You probably have a box sitting around your house right now refreshing your refrigerator or waiting to be used with your next baking session but did you know baking soda’s uses go far beyond baking and deodorizing? Here’s ten easy examples of how you can use baking soda in a variety of ways.
1. Sponge Saver
It is surprising how full of bacteria the sponges we clean with can become over a short period of time. Lengthen the lifespan of your sponges by regularly soaking them in a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda and 4 cups of warm water. The solution will clean the sponges and remove odors left behind by bacteria. To further disinfect them, follow the baking soda soak with spin in the microwave. Just two minutes in the microwave will inactivate 99% of pathogens.
2. Heavy Duty Grease Remover
Looking for a way to remove those nasty grease drippings on your garage floor without using harsh chemicals? A small sprinkle of baking soda scrubbed with a wet brush will do the trick.
3. Smother Small Fires
Every household should have a fire extinguisher these days but baking soda can also prove useful in situations of grease or electrical fires. Throwing a handful of baking soda at the base of a flame can help smother flames from small cooking fires so having a box handy in the kitchen is a good idea.
4. Shower Curtain Cleaner
When your vinyl shower curtain begins to show signs of use, use a little baking soda on a damp sponge to both clean and deodorize the curtain and remove any mold or mildew that may be starting to form. Simply wipe the curtain down, rinse and hang to dry. You can also use the same process to prevent dirt by gently wiping the curtain while still hanging in the bathroom on a weekly basis.
5. Produce Cleaner
For cleaning fruits and vegetables, avoid the high priced sprays available at your grocery store, a small sprinkle of baking soda onto a damp sponge is all you need. Simply wipe down the fruit or vegetable with the sponge and rinse.
6. Your Car Battery
If your car battery is building corrosion baking soda can help with that too! Start by disconnecting your battery terminals and then apply a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. The baking soda will neutralize the acid corrosion allowing you to use a damp cloth to scrub the battery terminal.
7. Activewear
From sports gear to hot yoga pants, from time to time our active wear will start smelling a little more than active despite its time spent in the washing machine. A simple baking soda pre-soak will help remove those sweaty odors and help remove stains.
8. Free Flowing Drains
A few tablespoons of baking soda down your drains each week can help prevent nasty build up within your pipes and keep your sinks draining properly.
9. Brush Cleaner
A good hairbrush can last forever but with all the haircare products we use they can start to look a little dirty and dingy. To remove product build up and ensure the long-life of your brushes and combs soak them in a warm water bath with 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda for one hour then rinse, wipe away any remaining residue, and allow to dry.
10. Camping Superhero
With all of its many uses, baking soda is the star product of any camping trip with its ability to wash dishes, scrub pots, cleanse hands, extinguish fires, clean teeth, and so much more.