most remarkable features.
Consequently it gives it the ability to react against grease, paint, coffee, glue, syrup, and almost everything else that can remain as a stain on a surface.
By now, you should be able to make your baking soda and water combo. Add any cleaner to it, and you’re good to go.
Baking soda can remove stains of marble, steel, ceramics, wood, parquet, and so many more.
6. Making Your Toilet Cleaner
Since baking soda has antibacterial and bleaching tendencies, it’s the perfect addition to your toilet-cleaning routine.
You can use baking soda to wipe off the white soap debris left behind on the shower wall. You can also bleach the lines between your toilet tiles.
Most importantly, You can sterilize your toilet seat.
7. Sterilize Your Fruits and Veggies
Baking soda is a natural antibacterial, so it’s a safe way to go around keeping your fruits and veggies clean.
You won’t need to wash your produce multiple times and waste time to ensure it’s all safe and edible.
Just soak your produce in warm water and add a pinch or two of baking soda. Leave it for a few minutes, drain the produce and rinse it.
8. Effective Herbicide
Baking soda is your new gardening best friend. Using herbicides is always tricky because adding too much or too less will lead to consequences.
Baking soda, however, contains salts that enable it to help you get rid of the weeds that may start growing in your garden.
These salts will effectively kill any growing weeds by creating an unfavorable environment.
Baking soda is the way to go. Since baking soda is practical, affordable, and safe, you won’t need any other herbicide.
It’s not only safe for your plants but also for you since you won’t have to face the risk of allergies caused by herbicides.
9. Utensils
Baking soda’s bleaching effect doesn’t just work on teeth or fabric. It also works on stainless steel. It’s a wee bit of a slow process, so you’ll need to be patient.
If you want to polish your silverware, you need to get it in a bowl, add boiling water, and then add baking soda and slices of lemon.
Keep that aside all day. For accelerated results, you can drain your silverware and then repeat the process with boiling water instead of the previous one that has gone cold.
The same steps can be followed for scorched pots. Use the same technique but place your burnt pot in a bigger container and let it soak overnight.
The next day, you’ll be able to scrub away the scorch marks off the pot.
10. Treats Heartburn
Baking soda is one of the fastest ways to make heartburn subside. Surprising, right? How could something that breaks down stains so well smoothen your heartburn?
Heartburn is caused by an increase of irregularity in the acidity of your tummy. Here’s the catch, baking soda is alkaline. That’s the opposite of being acidic.
Baking soda can refute heartburn by neutralizing the acidity present along your esophagus and even stomach.
Baking soda can even pacify the entire digestive process since digestion is highly dependent on acids released by your stomach.
Any disturbance with these acids would lead to indigestion. Baking soda will neutralize the acids and smoothen digestion.
11. Helps with Sunburns
Baking soda is an excellent post-vacay treatment. We know that sometimes no matter how careful you are while applying your sunblock, there has to be a spot you always miss.
Applying a baking soda paste soothes your sunburn and reduces its redness. You’ll only need to be frequent with its application.
The sunburnt spot will regenerate, and your skin will return to normal in no time.
12. Aids With Insect Bites
Almost all insect bites are accompanied by a form of acid released by the insect in self-defense while biting you.
We already know that baking soda can neutralize acids, which can undoubtedly tranquillize most insect bites.
You’ll need to make a DIY scrub to soothe the bite. You’ll need to gather:
Ingredients:
- A teaspoon of baking soda
- A tablespoon of salt
- A teaspoon of a suitable liquid. (for example, water, essential oils, etc.)
Steps:
- Mix your ingredients until you have a coarse combined mixture.
- Use the tips of your fingers to scrub the affected area thoroughly.
- Rinse the area a few times under warm water.
13. Changes Fridge’s Scent
Many bad smells are mainly acidic. They could be generated from old cheese or the sour smell of milk going bad. Baking soda can completely absorb the stench or rotten smell.
Since baking soda can neutralize acidity, it will eliminate the stench.
Baking soda will absorb this stench well enough that you don’t have to follow a specific technique. Simply keeping a baking soda container in your fridge will do the trick.
14. DIY Deodorant
Baking soda also manages to act on the bacteria that cause your sweat to smell. It won’t exactly kill the bacteria; however, it will absorb the smell.
Sweat smell is the reaction between bacteria in your pits and the components of sweat itself. Baking soda will neutralize the acidity produced as a result.
You can make your DIY deodorant or wipe a handful of baking soda against your armpits.
To make your DIY deodorant, you can:
- Add a wee bit of water to ½ a teaspoon of baking soda in a bowl. Mix until you have a consistent paste.
- Apply half of the paste to each of your armpits using the tips of your fingers.
- Allow the paste to dry off completely before dressing up. This is important because wet baking soda paste can ruin your clothes.
15. DIY Air Freshener
Since baking soda absorbs bad smells and not only masks them, this makes it one of the most efficient air fresheners.
You don’t need to worry about incense or driving to the store for air fresheners anymore.
You Need to Gather:
- An empty spray bottle
- A tablespoon of baking soda
- Essential oil of your preference.
Steps to Make Your Air Freshener:
- Grab your spray bottle and add your baking soda.
- Depending on the size of your spray bottle, add 5–25 drops of your preferred essential oil.
- Fill up the rest of the spray bottle with water.
- Shake the bottle repetitively until you can see that the entire baking soda content has been dissolved.
Voila! That’s all it takes. It’s practical and much more affordable than store-bought air fresheners.
The Bottom Line
Baking soda is underrated, and we wanted to give it a spotlight since it unquestionably deserves one. The household uses of baking soda are almost innumerable.
You can use baking soda to whiten your teeth or as a mouthwash. You can also use it to keep your laundry cleaner or your kitchen and toilet sparkling.
Baking soda can remove stains from almost everything, even carpets. It can also sterilize your produce and act as a herbicide to keep your gardens safe.
Furthermore, you can also use baking soda to polish silverware and other utensils. It’s also a great DIY deodorant or air freshener.
Not to mention, baking soda can also treat heartburn and smoothen your digestion.
It’s a little compound with big properties, indeed. How many of these household uses are you picking up?