These Are Awesome Baking Soda Hacks You Didn’t Know About

You have a miracle ingredient in your kitchen cupboards right now. Yes, that’s right. That box of baking soda that you just have lying around actually has the remarkable ability to help you in a number of really useful ways. Knowing the uses of baking soda is unlocking hundreds of years of kitchen wisdom and application.

Baking soda is one of the best all-natural compounds found in nature, and it can be used when it comes to personal grooming, cooking, baking, cleaning, just to name a few. Read on to see how these simple applications can simplify life and even improve your health and well-being.

Prevent Acid Reflux

When Alka-Seltzer is not an option for treating acid reflux, many people wishing for a more natural alternative reach for baking soda.

Half a teaspoon in four ounces of water acts as a natural neutralizer for stomach acid, thereby reducing painful and uncomfortable symptoms of acid reflux.

Remove Pet Stains

If pets have been leaving unsightly stains on carpets and upholstery after romping outdoors, a simple soda hack will restore your indoor happy place.

Sprinkle affected areas with baking soda, then spritz with white vinegar to get bubbling action going. Blot with warm water for finished freshness.

Avoid Nasty Gym Bag Odors

If you’re like most people, you’ve been guilty of leaving damp, dirty clothes and shoes in your gym bag for a little too long after your last workout.

Remove that odor, bacteria, and dirt on your clothes with a homemade sachet made from 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda in the bottom of your bag.

Polish Your Silverware

Removing dull residue from your fine silver is a snap with this simple baking soda hack. Line a baking tray with foil, shiny side up.

Place silverware in the tray and add enough hot water to cover all. Add 2 Tbsp baking soda and watch the bubbling action work its magic.

Say Goodbye To Container Stains

Spaghetti and salsa are notorious for making a lasting impression on plastic containers. Baking soda is a quick and easy clean-up for these stains.

Fill containers with hot water and add 3 tbsp of baking soda to each. Soak for an hour, and scrub your way to clean storage once more.

Eliminate Trash Can Odors

Nothing is quite as unappetizing as the scent of a trash can, particularly in warmer weather. Baking soda comes to the rescue again with this hack.

If you have space, consider placing a box at the bottom of the can. For smaller spaces, sprinkle around the perimeter for long-lasting freshness.

Give Your Dog A Dry Bath

For those in-between wet wash times when your dog needs some freshening up, baking soda is a quick and easy alternative to dirty dog smells.

Use 1 cup for large dogs, ½ cup for small dogs; sprinkle all over, avoiding the face. Rub in with your hands, then brush through for a quick clean.

Freshen Up Those Smelly Rugs

While vacuuming carpets and rugs will get rid of dirt and debris, it does little to mask odors from pets, food, and other daily use.

Sprinkling baking soda on your carpet and allowing it to sit for 10 minutes before vacuuming will freshen your whole space, leaving your home odor-free.

Effortlessly Clean Your Microwave

Microwaves are notorious for spills, drips, and drizzles that can quickly become caked-on messes. Use baking soda to recreate a sparkling interior.

A solution of 1 tsp of baking soda in a bowl of water can be microwaved for 3 minutes, resulting in a space that smells fresh and is easier to clean.

Deep Clean Your Washing Machine

A simple combination of white vinegar and baking soda can be used to remove rust stains and other mineral deposits from your washing machine.

With 3 cups of vinegar in your drum and 1 cup of baking soda in the detergent well, run your machine on the hottest setting. You’ll see pristine clean.

Exfoliate Your Skin

Baking soda is known as a natural exfoliant; add some to other kitchen ingredients for an all-over body scrub that freshens and brightens skin.

Blend 1 cup of grapes, 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, then add 1 teaspoon baking soda and 5 tablespoons of milk. Work gently into the skin, let sit for 10 minutes, and rinse.

Scrub And Disinfect Your Dishwasher

Smelly dishwashers aren’t fun to use; clean yours by placing 1 cup of vinegar in a glass measuring cup and setting it upright on the bottom rack.

Run a cycle with heat option turned off, then remove vinegar and sprinkle 1 cup soda in the bottom, running on hot cycle once more for max freshness.

Age Wood Furniture And Fixtures For Your Home

If you love the warm, homey look of aged wood, there’s no need for harsh chemical agents that could damage your precious pieces.

1 Tbsp of soda in one cup of water will do the trick; simply paint the paste on your desired piece and let it dry in the sun for several hours.

Clean Stained Coffee Carafes

Stained coffee carafes and pots still do the job, but they don’t look or smell quite as fresh as they could when percolating.

One cup of water to ¼ cup baking soda will yield sparkling results; simply swirl around and let sit for two hours, then wipe clean.

Revive Your Mattress

We usually don’t think about cleaning our mattresses regularly unless they become stained by food, drink, or other dirt and debris.

With dust mites and bacteria building up daily, using a powerful combination of vinegar and baking soda will lift unwelcome buildup effortlessly.

Remove Buildup On Brushes and Combs

Using hair products like gel, mousse, hairspray, and pomade can quickly buildup on hair styling tools, making them difficult to use.

Soaking your hair styling equipment—sans cords—in a solution of baking soda and water will allow buildup to slide off, leaving them sparkling clean.

Brighten Up Your Toilet Bowl

Hard water, mineral deposits, and other “stains” can cause your toilet bowl to look dingy and dirty. Let baking soda go to work on this tough cleanup.

One cup of baking soda and two cups of white vinegar combine effervescently to penetrate porcelain, helping your bowl to look bright and shiny once more.

Unclog Bathroom And Kitchen Drains

Slow draining showers, tubs, and sinks are a pain in the neck. Rather than using harsh chemicals that could strip your pipes, consider a natural alternative.

Two parts vinegar to one part water and a kettle of hot water down the drain, and you can kiss those hair clogs and sludge goodbye.

Make Your Sinks Sparkle

Whether stainless steel kitchen sinks or porcelain bathroom glory, beholding dingy fixtures can dull the look of your whole room.

A quick scrub of baking soda and water does wonder for hard water stains, soap rings, and any other residue that may be lurking there.

Create Your Very Own Washing Soap

If you find yourself short on laundry soap these days, you can use chemically altered baking soda in your cupboard to get the job done.

Heating baking soda in the oven at 400 degrees changes the bicarbonate to carbonate, making it an effective, natural agent for cleaning clothes.

Refresh Your Ice Trays

Ice trays take on all sorts of extra odors from food in your freezer; these odors can get locked into plastic, making ice cubes less than fresh.

Using a toothbrush and some baking soda paste made with water, gently scrub each cube and let sit for five minutes, then rinse under warm water.

Cleanse Your Blender

With daily use for milkshakes, soups, and smoothies, your blender can take on all those delightful components for a result that’s not so delicious.

A 50/50 solution of baking soda and water into your blender and a soak for 10 minutes will get you going again, just in time for cocktail hour.

Treat Mosquito Bites and Bee Stings

If you have the unfortunate ability to attract excess mosquito and insect traffic while outdoors, there is hope for those unsightly bites and stings.

Make a simple paste of baking soda and water, and keep in an airtight container for those times when nature calls and relief is needed.

Deodorize Your Wooden Cutting Board

Fish, onions, meat, and all things odorous tend to clog porous wood on your favorite cutting board, assaulting your senses.

A little sprinkle and scrub with baking soda, along with a warm water rinse, will cleanse your wooden board, making it ready for chopping time.

Scrub Crayon Off Your Walls

Parents of toddlers, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Your little Picasso can scribble to his heart’s content with your secret cleaning weapon.

Sprinkle a damp cloth with baking soda and gently scrub in a circular motion until you see those marvelous creations disappear before your eyes.

Freshen Up After A Dip In The Ocean

An ocean dip or swim is invigorating, but the salt residue left on the skin can cause dryness and irritation for even the most hearty.

Add a pound of baking soda and a pound of sea salt to warm water for a refreshing and incredibly cleansing soak after sea swimming.

Restore pH Balance To The Body

Excess acidity is the culprit behind many poor health conditions and diseases; being able to restore your pH balance is essential to good health.

Baking soda can restore acid/alkaline balance in the body, allowing it to work as intended. You’ll see and feel improvements almost immediately.

Make A Natural Deodorant

Many over-the-counter antiperspirants and deodorants contain harmful chemicals and even heavy metals that can do long-lasting damage to your health.

A simple solution of coconut oil, baking soda, and your favorite essential oil can be just as effective at keeping you clean and dry when it counts.

Soothe Poison Ivy

The rash, irritation, and itching resulting from contact with poison ivy can be soothed with a simple solution of bicarbonate and water.

Slather affected areas with a paste made from baking soda and water; leave on till burning and stinging sensations disappear.

Stop Heartburn Before It Starts

Most antacids contain at least one form of bicarbonate, which is known to fight inflammation and discomfort associated with acid reflux.

Baking soda in water is also effective at soothing heartburn, as it begins to neutralize stomach acid the minute it makes contact.

Make A Relaxing Foot Soak

A relaxing foot soak can significantly impact your health and well-being. Studies on reflexology cite just how important it is to care for feet.

Three parts baking soda to one part water makes an effective exfoliant; finish with baking soda-infused water, and your feet will thank you.

Indulge In A Whole-Body Soak

Why should your feet get all the action? If baking soda is good enough for your feet it will work to exfoliate and refresh your entire body.

For a homemade spa experience, fill your tub with warm water and add bicarbonate a few tablespoons at a time until you reach a blissful consistency.

Remove Painful Splinters

Not only is a splinter uncomfortable, but they open the door for infection. Catching a splinter is easy, removing them is difficult.

Let the magical powers of baking soda water go to work on affected areas; soak in a solution twice daily, and the splinter will dislodge on its own.

Soothe and Calm Sunburns

Nothing puts a damper on a day at the beach more than a round of blistering sunburn; put blistering and peeling to bed with a simple solution.

Half a cup of baking soda in lukewarm water makes an effective and soothing soak for tender skin. Let your skin air dry afterward for best results.

Whiten Your Teeth

If you’re a coffee or wine drinker, you’ve likely seen your pearly whites dull over the years. Use baking soda to restore your smile naturally.

Adding ½ teaspoon to a moderate amount of toothpaste will scrub away those unsightly stains and leave you both camera-ready at your next event.

Scrub and Clean Produce

Modern-day farmers use harmful chemicals and pesticides that can wreak havoc not only on your farm produce but for your body as well.

Soaking produce in a sink full of water with ½ cup baking soda will remove these harmful chemicals and leave your produce tasting clean and delicious.

Amp up your Workout Results

Pre-workout supplements are all the rage now, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on the latest oxygenated craze to amp up your workout.

A simple tonic of baking soda and water can increase alkalinity in your gut, leading to improved performance and reduced lactic acid buildup.

Calm Canker Sores

Using mouthwash as part of your dental care routine is a good idea for getting rid of extra food particles, but commercial brands can get pricey.

Canker sores and mouthwash are a painful combo; to get them to dry up quickly, add the fizzing action of baking soda and water to your care routine.

Make A Homemade Air Freshener

Bathroom, kitchen, and pet odors floating about your home can have guests turning their noses up at what you have to offer as a host.

With a cup of water, ½ cup baking soda, and your favorite essential oil combination, your home will be naturally fresh and clean, sans chemicals.

Eliminate Anti-fungal And Anti-bacterial Concerns

Don’t run to your corner pharmacy for chemical creams and tinctures to deal with minor health concerns; baking soda is a great natural alternative.

Its natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties are known to battle bacteria and fungus affecting our teeth, hair, skin, and nails.

Boost Your Kidney Health

Studies have shown that people with chronic kidney dysfunction and disease have lower levels of bicarbonate in their blood than those who are healthy.

Baking soda is great for boosting natural levels of bicarbonate in the body, as the oxygenation action helps to detoxify and cleanse kidney tissue.

Alleviate Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are the most common type of infection needing medical treatment, with many looking for natural ways to relieve symptoms.

Patients taking an oral solution of baking soda report fewer symptoms and fewer infections due to increased levels of alkalinity in the blood.

Deodorize Smelly Shoes

Summer softball tournaments are all fun and games until you take off those well-worn tennis shoes. Time to rid yourself of that sweaty, unpleasant smell.

Sprinkling a combination of cornstarch and baking soda in your shoes and letting them sit overnight will absorb both odor and moisture.

Freshen Up Towels

Baking soda can quickly eliminate odors present on damp clothing and towels, which can take on a musty, mildewy smell over time.

Simply throw half a cup of baking soda in with your regular laundry detergent, and watch its deodorizing action help remove the most stubborn odors.

Clean Your Jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry can be cleaned up with a simple solution of baking soda and water. Prepare a soak session by lining a baking pan with foil.

Pour in a solution of baking soda and water, place your jewelry, and watch the process of ion exchange transfer tarnish from your silver to the water.

Do A Homemade Manicure

Manicures can be a bit expensive to indulge in weekly, and no one likes the look of chipped, cracked, and stained nails that may be lurking underneath.

Three parts baking soda to one part water makes a great paste for smoothing nail beds, softening cuticles, and scrubbing off unsightly stains.

Clean and Disinfect Sponges

Nothing picks up bacteria faster in your home than a cleaning sponge; if there’s still some life left in yours, disinfect them with baking soda.

Soaking sponges in a solution of baking soda and vinegar will clean and deodorize most sponges; keep an eye on those that just need to be replaced.

Clarify and Treat Over-processed Hair

As much as we like our favorite hair care products, using the same product over and over again can wreak havoc on our hair and scalp.

Add a small amount of baking soda to your routine and shampoo as normal. Extra cleansing action will give your hair and scalp a much-needed boost.

Add A Facial Exfoliant To Your Care Routine

Baking soda is an inexpensive and natural exfoliating treatment you can implement weekly to uncover clean, youthful, and radiant skin.

Combine 1 Tbsp in a bowl with several drops of water and apply gently to your face in sweeping, circular motions. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Remove Unsightly Blackheads

Acne sufferers, there is hope. Continuing to use baking soda as part of your facial care routine will reduce and possibly eliminate blackheads.

Users report that mixing baking soda with other ingredients such as water, honey, and apple cider vinegar help to promote cleaner, clearer skin.