Baking Soda & It's Various Uses

Not to be confused with baking powder, both of these contain sodium bicarbonate, but baking powder further includes acidifying agent and drying agent. Although, baking powder can be used as baking soda once it's expired. Read along for various uses of baking soda other than in baking and cooking.

1. Clean Paint Brushes

If you like to paint, but cleaning the brushes is your least favourite job, we have a quick solution. Boil the brushes in water with 1/4 cup of white vinegar and one cup of baking soda. It will loosen the bristles and clean them up. Voila! You now have soft brushes.

2. Homemade Mouthwash

Replace your store-bought mouthwash with this homemade one. All you need is add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda to 1/2 a glass of water. Use as usual. It freshens your breath and provides antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

3. Homemade Air Freshener

Most of the time, store-bought air fresheners only mask the bad smell and do not eliminate them. A simple solution - make your own air freshener. Add 1/3 cup baking soda and few drops of your favourite essential oils (10-15 drops) to a small jar. Cover the jar with a cloth or paper, secure it with a string. Your air freshener is ready. When the scent starts to fade, shake the jar a little.

4. Clean Stainless Steel Utensils

Scrub off cooked-on stains from your pots and pans with a simple quick solution. Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water, it will create a cleaning paste that you can use to clean those stubborn stains.

5. Polish Silverware

Polish your expensive silverware at home with ease now. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to an aluminium baking pan (or a baking dish lined with aluminium foil),  and pour in 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Now, pour 1 cup of boiling water and place the silverware in the pan. The corrosion or tarnish will disappear and the silverware can be removed within 30-60 seconds from the pan.

6. Clean Kitchen

Baking soda is a great choice for a kitchen cleaner, as not only can it removes stains, but it also helps to eliminate foul odour. Make a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water. Apply the paste to the desired surface with a sponge or cloth and scrub thoroughly. Clean oven, microwave, kitchen tiles, clogged drains etc with ease.

7. Brighten Toilets

For a clean toilet, add 1 cup of baking soda to your toilet bowl, let it sit for an hour, then flush. It will brighten your ceramic and absorb any foul odours.

8. Freshen Laundry

Soak stained and stinky clothes in water and about 1/2 cup of baking soda before washing. It will help loosen the stains and eliminate odour. Or, add 1/2 a cup of baking soda with your laundry detergent while washing, to whiten & clean your laundry. It also helps soften the water, which means you may need less detergent than usual.

9. Eliminate Fridge Odour

If your refrigerator has started to smell bad because you "accidentally" let the vegetables rot, we present a quick fix. Set an open box of baking soda in your fridge or fill a cup with baking soda and place it in the back of your fridge. It will neutralize the smell and the best part is it works even when the baking soda has expired.

10. Stinky Shoe To Fresh Shoe

Shoes can sometimes get stinky and the smell never seems to go away. Take two thin pieces of fabric or cheesecloths and pour about 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Tie with a rubber band or string and place one in each shoe. It will freshen up the stinky shoes. Don't forget to remove the bags when you next wear them.

All in all, baking soda is a great ingredient, be it cooking or cleaning. The best part is that it is fairly inexpensive and is widely available. Let us know some other interesting ways you use baking soda.