21 Unconventional Uses for Baking Soda
We all have at least one box of baking soda in our kitchen. Many Americans keep soda for baking, for absorbing odors in the fridge, and for cleaning.
But, baking soda can be used for health purposes as well, so it would be good for us to keep one more box in our medicine cabinet.
First, we need to talk about what baking soda is. It is 100% sodium bicarbonate, and it can be used in baking. When you mix baking soda with acid it makes bubbles and releases dioxide gas, so the dough rises.
There are reports from history that say people used many forms of baking soda for foods such as bread that needed rising. Baking soda is known as nahcolite, and it is part of the mineral natron.
Since ancient times, people used natron because it has a lot of sodium bicarbonate. You do not need to take baking soda without aluminum because it is free of it, while the baking powder is not.
For example, people in Egypt used natron for cleaning instead of soap. In 1846 Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight started producing and selling baking soda.
Baking soda was featured in cookbooks by 1860, and it was known as cooking additive. And by the 30s it was popular as ‘proven medical agent.’ (1)
21 Unusual Uses for Baking Soda
How to Use Baking Soda for Your Health
The least pricey and the most valuable remedies to have in your home is baking soda. In this article, we offer you 11 ways in which you can use baking soda.
1. Bites of Insects & Poison Ivy
Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it on the affected area to ease itching. Also, you can rub the dry powder on your skin.
It is an effective treatment for poison ivy and itchy rashes too. It helps by neutralizing irritants and toxins on the surface of your skin.
2. Deodorant
People who do not like to use deodorants with aluminum and parabens, they can make a mixture of water and a little bit of baking soda. This is a simple and effective homemade deodorant. And, you can use dry powder and brush it under your arms.
3. Relaxing Soak
Make yourself a bath and use apple cider vinegar and baking soda. Also, this combination is great for cleaning the drain and the tub.
4. Exfoliator for feet
To make yourself feet soak, you should add three tablespoons of baking soda to your tub. And, you can use baking soda paste to scrub your feet.
You can also make a paste from one part water and three parts baking soda, and use it as a face and body exfoliator. This is a cheap and natural way for daily usage.
5. Ulcer Pain, Heartburn, and Indigestion
Baking soda neutralizes stomach acid, eases heartburn, ulcer, and indigestion pain. Make a mixture of half a glass of water and half a teaspoon of baking soda, and consume this every 2 hours.
You should not consume more than seven half teaspoons of baking soda in one day. If you are more than 60 years old, you should not consume more than 3 half teaspoons of baking soda.
This is not a chronic treatment, but an occasional one. So, you should not consume a lot of it because it may lead to acid/base and electrolyte imbalances.
6. Remove Splinters
Make a mixture of a small glass of water and one tablespoon of baking soda. Soak your affected area in this mixture two times per day. After a few days of using this remedy, many splinters will come out.
7. Clean Your Hands
If you want to clean dirt and remove unwanted odors, make a mixture of one part water and three parts of baking soda. This is a natural way to clean your hands.
8. Treat Sunburn
Make yourself a bath by adding half a cup of baking soda to slightly heated water. Soak your body in it, and when you are out of the water, let your skin dry on itself, do not use towels.
This way you will feel relief. Also, you can make a compress of water and baking soda, and apply to the affected area.
9. Whiten Your Teeth
We all want to have white teeth, and to achieve this in a natural way you should crush one strawberry, and add half a teaspoon of baking soda. Rub your teeth and let it stat for 5 minutes.
Finally, brush your teeth. You should not use this more than once in a week because otherwise, you may damage your enamel.
10. Boost Sports Performance
Runners take baking soda capsules before races in order to boost their performance. This works similarly like carbs loading. Also, swimmers get improved speed with the help of baking soda.
You should not try this without a consultation with your doctor. According to researchers, sodium bicarbonate increases the pH levels of the blood.
This lowers the acidity and balances the acidity that is produced in the muscles during extreme exercises like swimming or fast running.
11. Natural Gum and Toothpaste
Baking soda is a great way to get rid of plaque, clean, polish, and freshen your teeth. According to studies, toothpaste that contained baking soda proved to be more effective in removing plaque than toothpaste without baking soda.
Streptococcus mutans is bacteria that causes tooth decay, and baking soda has been revealed to kill it. If you want an effective paste, you should make a mixture of one part sea salt, and six parts baking soda.
Put this in a blender, and mix it for half a minute, then keep it in a container. To apply it on the gums, you should wet your index finger and put some of the mixtures.
Begin with your upper outside gums, and then the inside upper. Continue with your lower outside, and lower inside. Make sure to rub your teeth and gums with the mixture.
Let it stay for 15 minutes and then wash your mouth. But, be careful because according to Dr. Curatola, killing bacteria in the mouth may be damaging.
Baking Soda as a Natural Cleanser
Some people may do not believe that something cheap like baking soda may be used for cleaning. Well, in 1986 the inner walls of the Statue of Liberty were cleaned with baking soda without destroying the copper. So, here are some ways in which you can use baking soda.
12. Bath and Kitchen
If you want to scrub your bath and kitchen, put baking soda in a container that has holes on the top, and spread it on the surfaces, you want to clean, and you can add several drops of some essential oils you like.
Tea tree oil and lavender have anti-bacterial features. Scrub away grime from your bath and shower with baking soda paste.
13. Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Combination of ACV and baking soda is great for many purposes. For instance, you can sprinkle some baking soda down the drain and then add ACV and let it stay for fifteen minutes.
Use hot water to wash it off. This is a better option than damaging drain cleaners.
14. Pots and Pans
Hot water and baking soda is a great combination to soak your pots and pans in it so that you can clean the baked-on food. Also, you can clean your barbecue grill.
15. Baby Toys
If you have a baby, you can clean its toys with one-quarter of water and four tablespoons of baking soda.
16. Fabric Softener
Add one cup of baking soda to your laundry if you want to use a natural fabric softener, and get whiter clothes.
17. Carpets
If you want to clean your carpet, you can sprinkle baking soda on it, let it stay for about fifteen minutes, and vacuum it.
18. Silver
Fill your sink with hot water, add baking soda and a sheet of aluminum, and out the silver in it, and let it stay till you see they are clean.
19. Shoes
Use baking soda as a natural deodorizer by sprinkling it in your shoes.
20. Fire
If you have a minor fire in your kitchen, baking soda can help you extinguish the flame.
21. Clean Fruits and Veggies
Take a veggie brush and add baking soda to clean your vegetables and fruits.
As you can see, baking soda is a miraculous and cheap ingredient that can do a lot in your home and for your health.
These recipes are traditional Grandmother’s-Remedies that have been used for hundreds of years. Although there is no scientific evidence to support these claims, our Grandmothers swear by it.
