Great Uses for Baking Soda

Baking soda, you use it to cook with but did you know there are lots of other things you can use it for too? Growing up, my mom and grandmothers always had it in their homes. It can be used all over the place, and if you look it up online you will see possibly hundreds of uses. Here are a few of my favorite ways to use it.

Skin
Pour a gentle cleanser into your hand. Mix a bit of baking soda with it. Massage this over your wet face for a couple of minutes. Its a fabulous, inexpensive exfoliant!

Hair
Mix baking soda with a little powder (baby or other). Rub it into your scalp when you don't have time to wash. Use a scrubbing motion with your fingertips like you are shampooing. Then, use a boar bristle brush to comb it out. You will be left with shiny, bouncy hair in no time! Just be sure to brush it all away,so that there is no telltale white left, if you have darker hair.

Teeth
After you put paste on your toothbrush, sprinkle some baking soda onto it. It scrubs away stains gently and effectively. I love how clean my mouth feels when I use this combination!

Faucets and glass shower doors
Spray glass cleaner onto the area. Let stand for about 1-2 minutes. Then sprinkle baking soda over it liberally. Use a toothbrush or sponge to scrub, then rinse away with water and voila! Any water deposits or spots will be gone and you are left with an immaculately clean faucet.

Sneakers
Pour some baking soda inside your sneakers and allow it to sit overnight. It will deodorize and refresh them. You can also do this before you wash them.

Carpets
Sprinkle baking soda evenly onto your carpet. You can rub it in with your hands, or use a carpet rake to help it really sink in. Let it sit for a few hours, and then vacuum thoroughly. It dissolves bad odors and helps remove more dirt than vacuuming alone.

Refrigerators
Nothing is worse than the smell of a dirty refrigerator. Sometimes, even when it isn't truly dirty, there is still an odor from all the food sitting in it. After you clean it thoroughly, put an open container of baking soda in a spot where it won't get spilled. The next time you open the door to get a snack, you'll notice it is odorless and fresh.

Microwaves
Mix baking soda with some warm water. Sponge the solution all over the inside and allow the solution to sit and losen any debris. Then, use a damp non-scratch sponge or cloth to wipe it clean.

Trashcans
Sprinkle some baking soda directly into your garbage pail. I usually put it inside the actual container, and then a little bit into the new bag as well. It really helps keep any really nasty odors in check.