Baking Soda Tips - Home, Health, Beauty & More

Have another baking soda use to add to our baking soda database? Send it on in to me at christina@happyslob.com.

Baking soda is all-natural, inexpensive, and effective. No wonder we happy slobs are huge fans of this stuff!

Using Baking Soda for BEAUTY, HAIR & BATH

1. Zit Buster! Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply to any breakouts. Let it sit overnight and wash off in the morning - it really works.

2. Facial Cleanser Sprinkle some baking soda into your hands and use a bit of water to make a paste to clean your face with. It's a gentle scrub that will leave your skin feeling fantastic! (I leave a box in the bathroom for just this reason.)

3. Hair Build-Up Remover (Submitted by Carolyn) After a while you have build-up from shampoo. Next time you wash your hair, Use baking soda. the baking soda strips all build-up and leaves the hair soft and "really" clean.

4. Cleaning Jewelry (Submitted by Kelli in Georgia) Use it to clean jewelery . Create a soft paste with some water and wipe away all tarnish, sweat and other nasties using a soft cloth. It works on silver the best but will shine up the most stubborn gold as well as the costume jewelery some of us depend on to look smashing.

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Using Baking Soda for Household and CLEANING

1. Oven Cleaner Sprinkle baking soda on bottom of oven, and spray with just enough water to slightly dampen. Let sit overnight, and then scrub clean.

2. Carpet Freshener Sprinkle over entire carpet area, and then allow to sit for 15-20 minutes. Vacuum all the baking soda up and the smells will go with it! Great way to replace commercial carpet fresheners.

3. Unclog Drains Pour a cup of baking soda down any drain and follow with a few cups of boiling water to keep drains running well. To unclog a tougher clog, try baking soda, followed by a cup of vinegar - let that sit and then flush out with boiling water.

4. Powder Cleanser Use baking soda instead of powder cleanser to scrub the tub, toilet, etc. Works great! And it's totally safe to use.

5. Scrub Pots Sprinkle into the bottom of pots and let sit and then give a good scrub. Can also make a paste of soda and water if you prefer.

6. Garbage Cans Use in garbage cans to reduce odour. Sprinkle generous amount in bottom before replacing garbage bags.

7. Add to laundry Helps get clothes REALLY clean, and you can reduce the amount of detergent you use. Great for sensitive skin too, or those with allergies.

8. Wash the fridge Use a generous handful of baking soda in a small pail of water and use this to wash out the fridge. Cheaper and more effective than other cleaners, and non-toxic too.

9. Add to dish water Add a small handful to your sinkful of soapy water when doing dishes. It makes both your hands and dishes really clean!

10. Add to dishwasher A generous handful in the dishwasher will get your dishes extra clean.

11. Clean out the dishwasher Run the dishwasher through with baking soda filling both detergent compartments. It will give your dishwasher a thorough cleaning and will help it clean better again.

12. Fabric Softener (Submitted by Paula) I use baking soda in the rinse water of my "cold water washables". It gets all the soap out real good and softens the clothes. I do not use a fabric softener with them.

13. Scented Carpet Freshener (Submitted by Debbi) I use baking soda when I vacuum my carpets..but I add scent. I make candles as a hobby and have plenty of scent oil around. Anybody can go to the local craft store and purchase candle scent. Mix a couple of drops in with about a cup of baking soda..mix well (sometimes I sift) and sprinkle on carpets and vacuum. It scents the whole house!

14. Puts out Minor Kitchen Fires (Submitted by Carol) Soda kept near a stove is good in case of a pot fire also, throw baking soda on it and it will snuff it out.

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Using Baking Soda for FOOD & COOKING and IN THE KITCHEN

1. Scrub Chopping Boards Use baking soda to clean off chopping boards. It's great at removing garlicky and onion smells.

2. Clean Plastic Containers Use as a scrub to get out nasty stains from your Tupperware or other plastic storage containers.

3. Absorb Fridge Odours Everyone knows this one, but it's because it really works! Put an opened box of baking soda in the fridge and freezer to help absorb nasty fridge odours.

4. Shine Toasters (Submitted by Jude) Sprinkle baking soda on damp cloth (a mild abrasive) and shine the outside of that toaster, toaster oven, etc.

5. Clean Coated Pans (Submitted by Jude) Sprinkle baking soda on damp cloth (a mild abrasive) and use to remove brown grease spots from pots and pans - great for those coated pans.

6. Cleaning Tea Stains (Submitted by Mary Lou) Baking soda is the best for cleaning tea stains out of plastic pitchers.

7. Grease Remover (Submitted by Mary Lou) Baking soda is the best for cleaning grease off your stove top and out of greasy dishes.

8. Add to dishwasher AND good for pipes (Submitted by Mary Lou) When added to your dish water it makes more suds and good for cleaning the pipes out when it goes into septic or sewer system.

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Using Baking Soda for CARS

1. Cleans RV Exteriors (Submitted by Jude) Sprinkle some baking soda onto a damp cloth and use to gently remove black streaks from the outside of RVs or cars.

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Using Baking Soda for PETS

1. Kitty Litter Sprinkle generous amount of baking soda on litter once you've cleaned the litter out. This is the best way to help remove odours from this smelly area, and it won't bother your cats either.

2. Cleans aquariums (Submitted by Connie) Baking soda is a good cleaner for the fish tank removes the dirt, and doesn't scratch the glass.

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Using Baking Soda for BABIES AND KIDS

1. Diaper Pail Sprinkle generously to remove odours and to clean out stinky diaper pails.

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Using Baking Soda for HEALTH

1. Natural Deodorant Sprinkle or pat on pure baking soda on your armpits for a natural deodorant.

2. Stinky Shoe Remedy Sprinkle generous amount into sneakers or other shoes to help absorb odors.

3. Cold Sore Remedy Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply to cold sores at least two times a day.

4. Remove Splinters Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply to the bottom of a bandage, and apply that overnight. In the morning, the splinter should be much easier to remove.

5. Toothpaste Again, make a thick paste and apply to your toothbrush and use as you would any other toothpaste. It's a great non-fluoride option.

6. In the Bath Great for sensitive skin - sprinkle about a half cup of baking soda into lukewarm water while your bath water is running.

7. Antacid Use about a teaspoon in a small cup of water and drink to help reduce acid.

8. Mosquito Bites (Submitted by Elaine) Here’s something I tried out this summer that worked really well. We had been outside alot and I had gotten a lot of mosquito bites on my legs that were itching really badly. Mix a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply to the bites (helps if you haven't scratched them yet. In about 1 minute the itching stops and in about one hour the redness and swelling have gone away!! It was wonderful, and I used this remedy the rest of the summer with great results.

9. Once a Month Plaque Remover (Submitted by Paula) I also use a baking soda tooth scrub once a month. It really cleans the plaque off your teeth.

10. Treats Burns (Submitted by Carol) On your list of baking soda tips, you didn't put that it is good for burns..

For example: I had a neighbour come over with a bad deep frying grease burn to his whole hand. I told him to put his hand over the sink. I had made up a liquid paste of baking soda and water, fairly thick and poured it over the hand. I said this will hurt just for the initial time I put it on, then will be ok. I then wrapped it in gauze to protect it and to keep the soda from going all over. He went to Hospital emergency and they checked it saying, whoever did this did the right thing. They just regauzed it. He came and showed me that there was no blistering and no scar later. Could not thank me enough.