15 surprising uses for baking soda you might not have thought of!
Everyone knows baking soda as a common ingredient in recipes for baked goods. But there are also many little-known uses for baking soda that go far beyond its use in cooking.
15 Surprising Uses for Baking Soda
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Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is widely used as a leavening agent in baked goods. This is because it causes dough to rise through the production of the gas carbon dioxide.
One of the best things about baking soda is that it is super cheap, easily available for less than $1.00 a pound.
Baking soda is also environmentally friendly as it is all-natural and contains no harsh chemicals.
Everyone needs to know about this affordable and versatile product that has so many uses around the house. You’ll want to always keep baking soda on hand once you see how useful it is!
1. Remove pet odors
Does your dog or cat occasionally have an accident on your carpet or furniture? After soaking up excess dampness with a paper towel, sprinkle baking soda on the wet area and gently work into the spot. Let it work its magic overnight and then vacuum up the powder.
2. Try baking soda for heartburn
If you have an acid stomach and need quick relief, measure a teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water and sip it down. Baking soda is on the alkaline end of the pH spectrum. Because of this, it can fight excess stomach acid and relieve the burn (source).
If you notice you have heartburn after consuming tomato-based spaghetti sauce, pour half a teaspoon of baking soda onto your sauce before eating. Tomato sauce is acidic and baking soda helps neutralize the acid.
Be sure to check with your doctor if you have heartburn to make sure this will be safe for you.
3. Give new life to coffee mugs
Baking soda is a potent all-purpose cleaner that can be used on many surfaces and objects.
If your favorite coffee mug has that dingy look, make your own cleaner by combining half a teaspoon of baking soda with 3 tablespoons of water. Put the paste on a damp rag and scrub the stains off your mug. You’ll be amazed at how effective this is!
4. Add to the bath for healthy skin
If you suffer from itchy or irritated skin, try adding baking soda to your bath water.
Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup baking soda to the bath tub as it fills with warm water. Baking soda is water soluble, so it will quickly dissolve.
Baking soda has many reported benefits when added to the bath such as fighting fungal infections, eczema, poison ivy, chickenpox and even urinary tract infections!
To make a soothing and refreshing detox bath, combine 1 cup baking soda with 1 cup Epsom salt and add to the bath tub as it fills with warm water. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil such as lavender or eucalyptus for extra enjoyment.
5. Make your stove top sparkle
Whether you have a metal or glass stove top, use baking soda to make it look clean again.
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the dirty areas of your stove top, then lightly spray with vinegar. The combination of acidic vinegar and alkaline baking soda creates a potent and bubbly cleaner!
Wait about 30 minutes for the baking soda-vinegar mixture to start working, then scrub with a rag or sponge. Be sure to use a soft, non-abrasive microfiber cloth for glass stove tops.
6. Whiten teeth with baking soda
Are your teeth not as white as you would like? Try baking soda to restore your sparkly smile.
Baking soda is a mild abrasive and can gently remove teeth surface stains. It is also alkaline and inhibits acidic bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Even big toothpaste manufacturers recognize baking soda’s whitening ability as they commonly add it to their products.
Some people put toothpaste on their brush, then sprinkle a little baking soda onto the paste for added whitening power.
RELATED: Homemade Coconut Mint Toothpaste (with essential oils)
You can also brush with just baking soda and water. To do this, mix 2 teaspoons water with 1 teaspoon baking soda. You may not notice immediate results but keep it up and with time the whiteness should be restored.
If your teeth need an extra whitening boost, combine a teaspoon of baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon of food-grade hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Brush your teeth, then wait a couple of minutes before rinsing. {Source}
7. Keep drains clean with baking soda
If your drain is smelly or sluggish and you want to avoid harsh drain-cleaning chemicals, try a combination of baking soda and vinegar.
Simply pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, and then 1/2 cup of vinegar. These two natural substances will create a fizzy, bubbly reaction that can kill odors and clear simple clogs.
Let the baking soda and vinegar work for 30 minutes (or an hour for stubborn clogs), then run hot water down the drain to clear it out. Many people report this really works!
8. Make homemade deodorant with baking soda
I previously wrote a tutorial about how to make your own natural deodorant with baking soda.
My deodorant recipe uses only 4 simple ingredients and is so simple to make!
If you prefer to buy a high-quality deodorant that already contains baking soda, this is one of the most highy rated ones.
Click here for my homemade deodorant recipe with baking soda.
9. Freshen carpet with baking soda
Got a carpet that doesn’t smell the best, or has a lot of traffic or pet smells? Try baking soda to freshen it up!
Simply sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on your carpet, then wait several hours to overnight for the odors to be absorbed. Vacuum your carpet and enjoy the fresh scent!
10. Clean your skin with baking soda
Try baking soda to give your skin a gentle yet effective cleanse without soap.
If you already have a facial cleanser but want to give it a boost, add a small amount of baking soda.
Baking soda has exfoliant properties, meaning it works as a powerful yet gentle skin cleanser.
You can also make a paste of a teaspoon of baking soda with 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) water. Mix the baking soda to a pasty consistency, then apply to your face (avoid around the eyes). Rinse with clean water.
11. Add baking soda to freshen your laundry
Baking soda can make clothes whiter and fresher smelling, and can also help soften hard water.
To use in your washing machine, add the clothes, then 1/2 cup of baking soda. Add detergent, then run the wash cycle. Finally, add another 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle.
*Be sure to check with your washing machine manufacturer to make sure this will be safe for your particular machine.
12. Cleanse your hair with baking soda
Some people sprinkle baking soda onto their wet scalp before using a shampoo, while others prefer to add shampoo and then a bit of baking soda. The baking soda can help remove build up in your hair and scalp, and provides extra cleaning power.
You can also use just baking soda as a cleanser for wet hair, then follow up with a diluted rinse of vinegar.
13. Remove shoe odors with baking soda
To eliminate shoe odor, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda into the shoe, then shake or tap the shoe to evenly distribute the baking soda.
Let the baking soda work overnight, then tap out any excess powder.
14. Kill weeds with baking soda
Have some weeds growing in your sidewalk, driveway or yard?
Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda onto the weeds and watch them shrivel up!
15. Make homemade slime with baking soda
I’ve saved one of my favorite baking soda uses for last!
If your kids love making homemade slime, check out this fun recipe using baking soda and glue. It’s perfect for sensitive skin.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of 15 surprising uses for baking soda!
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Kill weeds? Who knew? Can’t wait to try that this spring. Great post, learned a lot!
I was surprised by that one, too!
Love this so much! We’re featuring you over on the Homestead Blog Hop. Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you, Kelly!
Love this, thank you! We always have a three-pound bag of baking soda from Costco on hand because I regularly use it for cleaning and as a cleanser for my hair, now I have even more uses for it. Can’t wait to try mixing it into my facial cleanser!
Thank you, Amanda! So glad it was helpful!
Excellent tips here! I had no idea about the heartburn remedy, definitely trying that. Pinned
Thank you, Marie! My husband has been using the heartburn remedy for years, and he really thinks it helps!