what do you do with baking soda?
It’s time to discover the wonders of baking soda beyond de-smelling your refrigerator! Baking Soda wins the award for the most useful product ever. As a general rule, anything that smells can be made to stop smelling with the proper application of baking soda. Read through Baking Soda Babe Arianne Cohen’s list of her favorite uses and tell us about your own!
AROUND THE HOUSE
Smelly Fabrics: That cute shirt that you think you’ve finally smelled out the pits of is not necessarily DOA. Soak those smelly sponges, clothes or cloth diapers in a mix of water and baking soda overnight.
Smelly Fabrics still in laundry bin: Not planning to tackle that overflowing hamper this week? Sprinkle some baking soda to get you through the week.
Shoe Desmelling: Sprinkle some in those sneakers regularly to keep smelly foot bacteria at bay.
Carpet Cleaning: Sprinkle over your rug, and let it sit for an hour. Then vacuum.
KITCHEN
Fruit Washing: A bit of baking soda and a sponge helps really clean those fruits and vegetables which have touched lord-knows-what on their route from field to truck to supermarket to you.
Microwave Cleaning: This is my favorite. Put water, lemon juice and baking soda in a microwave safe bowl and turn on high for 90 seconds. Smells disappear.
Photo by Chad Hunt
Click through to the next page to read the rest of Arianne’s List!
Dish cleaning: Water, baking soda and a scouring pad remove the toughest stains. (Liquid dish soap works by greasing up stain molecules until they slide off, but sometimes some good scouring is in order.)
Refrigerator freshening: An open box in the back of the fridge absorbs all sorts of noxious food odors. Baking soda companies suggest changing the box every three months; we say do it annually.
Drain Freshening: Every once in a while, something gets caught in the drain, and it reeks! Run warm water and sprinkle baking soda over the drain.
Fire Fighting: Baking Soda puts out grease and electrical fires. Keep a box within easy reach of your stove, and if necessary, dump it on the flames.
Coffee Maker Cleaning: Make “coffee” by pouring baking soda and water into the water reservoir, and turning on the pot.
BATHROOM
Emergency Toothpaste, Mouthwash and Deodorant: The morning you wake up and realize that your honey took the only toiletries on that business trip, water and baking soda will get you by for all three.
Hair Degreaser: Not in the mood for a shower? Sprinkling a bit on your part line will soak up grease, giving you an extra 10 hours or so before your hair starts to gel together.
Antacid: Out of Tums? Their prime ingredient is sodium bicarbonate–which is baking soda. A half teaspoon in 4 ounces isn’t as yummy as those orange-flavored Tums, but they’ll get the job done.
Deitching: A pastey mix of baking soda and water calms itchy skin, rashes and insect bites. This is great for pooches, who may lick toxic ointments.
Shower curtain cleaning: A wet sponge covered in baking soda effectively scrubs off that nasty mildew we referred to last week LINK. Dumping the curtain and baking soda in your washing machine also works.
Scuff Mark remover: Sneaker or crayon stains on tile or linoleum easily disappear with a sponge and baking soda.
Phew! That’s a long list, but we’re sure you’ll have more to add. Tell us if you have any genius uses for baking soda not included here.
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:24 am
On The View TV show the other day, a beauty expert said that Queen Latifa mixes baking soda with Cetaphil moisturizer and rubs it on her face. It’s supposed to gently exfoliate and moisturize. I’m gonna try it.
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:25 am
As crazy as this sounds - I have just begun washing my face with it…
The local paper had an article about this - make a paste out of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Wet face, then rub with a bit of the paste. Rinse really well.
The newspaper article had several women who agreed to try it. All were skeptical, all ended up raving about it.
I thought that I’d give it a try - and I was skeptical too…
I love it. It’s a great exfoliant, and my skin really seems to glow for a full two days afterwards. I’ve only been doing it once or twice a week, I think everyday would be a bit much for my skin. But you can’t beat the price (and if I have any of the paste left over, I just use it to spot clean the sink! )
It’s crazy, but it really is one of the best exfoliants I’ve ever used, my skin looks noticeably brighter, and again - you can not beat the price!
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:57 am
I agree, baking soda makes a great facial scrub. It’s gentle, yet effective; I use it once or twice a week.
January 22nd, 2007 at 7:22 am
If your dog pees on the carpet, absorb as much of it as you can, then generously cover the stain in baking soda. Leave it for a couple hours, then sweep or vacuum it up.
January 22nd, 2007 at 8:42 am
Along with the hair degreaser, you can soak hair brushes and combs in water with baking soda in it to clean them. I usually wait forever to clean them so i soak them first, remove lint, hair, and stuff and then soak them again.
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:38 am
If your oven or broiler pan gets burnt-on grease spots, spray them with water, sprinkle on baking soda to cover, then spray on more water. Leave it overnight, then just wipe the grease away with a soapy sponge.
January 22nd, 2007 at 10:05 am
Just FYI, the baking soda to de smell the fridge thing has been debunked. It just doesn’t work. You have to actually clean the fridge.
Cheap, INCREDIBLY effective cleaning scrub for bathtubs, sinks, whatever:
make a paste of baking soda and dish soap. I could not BELIEVE how effective this is when I first tried it.
January 22nd, 2007 at 10:38 am
A paste with baking soda and water is also great for cleaning diamond rings. I keep a toothbrush around for the job — wet the brush, sprinkle on some baking soda, and then clean the ring with the bristles. It’s cheaper than jewelry cleaners and the brush and soda combo cleans all the nooks and crannies.
January 22nd, 2007 at 11:54 am
Applying a paste of baking soda and water to a mosquito bite takes away the itch. And I also use it to polish silver.
January 22nd, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Baking soda is an excellent silver cleaner. Make a paste w/water, let it set for about a minute, then watch the tarnish roll away!
January 22nd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Ditto on the baking soda in the fridge thing…. absolutely not true. Has been scientifically proven that it does not work. Just a ploy by Arm and Hammer to get people to buy more baking soda, especially the kind that comes in the “special boxes” for the fridge. So don’t be fooled…
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
what a great post! i love baking soda.
sprinkle baking soda on burnt pans, then sprinkle lemon juice or vinegar.
leave it overnight + the burn spot comes right off.
i commented this same tip a few weeks ago on a different topic.
January 22nd, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I clean my garbage disposal by dumping several cups of baking soda down the drain and then pouring in several cups of white vinegar. The same formula that made impressive volcanos when you were a child cleans and freshens the disposal perfectly. Rinse with hot water.
I buy baking soda (and vinegar) at a restaurnt supply store or Smart & Final. The price can’t be beat.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:10 am
There are a bunch of things that baking soda works for, but it seems that the comments here bear out the fact that it works best wherever you need a mild abrasive.
For dog pee, the baking soda may work a little, on a surface level, but it’s way better to use an enzymatic cleaner like Nature’s Miracle, which you apply, rub in, soak up the excess (so you don’t get a pooling stain around the area you’re trying to clean), and let it dry. They all work by drying, so don’t add water to the area.
For smelly clothes, you’re better served by adding some white vinegar to the beginning of the wash load, right along with the detergent. This will kill mold smells and smoke smells, as well as weaker stuff. I’ve never met a smell it didn’t kill. 1 cup is the most you should need; soak overnight or repeat the wash 2-3 times or both, if the fabric is really stinky.
I did use baking soda to de-stink some ice trays that my fiance had left empty in his freezer for months. It took a while, but it seems to have worked. Sunlight and lemon juice will help with that sort of thing, too.
January 24th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Baking soda is also good when you take a bath. It helps with itchiness, soften skin, I even use a little for my kids bath.
January 25th, 2007 at 5:38 am
i’m with LLA - exfoliant!
January 28th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
We use baking soda and vinegar as our all around, eco-friendly, bio-friendly household cleaner. Fill a spray bottle with one part vinegar to two parts water. If the smell of vinegar is too offensive you can add a few drops of your favorite scented oil to the mixture, tea tree or lavendar work nicely. Sprinkle baking soda onto whatever surface you are going to clean, may I suggest a greasy stove-top and then spritz with the vinegar solution. The surface will bubble up and then just wipe away. You now have the perfect cleaning combo vinegar and baking soda…. who knew?
January 30th, 2007 at 1:17 am
I add 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar to a packet mix of wallpaper stripper- it dissolves wallpaper glue much faster- but you have to use a fresh mix each time. If you also add 1/2 cup of fabric conditioner the mix stays wetter for longer, so it keeps working
February 6th, 2007 at 11:48 am
I use baking soda now as a substitute for shampoo. 1 Tbsp per cup of water. You could also make a scrub by making a paste out of the baking soda and water. I use a rinse of 2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar per cup of water with a drop or two of tea tree oil instead of conditioner. It has made my dandruff go away, made my hair softer, and less prone to tangles. (I have long, fine, straight hair.) You can google for “no shampoo” or “shampoo alternatives” and it should bring up websites with the specifics.
February 15th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
[...] This blog post is a tribute to the most helpful household product – baking soda. I always use baking soda in my numerous chores, but I never really gave much importance and attention to this thing until I read Arianne Cohen’s blog at http://www.shelterrific.com. Arianne gives her thanks to baking soda for helping her accomplish her cleaning tasks. After reading that article, I realized the countless uses of this leavening agent. [...]
April 30th, 2007 at 5:03 am
I just used baking today and my face feel great, it’s smooth, and it’s not dry or flaky and I didn’t have to use a moisturizer I love it I am going to use it every day. My husband also bath with and him skin feels really soft and smooth. His normally strips, He’s been using it for two weeks now to soak his feet and they have stopped stripping and they are really soft. this is my new soap now
December 31st, 2007 at 7:06 am
[...] What do you do with baking soda? Apparently, loads! From cleaning your face to calming mosquito bites to tackling burnt pans. Click [...]
February 12th, 2008 at 5:48 am
I sprinkle it at the bottom of my cat’s litter box. I’m not great about cleaning out the box every day, and the baking soda really helps keep the smell to a minimum.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Baking soda is also good when you take a bath. Or If your oven or broiler pan gets burnt-on grease spots, spray them with water, sprinkle on baking soda to cover, then spray on more water. Next Morning clean it.
http://www.qssupplies.co.uk/
February 13th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
It’s another myth/rumor/propaganda spread by Arm & Hammer to increase sales. There is nothing about baking soda that absorbs and destroys odor molecules.
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00388.htm
Sorry to disappoint the flock.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:09 am
have you burned something to the bottom of your favourite pot or pan? fill halfway with water, add a tablespoon or two of baking soda and put on the boil for ten minutes. you may have to scrub a bit, but the pan will be saved.
February 15th, 2008 at 4:57 am
a pinch of baking soda in a pitcher of home made iced tea will make it seem sweeter or less bitter
February 15th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
As said by Hazel Stone, Arm &Hammer itself has stated that to their knowledge, their product has little effect on ‘absorbing odors’. This is odd when one considers the “fridge boxes”, though I haven’t seen them recently.
Heh…”clean the fridge”…crazy talk, man…crazy talk.
February 16th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I never knew baking soda is that useful, guess its time i take them out from my drawer….
February 16th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I use it once a week with shampoo to remove styling gel buildup. Squeaky Clean
February 17th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Beans won’t soften? Add a pinch of baking soda and it does the trick. Here in New Zealand, all the food products that are imported get heat treated which makes beans impossible to cook to a soft mushiness. Baking soda works a treat!
February 18th, 2008 at 6:00 am
[...] 1. You use baking soda for, well, almost everything. “Have you burned something to the bottom of your favourite pot or pan?” asks gina94984. “Fill halfway with water, add a tablespoon or two of baking soda and put on the boil for ten minutes. You may have to scrub a bit, but the pan will be saved.” Click to read how you can use it to soften beans, as an exfoliant, and to get hair squeaky clean. [...]
February 18th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Baking soda is good to add 1/4tsp to Turnip Greens and collards to tenderize and 1/2 tsp take gas out of dried beans.
February 20th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Baking soda & scrubber sponge clean soap & hard water stains from glass shower doors.
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:30 am
a lesson about cleaning. Water that has been softened has most, if not all the mineral content removed. When water is devoid of impurities, it becomes like a sponge. It will absorb everything. I have proven this out time and time again. In Fact, laundry soap does not actually clean anything. It gives the clothes a fresh smell. I have taken a fresh laundered face cloth from customer and put into a glass filled with pure water. The water turns gray and soapy every single time. The pure water is absorbing the dirt and soap still in the supposedly clean cloth.
Baking soda may be useful for some things, but if you have purified water, you will use less soap, less shampoo. (If you use your normal amount, your hair will lather up so much you will be 5 minutes rinsing it out). If your clothes are washed in pure water, the time they take to dry is reduced by 30 to 40%. Why? your not drying the dirt still in the clothes. Your clothes actually feel lighter and breath as the fabric is not clogged with dirt. Cleaning your face with pure water will blow any commercial cleanser out of the water. In fact, many, if not all face cleansers are made with pure water. Soap scum on the shower walls and tub will simply not be there when your house is on a pure water system. I had a smoker clean her china cabinet glass with windex, when she was satisfied it was clean. I simply put pure water on a clean cloth and wiped the glass, without verifying with my own eyes, I showed her the cloth. It was filthy. the only place I do not reccomend you put a whole house system feed is to your drinking water source. Why? Pure water absorbs minerals right out of the body. for everything else. Pure water cannot be beat. Your being duped as usual by big companies wanting you to spend money on “new and improved” products that really do not do much. Ask anyone that has a whole house filtration system. They cannot live without it if it is set up and running correctly.
February 23rd, 2008 at 10:23 am
I can always use some good uses for this stuff and other household related goods
February 26th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
My Sicilian grandma taught me to add a pinch of baking soda to homemade tomato sauce while it is simmering on the stove. It kind of bubbles up a little, and that is the action when it is absorbing some of the acid from the tomatoes. The sauce comes out much sweeter. No respectful Italian would ever use sugar in sauce…but baking soda is a little trick to combat any bitterness or acidic taste.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:36 am
[...] if the uses for baking soda ever really end — here’s a list of 26 more at House [...]
February 29th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
you can also use baking soda on burns, it takes the pain away and helps the wound heal way faster. just rinse the area with cool water and sprinkle some on. and it instantly feels better!
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 pm
TO KILL MOLD ON WOOD SURFACES TRY WHITE VINEGAR 5% AND MIX IN A LITTLE BAKING SODA, USE A SCRUB BRUSH OR SCRUB CLOTH AND WATCH THE MOLD DISAPEAR. BLEACH IS NOT RECOMMENDED ANYMORE AND ITS TOXIC, BESIDES THE VINEGAR WORKS BETTER ANYWAY AND IS NOT TOXIC.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I use a tsp of baking soda in a glass of water to help fight bladder / urinary tract infections. The best odor absorber in a refrigerator is fresh coffee grounds. It smells really great too.
March 7th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Debbie, i love that idea.
March 9th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Baking soda paste on itchy bites (not bees stings though) works wonders. Also when mixed with 2 parts cream of tarter becomes baking powder without any anticoagulant chemicals so good for people who have reactions to that kinda thing.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:01 am
[...] 1. Out with the baking soda, in with the coffee grounds. Debbie has a great solution for refrigerator odors: “The best odor absorber in a refrigerator is fresh coffee grounds. It smells really great, too.” Read the famed baking soda post and other ideas here. [...]
April 10th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Many use baking soda with a little amonia to clean residue of acid stains on decorative concrete floors