You likely know that baking soda is a wonderful odor absorber but there are so many other uses for it that are simple and green!
Cleaning around the house:
- Erase crayon pencil, ink and furniture scuffs from painted surfaces: sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe away
- Unclog a drain: it’s the combination of vinegar and baking soda that does the trick here…pour 1/2 c baking soda down the drain followed by a 1/2 c white vinegar, cover with a stopper or plate and let sit for 5 mins, follow with a gallon of boiling water.
- Remove stains from enameled cast iron and stainless steel: for enameled cast iron make a paste and scrub with a dish brush or your fingers; for SS mix 4T baking soda with 1 qt of water, clean using a soft cloth and wipe dry
- Scrub your cookware: sprinkle soda on crusted food in cookware, let sit for 5 mins, lightly scrub and rinse!
- Soften your laundry and lessen static: just add a 1/4 – 1/2 c to the wash
Personal Care
- Exfoliate your skin: make a paste with water, massage onto wet face and rinse
- Brush your teeth: you can use baking soda and water (well – that makes sense!)
- Settle a sour stomach: stir 1/2 tsp baking soda into 1/2 c water and drink
Safety
- Fight a fire! Baking soda will out out gas/oil/grease fires by smothering them
- Clean up oil and grease spills: again, baking soda will soak up the liquids making it easier to clean them up – be sure to dispose of this properly at a HHW recycling facility! See info here and here
These tips are courtesy my sister-in-law and Real Simple magazine!
