The uses for baking soda are so versatile. There are tons of unexpected uses for Baking Soda for personal care, cleaning, freshening, and MORE!
64 Unexpected Uses for Baking Soda
With Spring already here, the warm weather, and of course the annual Spring Cleaning on the brain, I wanted to compile an amazing list about all of the uses for baking soda, besides baking of course.
Baking soda is a wonderful, versatile staple to have in your home. Uses for baking soda are extensive from beauty and personal care to cleaning and freshening and even more!
You should really always have at least 2 boxes of baking soda
in your home. One for baking and one for everything else. Of course, if you're like me you'll want to go out and buy baking soda in bulk
, because, seriously, what can't this stuff do?!
Uses for Baking Soda for Personal Care
1. Exfoliant - Make a paste with baking soda and water or lemon juice (about 3 tablespoons baking soda to 1 tablespoon water or lemon juice), and rub on skin. This helps to remove dead skin and control blackheads.
2. Deodorant - Just pat some baking soda under your arms to absorb sweat and neutralize body odor.
3. Deep Hand Cleanser - After working in the garden or particularly messy projects, your hands need a good scrub. Form a paste with baking soda and hand soap to clean off particularly difficult dirt and grime from your hands.
4. Hair Cleanser - Baking soda can be used in hair cleaning in several ways. There's the "no 'poo" method, which involves washing with a bit of baking soda followed by an apple cider vinegar rinse. You can also use baking soda with your normal shampoo routine to deep cleanse hair and remove any built up hair care products. Just sprinkle a little at the top of your hair, shampoo, rinse thoroughly, and proceed with your normal hair care routine. Baking soda also staves off dandruff.
5. Cleans Brushes and Hair Care Tools - Soaking hair care tools such as combs and brushes in a baking soda wash removes oil and product build up and keeps your hair cleaner and healthier. Simply fill your sink to cover the utensils, add 1-3 tablespoons of baking soda and soak for 30 minutes to an hour, then rinse and allow to dry. DO NOT try the soak with electric hair care tools such as straighteners or curlers. If you'd like to clean those too, add baking soda to a damp cloth and wipe down the tool, making sure it is unplugged during cleaning.
6. Easy Mouthwash - Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and mix for an easy mouth wash that gets rid of bad breath. Swish, spit, and rinse your mouth.
7. Heartburn Relief - Because baking soda is alkaline, it can reduce heartburn by slightly neutralizing stomach acid. Add a half teaspoon to half a cup of water. You can drink this concoction every 2 or more hours. Read these consumption warnings prior to extended use.
8. Relieves Insect Bites and Bee Stings - Apply a baking soda and water paste to affected areas to relieve itching or burning. This also works on generally dry or itchy skin.
9. Soothes Diaper Rash - Baking soda can calm a minor diaper rash. Fill the bathtub with tepid water, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda, and give baby a little soak to calm irritated skin. Please note that baking soda will NOT treat yeast infections, and can aggravate the problem. This baking soda remedy is for mild irritation only.
10. Soothes Sunburns, Windburns, and Other Mild Burns - Soothe sunburn or windburn by soaking in a tub and adding 2 tablespoons of baking soda. You can also treat minor burns with baking soda, as it is an antiseptic. If you have a severe sunburn or burn, please seek professional medical attention.
11. Treats Cradle Cap - You can treat cradle cap in infants by using an easy baking soda and water or oil mixture. Read here for a full tutorial on treating cradle cap with baking soda.
12. Provides Relief from Urinary Tract Infections - To reduce pain and burning associated with urinary tract infections, mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with 1 cup of water and drink. The baking soda will reduce the acidity of the urine to ease the pain. Please note that baking soda, will NOT treat urinary tract infections. Urinary tract infections should not go untreated, so seek medical attention if you suspect you have one.
For more information on personal care uses for baking soda, you can visit My Beauty Box Review here.
Uses for Baking Soda for Cleaning
13. Make a Homemade Soft Scrub - Sprinkle baking soda on tubs, sinks, tile, toilets, etc. Wipe with a damp cloth, rinse, and dry.
14. Cleans Floors - Add half a cup of baking soda to a bucket of warm water for an easy, natural way to scrub and mop floors.
15. Removes Grease from Dishes - Don't bother trying to scrub off stuck on grease. Just soak dishes in the sink in warm water and add 1 tablespoon of baking soda as well as some regular dish soap. Allow to soak, and your dishes will be clean in no time.
16. Cleans the Microwave - Add a little baking soda to a damp rag and wipe down the inside of the microwave. This will also not leave any harsh chemical smells, and will actually neutralize any odors from foods.
17. Oven Cleaner - Liberally sprinkle baking soda over the bottom of the oven. Spray lightly with water, just enough to dampen the baking soda. Let mixture sit overnight (or 8-12 hours). Then scrub and rinse the oven.
18. Cleans Crayon Off the Walls - If you have kids, you'll want to remember this one. You can clean crayon off the walls by sprinkling baking soda on a damp cloth and scrubbing the area. Then wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.
19. Laundry Booster - Add half a cup of baking soda to your ordinary laundry wash for cleaner, fresher, and softer clothes. I especially like this trick on whites. It makes them much brighter!
20. Cleans Cloth Diapers - Add ½ cup of baking soda to a half gallon of warm to hot water, and soak cloth diapers in the mixture for 30 minutes to an hour prior to normal washing to clean cloth diapers better and deodorize.
21. Removes Oil - If you have oil or grease spots on your garage floor, clean them up with baking soda! Sprinkle baking soda on the oil or grease spots, then scrub with a wet scrub brush to remove.
22. Unclogs Drains - Make your own homemade Drano by combining baking soda and vinegar, plus some boiling water. It's way cheaper and still effective. Check out a full tutorial on using baking soda to unclog drains here.
23. Cleans the Grill - Clean your grill for the summer by sprinkling baking soda on a damp scrub brush. Scrub the grill grate and rinse.
24. "Magic" All Purpose Cleaner - If you've been anywhere near Pinterest the past few years, you probably know that mixing baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap together create a cleaner of epic proportions. It's great for tough stains on dishes, grout, carpets, clothes, upholstery, basically anything you can imagine. For more information you can check out these great posts at One Good Thing, lifehacker, and Sisters Shopping. Or you can just search it on Pinterest!
25. Laundry Detergent - You can make your own homemade laundry detergent using baking soda for just $25 per YEAR! For the full homemade laundry detergent tutorial, you can read at Bren Did.
26. Clean Your Dishwasher - If your dishwasher is starting to smell a little funky, just run an empty cycle with baking soda.
27. Clean Your Automatic Coffee Maker - Similarly, you can clean out your coffee maker, using baking soda. Just mix baking soda with a pot of water and pour through the coffee maker as you would when brewing your normal coffee. Run at least 2 more plain water pots through your coffee maker before resuming normal use. Read here for more information about cleaning your coffee maker with baking soda.
28. Cleans Furniture - Easily clean or polish furniture by sprinkling some baking soda on a damp cloth before wiping. Wipe dry with a clean, dry cloth.
29. Clean Shower Curtains - Clean vinyl shower curtains and liners by sprinkling baking soda on a damp cloth and wiping down. Rinse thoroughly when done.
30. Removes Perspiration Stains - Remove perspiration stains from clothing by combining baking soda and water to form a thick paste. Rub onto the stain, and allow to sit or at least one hour. Wash as normal.
31. Remove Stains from Coffee Mugs and Tea Cups - Wipe out coffee mugs and tea cups with a damp cloth and a baking soda paste to get rid of coffee and tea stains.
32. Remove Tomato Stains from Plastic - If you have a tomato-based stain on a plastic item such as a tablecloth, place mat, or cutting board, use a baking soda paste to remove the stain completely.
33. Cleans Toilets - Baking soda can easily clean and deodorize your toilet. Just add 1 cup of baking soda to the toilet bowl. Let it sit for an hour, then flush. This will clean the toilet and absorb any odors.
34. Clean Enameled Cast Iron and Stainless Steel - Remove stains from enameled cast iron and stainless steel by making a thick paste with baking soda and water. Use a scrub brush to clean the enameled cast iron, and a soft cloth to clean the stainless steel.
Use Baking Soda to Deodorize and Freshen
35. Freshens Refrigerator - Keep your refrigerator smelling fresh by placing an open box of baking soda in the back. Be sure to change it out every one to two months.
36. Deodorize Garbage Cans - Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of your garbage can to keep it smelling fresher for longer.
37. Freshen and Deodorize Carpet - Sprinkle baking soda onto carpet or rugs. Let sit f0r 20-30 minutes, then vacuum the carpet to remove the baking soda.
38. Freshen Coat Closets - Freshen up musty coat closets by keeping an open box of baking soda in the back to absorb the odor.
39. Deodorize Cutting Boards - Use a baking soda paste to wipe down cutting boards after use to avoid lingering smells from strong vegetables such as onion, garlic, peppers, etc.
40. Freshen Litter Boxes - You can keep kitty's litter box smelling nicer for longer by sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of the litter box when changing. Just sprinkle baking soda on the bottom, and add kitty litter as usual. You can keep it fresh between changes as well by sprinkling a little baking soda on top of the litter.
41. Remove Odors from Hands - If your hands smell after handling strong smelling food such as onions, garlic, fish, etc., you can rub your hands with baking soda and water to remove the lingering smells.
42. Deodorize Hamper - Keep your hamper smelling fresh by sprinkling some baking soda in the bottom.
43. Freshen Sponges, Dish Rags, and Towels - Soak stale sponges, dish rags, and dish towels in baking soda and water to remove the smell. Use about 1 tablespoon of baking soda per cup of warm/hot water.
44. Freshen Upholstery - Sprinkle baking soda onto upholstery, and allow to sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Vacuum remaining baking soda, and your furniture will smell fresh and clean.
45. Freshen Mattress - Using the same method as freshening upholstery, you can also deodorize your mattress and eliminate any strange or stale odors.
46. Deodorize Lunch Boxes - Nothing is less appetizing than opening your lunch box and smelling lingering, stale food odor. Keep the odors away by placing a spill proof box of baking soda in lunch boxes between uses.
47. Deodorize Shoes - Get rid of odors and keep them from spreading or worsening in your shoes by shaking a little baking soda into shoes after use.
Other Amazing Uses for Baking Soda
48. Keep Flowers Fresh - Keep cut flowers fresher longer by adding about a teaspoon of baking soda to the vase water.
49. Wash Produce - Easily and thoroughly wash produce by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge. Then just scrub and rinse.
50. Put Out Fires - Put out fires caused by grease or oil by liberally dumping baking soda on the fire.
51. Polish Silver - You can polish silver with baking soda, salt, water, and foil. For the full tutorial about polishing silver with baking soda, visit Pennies into Pearls.
52. Make Fluffier Omelets - To make a fluffier omelet or scrambled eggs, add a ½ teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs.
53. Melt Ice Outside - To melt ice from an icy sidewalk or driveway without the corrosive properties of salt, sprinkle baking soda liberally on the icy area.
54. Keep Weeds Away by sprinkling baking soda in the cracks of your driveway, landscaping blocks, patio, etc.
55. Clean Batteries - Baking soda can neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc. because it's a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect batteries before cleaning. For a full tutorial, read at How to Clean Stuff.
56. Wash Cars - You can mildly wash everything on your car using baking soda, and have it come out squeaky clean. Clean lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats, and more without leaving scratch marks. Baking soda can also remove bugs and tar from cars. For more car cleaning tips using baking soda, visit Tip Hero.
57. Keep Rubber Gloves Dry and Fresh by sprinkling baking soda on the inside.
58. Make Modeling Clay - You can make modeling clay at home with baking soda, water, and cornstarch.
59. Repel Bugs, including ants, roaches, and silverfish by sprinkling baking soda along basement windows and under sinks.
60. Reduce Acid in Tomato-Based Meals such as spaghetti or chili by sprinkling the food with just a pinch of baking soda.
61. Remove Rust from a Cast Iron Skillet by scrubbing the skillet with half of a raw potato and baking soda.
62. Makes a Homemade Jewelry Cleaner - We already know that baking soda works as a great silver polish, but it can actually clean any jewelry. Make sure baking soda is fully dissolved when cleaning gold, as it's a very soft metal and could scratch.
63. Iced Tea - Add a pinch of baking soda to freshly-made iced tea to keep it clear and remove some of the bitter flavor.
64. De-skunk your Pet - If your pet gets sprayed by a skunk, you can remove the skunk stench with a baking soda bath.
Did you like these Uses for Baking Soda? Find more on my Cleaning and In the Kitchen boards on Pinterest!
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References
31 Baking Soda Uses | All You
51 Fantastic Uses for Baking Soda | Care2
10 New Uses for Baking Soda | Real Simple
Household Uses for Baking Soda | Almanac.com
75 Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda | Life Hackery
Sally Stevenson says
Very interesting ideas,must try some of them
Michelle says
Definitely try some! And come back to let us know how it worked for you!
Aika says
This is very informative. I didn't know baking soda has a lot of uses aside from cleaning stains and appliances. I think it's a must-have for every household.