Baking soda is obviously made for baking. I could give you ten thousand recipes for cookies, cakes, pies, breads, brownies, and other such yummies... but I'd rather give you ten ideas for using the ingredient, Sodium Bicarbonate, in many other aspects of your daily life. It's sold just about everywhere, easy to store, and very inexpensive, especially when purchased in bulk, so stock up!
Add to the bath. It softens the water, and thus softens your skin. For a real bonus: mix 1 part baking soda to 3 parts Epsom salts, and a few drops your favorite essential oil.
In the laundry. 1/2 cup of baking soda added to your regular detergent will absorb laundry odors. It may also help whiten the whites. (because it softens the water)
Toothpaste. As more and more information comes out about the dangers of the added fluoride in our oral hygiene products, it's never too soon to start using a more natural approach. Dip your toothbrush in baking soda and brush away those stains. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to a 1/2 glass of warm water to gargle away bad breath. Make a paste using half to half with coconut oil to rid oil bacteria and promote gum health.
As a facial scrub. Gently wash your face with a loose paste of baking soda and water. It softens the skin, and the gritty feel exfoliates. No more than once or twice a week as it may dry your skin.
In the litter box. Spread an inch of baking soda under 2-3 inches of litter to control odors. You can also sprinkle it on top, and mix it thoroughly within. Be sure you to mix well, though. My Kitty-Kitty will avoid her litter if she sees globs of white stuff on top!
As a carpet freshener. Sprinkle evenly across the carpet, let it sit for a few minutes, and then vacuum away odors. (You could even gently work it into the carpet with your feet or a broom to get at deep down odors).
As a cleaner. For sparkle and shine without scratching surfaces, sprinkle onto a damp sponge for scrubbing appliances, tile, and stainless steel. To remove tough odors from counter tops (like onions, fish, or garlic) add water to make a paste, spread across the counter and let it sit. Then just wipe away!
As an antacid. Add a 1/2 teaspoon to a glass of water. Take every two hours, not to exceed 8 doses in 24 hours. Please consult a doctor if you're on a salt restricted diet. Not intended for children under 5 or adults over 60.
Treatment for skin irritations. Apply a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water to the irritated area. Soothe the pain and itch of bug bites, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and prickly heat.
For the fridge and freezer. Do you like onion flavored ice cream? Probably not. Tear the top off of a box of baking soda and just stick it in the fridge (and one in the freezer) to absorb strong food odors. Replace every 3 months. Tip: pour the old box down the garbage disposal to get rid of odors in the drain!
