Unlock Baking Soda’s Power with These 10Creative and Innovative Ideas!

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Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate, and it is derived from either mined trona ore or a manufactured chemical called the Solvay process. It’s a natural, non-toxic product that’s safe to use around pets and plants.

Here are 10 genius uses for baking soda in and around your house:

1. Clean your bathtub. Baking soda is a mild abrasive and makes a great addition to your normal cleaning routine. Will help you remove tough dirt and soap scum from your bathtub. Just sprinkle some onto a damp sponge or cloth and scrub.

2. Make a natural garden pest repellent. Baking soda can be used to ward off pesky critters like slugs, silverfish and rabbits. Sprinkle some around your garden’s perimeter and even add some to the soil around each of your tomato plants to help them grow sweeter tomatoes.

Unlock Baking Soda's Power with These 10Creative and Innovative Ideas!

3. Unclog slow drains. Baking soda and vinegar is a classic combination for anything from science fair volcanoes to a weighty job–unclogging slow drains. Simply pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by ½ cup of white vinegar. Trap the reaction inside the pipes by lowering the drain plug, then pour a kettle full of boiling water to clear out the clog.

4. Give produce a good clean. You can use baking soda to clean vegetables and fruit that you don’t want to peel. The baking soda acts as a biopesticide, killing bacteria and fungi, in addition to being mildly abrasive. Just make sure to rinse off your produce with water when you are done.

5. Remove strong cooking odors from your hands. If you’ve been handling garlic, onions, fish or other smelly foods, wash your hands with some baking soda and liquid hand soap. The baking soda will help to remove the odors quickly and effectively.

Unlock Baking Soda's Power with These 10Creative and Innovative Ideas!

6. Shine up your silverware. Use baking soda, aluminum foil and salt to restore dull, tarnished silver. Place a sheet of foil on the bottom of a pot or bowl, and put the silverware on top. Sprinkle with baking soda and a pinch of salt, then pour over boiling water so that the silverware is completely submerged. The tarnish will begin to dissolve after a few minutes.

7. Put out a grease fire. Never use water to put out a grease fire, as it can cause the grease to splatter and cause more damage. Instead, throw a large handful of baking soda over the flames to smother them. The baking soda will release carbon dioxide, suffocating the fire and extinguishing the flame.

8. Eliminate pests from your home. If you’ve been dealing with a roach or silverfish infestation, no need to use harsh chemicals. Sprinkle some baking soda around the affected area, behind furniture and inside cabinets. Baking soda acts as a desiccant, drying up the roaches and killing them off.

Unlock Baking Soda's Power with These 10Creative and Innovative Ideas!

9. Clean up oil spills. If you have a minor oil spill in your garage, pour some baking soda over the affected area to soak up the liquid. Once the oil is absorbed, sweep it up and dispose of it properly.

10. Remove splinters easily. If you have a difficult-to-reach splinter, try making a thick paste of baking soda and water and applying it over the affected area before bed. Cover with a bandage and leave it on overnight. In the morning, the splinter should be drawn to the surface and easy to remove with tweezers.

From scrubbing the bathtub to eliminating pests, baking soda is an incredibly useful, natural tool for making your home a clean, safe place. So, the next time you’re at the store, don’t forget to pick up a couple of boxes of baking soda for all your home improvement projects.

  • April 20, 2021