25 Uses for Baking Soda That You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

Baking soda has many health benefits, including using it for heartburn. Turns out, it’s a magnificent antacid. The bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid to decrease indigestion.

Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to two cups of water. Consume the water an hour after eating to get heartburn relief.

Have you ever tried making homemade lemonade with baking soda? All it takes is a few lemons, a teaspoon of baking soda, a lot of sugar (which is not necessarily good, but it shouldn’t hurt once in a while) and your kids will forget about Coke, Sprite, and Fanta.

Or maybe they won’t, but still it worth a try.

The hair products that we use tend to leave a harsh residue, even after washing. To get rid of this residue and remove the dirt and oil that can accumulate over time, add a teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo and rub it in your hair.

However, keep in mind that the small crystals of baking soda may be too harsh for the hair. For that reason, use it wisely and in small doses.

Having stinky shoes is a common problem that can be quite embarrassing, especially when you’re around other people. The good news is that baking soda is a great remedy for freshening up shoes.

It helps to remove odors without adding other fragrances that linger and mingle with your shoes. It also acts as a fungicide because baking soda has mild antibacterial properties.

Most importantly, it costs almost nothing compared to the many commercial products out there that are touted to mask or eliminate shoe odor.

If your kidneys aren’t working properly and you have urination issues, your body may have a hard time ridding itself of acid.

Consuming small doses of baking soda can improve kidney function because it is alkaline and buffers the acid in your body, helping to keep your pH levels balanced.

Some commercial air fresheners (especially the cheap ones) won’t help you to eliminate bad odors. Further, the majority of air fresheners won’t even tell you what they contain. Many are no good for your lungs and general health.

If you’re not happy with what you find in the market, you can combine baking soda and essential oil by adding a tablespoon of baking soda to a small bowl or dish. Mix 5 or 6 drops of essential oil into the baking soda with a spoon until they are well combined.

Add this mixture, along with distilled water, to a spray bottle and there you have it: instant air freshener!

It’s no secret that last night’s delicious garlic bread and fried chicken can leave your fridge smelling awful for days to come. We’ve got a solution, though.

Baking soda will absorb strong food odors so they don’t linger or change the taste of other foods kept in the refrigerator.

It may sound like outdated advice, but adding baking soda to your regular amount of liquid laundry detergent can do wonders.

Both whites and colors will come out of the washing machine brighter if you add half a cup of baking soda to your load. Combined with liquid detergent, it helps balance the pH levels to get clothes cleaner.

Although the daily use of baking soda isn’t good for your skin, it can soothe the redness, itching, and stinging that signal a mild reaction to an insect bite.

Make a simple paste of water and baking soda and apply it as a salve on the affected skin.

Spa treatments can be particularly expensive. If you enjoy them, you might not be able to afford them on a regular basis. Baking soda can solve this problem for you though.

Add about half a cup of bicarbonate soda to your bath for an at-home spa treatment. It will (almost) feel like the luxury ones at your local spa hotel.

Baking soda is an alkaline ingredient that can function as a physical exfoliant. Baking soda removes dirt, grime, and dead skin cells from the surface of the skin by neutralizing the skin’s acid barrier

So, you can exfoliate your skin with a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Apply gently with your fingertips in a circular motion, then rinse.

Soaking your feet in a baking soda solution will help soothe and soften tired feet.

Mix no more than three tablespoons of baking soda into a small tub of warm water and soak. Your feet will thank you for the treat.

Even if you’re pretty diligent about taking out the trash, there will come a time when it gets smelly. The truth is that trash cans, especially indoor ones, can get pretty stinky.

Sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of your trash cans can help neutralize odors and keep offensive smells at bay.

To help cut grease and remove food that remains on your pots, pans, and dishes, add two tablespoons of baking soda, along with liquid dish soap, to your dishwater.

Scrub the pots and pans and rinse thoroughly.

After using your sponges for a while, they can begin to smell moldy.

Baking soda is perfect for eliminating the stale smell from overused sponges. It also has antibacterial properties, which help reduce any bacteria lingering on the sponge.

Have you tried all kinds of chewing gums and they don’t help? Are antiseptic mouthwash products way too expensive? No problem.

Try mixing a tablespoon of baking soda in a glass of water for a change. Swish, spit, and rinse. Easy and cheap mouthwash that neutralizes odors instantly.

Clean your silver flatware and dishes using baking soda. Create a paste that is three parts baking soda and one part water.

With a clean cloth or sponge, rub the paste onto your silver. Carefully rinse off and allow to dry.

Cleaning your floors is one of the most well-known baking soda uses. You can use baking soda on laminate, porcelain, tile, and for cleaning marble floors or other surfaces.

Be wary of using baking soda on wood, however, as too much pressure can scratch the wood.

You can use baking soda to neutralize battery acid corrosion on your lawnmower, car, kids’ electronic toys, and anything that requires a battery.

Trust us, batteries love baking soda … well, when it’s used right, that is.

Not everyone agrees about how one should clean store-bought produce. According to most experts, though, the most important reason for washing fruits and vegetables is to protect yourself from foodborne illnesses.

Baking soda can help with this as well. Mixed with water, baking soda can remove dirt and that waxy coating that you’ll find on supermarket produce.

If your carpet smells a little musty, you can sprinkle baking soda and then vacuum it up (similar to the mattress trick).

You can also scrub out carpet stains using baking soda and water. It does miracles.

Baking soda offers a very good solution if you’re after a natural deodorant without subjecting your body to the harsh chemicals found in most commercial deodorants.

If you want to prevent wetness, add some cornstarch to the recipe.

Baking soda can take the sting and heat out of a sunburn.

To get the full benefit, add some of it to your favorite lotion and the relief will last longer, even after you take a bath or shower.

Baking soda can also help to whiten your teeth. Remember, however, that scrubbing your teeth vigorously with baking soda can cause damage to the tooth.

It would be better to brush your teeth with baking soda no more than a few times a week. And when you do use it to brush your teeth, don’t let it remain on your teeth for more than two minutes

A 2012 study conducted by a team of scientists from the University of Arizona’s Biomedical Engineering Department showed that drinking baking soda has been proven to reduce or eliminate the spread of breast cancer to the lungs, brain, and bone.

The same study revealed that excessive consumption of baking soda can also damage healthy organs, so be wise with its use.