For something so simple, it’s really amazing just how many uses baking soda has.
I like to use baking soda as a deodorizer – if you keep an open box in your refrigerator or sprinkle a little in your trashcans, not-so-pleasant smells will quickly vanish. This is also true if you’ve had a spill on your carpet – just make a paste of water and baking soda to rub into the carpet, and when it dries you can vacuum up the smell and the baking soda.
Baking soda does a lot more around the house than deodorize. It’s the perfect tool for putting out grease fires in the kitchen, and it works wonders when you’ve burned something to the bottom of a pot or pan. All you have to do is remove as much of the burnt food as possible, add an inch of water and 1/2 cup of baking soda, and let it sit overnight. The reaction of the soda with the burned food loosens everything up so that doing the dishes is not such a chore. All of these are a result of calcium carbonate, or baking soda, being a base. When it’s combined with an acid it creates carbon dioxide and fizzles or bubbles up. Who knew that cleaning house could be a science project, too!
Other Uses for Baking Soda
- Apply to a damp sponge to clean vinyl shower curtains.
- Use it to freshen up Fido. Lightly sprinkle over your dog’s coat and then brush it all out to remove odors.
- Mop a tile floor with 1/2 cup baking soda diluted in I gallon of warm water and rinse clean.
- To remove odors from upholstered furniture, sprinkle with baking soda and vacuum.
- Polish silver with a soft, clean cloth and a paste of baking soda and water.