Pass the Baking Soda

Baking is not my gig. I do, but only under protest. Baking soda disappears in my house at an astonishing rate.

Why? Let me give you a couple of (Is that really a post?) a few (Seriously? How about…) our top 20 uses for baking soda and how to save money over other products.

Top 20 Uses for Baking Soda (Which Do Not Involve Baking)

1. Got cats? Dust the bottom of the litter box with it. It absorbs more odor than the litter alone and makes cleaning easier. (Saves money on litter.)

2. Slow drains? Mix a cup of baking soda and a cup salt in the sink drain. Slowly pour in a cup of white vinegar. The foam will cleanse the grease from the drain and contain any odor. (Cheaper than foaming drain cleaners.)

3. Take off those shoes! Baking soda and water in a paste will take scuff marks off of linoleum floors without scratching. (Cheaper than chemicals which can damage your floor. Whispers “replacement costs”.)

4. Smelly laundry? An half cup of baking soda in after-game clothes wash will kill all the left-over sport. (Less expensive than laundry booster.)

5. Stung? Make a thick paste of baking soda and water to put on mosquito or ant bites and stings from caterpillars, wasps or bees to soothe away the sting. (Natural solution to expensive topical medicines)

6. Who cooks here? Baking soda absorbs grease. Sprinkle it on the greasy stove for the most effective cleaner. Use it to clean the grill! (Extends life of stove and grill. Whispers “replacement costs”…again.)

7. Pyromaniac in your family? Baking soda will smother a grease fire. (SCREAMS “Replacement Costs!”)

8. Hate that hard water stains? Baking soda will take care of the stains around the sink drain with very little scrubbing. Works in the toilet bowl and shower as well. (Far cheaper than chemical alternatives.)

9. Why is the carpet red? Mixing an half cup of baking soda into an half gallon of water makes the perfect solution for Kool-Aid or wine stains on your carpet. (Have you priced carpet shampoo?)

10. Packing away the sweaters? Fill a zipper bag with a cup of baking soda and zip it almost closed. Place it in your box of winter clothes to combat the musty smell when you take them out again. (Less expensive than dryer sheets or cedar balls.)

11. Need to tame the frizz? Mix a teaspoon of baking soda in your (homemade) shampoo once per week to soften hair, making it more manageable. (How much are you washing down the drain?)

Make-Up Contents: Rimmel & Rimmel U12. Thespian make up? Three tablespoons of baking soda mixed into one tablespoon of water makes the perfect facial exfoliating scrub. Works well on adult cystic acne as well. (Facial cleansers are expensive. Almost as expensive as acne cleansers.)

13. Stressing the big meeting or regretting Uncle Bob’s Five Alarm Chili? Half a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in four ounces of water will soothe heartburn and acid indigestion. (Less than 1/20 the price of a tablet.)

14. Did you clean the hairbrush? Soak combs and brushes in a teaspoon of baking soda and very warm water to kill odors and remove oils. Let them air dry afterward. (Cheaper than cleaning solution.)

15. Where’s Picasso? Sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge to remove crayon and scuff marks from furniture and painted walls. Just rub gently! (Chemicals are as much as 400 times more expensive.)

16. Smell like a bear? Kill odors on stuffed animals with a baking soda shower. Sprinkle all over and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Shake off the powder or pop into an air cycle in the dryer (no heat).

17. Car won’t start? Clean battery posts and cables with three tablespoons baking soda and one tablespoon water. Scrub the corrosion off with a damp cloth and the paste. When clean, coat in petroleum jelly (prevent more corrosion) and reattach cables. (More effective and cheaper than pouring carbonated soda.)

18. Dirty duffer? Use baking soda paste to clean irons and shoes without scratching. (Have you priced club cleaner?!)

19. Coffee or tea? Clean unsightly stains from coffee urns, mugs, cups and tea pitchers with a tablespoon of baking soda, tablespoon of salt, a wedge of lemon and three ice cubes. Put ingredients inside and swirl the stains away.

Not sour? This works with just soda and ice. (Urn cleaners cost more than 700 times the price and are not always as effective.)

20. After dinner cigar? Give your ashtrays a mint. Fill the tray with two tablespoons baking soda and hot water. After soaking off the nicotine, drain off water and gently scrub the soda and ashes with paper towels. (Glass cleaners do not take away smell and are more expensive.)

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What do you use baking soda for and how much cheaper is it?

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(c) Ann Marie Dwyer 2011
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17 Comments

  1. I gave up shampoo about a month ago and how use baking soda to wash my hair and vinegar as a conditioner. I’m very pleased by the results so far. I wash them about twice a week and have great hair every day.

    Reply
    • More and more people are giving up shampoo. Before too long, they will be able to shrink the 14 aisles of shampoo and conditioners in the stores! Thank you for stopping by to comment! Red.

      Reply
    • I was just about to mention this use too. Baking soda and apple cider vinegar are fantastic! I actually think my hair is nicer using them than with any shampoo or conditioner I’ve ever tried. And it goes much further too! Who would pay $15 for a bottle of shampoo when you can spend a few dollars on a box of baking soda which lasts longer anyway?

      Reply
      • I have heard a few people complain about the smell. I do not have a problem with the smell, but I love variety. I like to add a couple of drops of essential oil to mine for scent. I love citrus oils the best. But I do not suggest cinnamon, because it can dry the scalp. Red.

        Reply
  2. awarewriter

     /  December 4, 2011

    Tracy uses baking soda for everything. Great stuff.

    I gave up shampoo years ago — about the same time I gave up my hair. hahahha

    The very best first aid for bee and wasp stings is vinegar, just pour it on straight from the bottle. I discovered this remedy the hard way many years ago when I was working for a landscaper. This was when you used clippers for trimming grass along walls and such.

    I had no idea I could run as fast as I did the day I disturbed a wasps nest along a stone wall. I probably got half a dozen stings on the fleshy part of my right hand before I outran the buggers. The lady we were working for saw what happened and called me over to the back door where she poured vinegar over my hand. The stings disappeared quickly and there was no swelling at all.

    Vinegar has worked every time I’ve used it on stings.

    John

    Reply
    • Vinegar will take the sting out of nearly any skin calamity. I use it in the bath when I am dill and stay in the sun too long. It takes the bite out of the burn. Thanks for stopping in to comment, McD. Loved the phantasm pic! Red.

      Reply
  3. bear

     /  December 4, 2011

    Very good tips

    Reply
  4. Angela Young

     /  December 4, 2011

    My tip: I use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for my teeth. Some brush with it. I dip a STIM-U-DENT plaque remover (Johnson & Johnson – love them:) in the peroxide and then in the baking soda and use it to clean my teeth (redipping as needed). This is done about one or two times a week in addition to brushing. Some may not like the flavor, but I don’t mind it. You’d be amazed how clean and WHITE your teeth will be:)

    Reply
  5. An absolute gem of a posting this one Red and lots of wicked information thrown in too, I wonder if you have ever been stung by a wasp or bee (Ouch)… Well I used a piece of lemon on it, and luckily it worked 🙂

    Actually I had not heard of the baking soda treatment so that will be handy if I ever get stung again… You know when I was a young lad (About three hundred years ago I think? 🙂 )

    I fell into a hoard of nettles and was stung all over the place… I am not sure why I mentioned that but hey I guess after your last posting it’s one of those revealling times me thinks? 🙂 lol Anyway the Camomile lotion worked a treat, or so I can remember 🙂

    Have a fun day today Red 🙂

    Androgoth XXx

    Reply
    • Nettles certainly are nasty business. Once the spot was clean, baking soda would have taken out the sting. If the affected area is large enough (like in the case of sunburn) shaking the soda into the bath water does an excellent job of lifting the sting.

      And yes, only once a wasp, which was far worse than bees or even caterpillars. I used tobacco immediately until I could get to soda. The calming of the nicotine made it bearable in the meantime. …Red.

      Reply
      • So if I were to get stung by a wasp and heard the phrase “Give That Man A Cigar” then I would surely be in good company? 🙂 I never knew that about the nicotine either, wow I am certainly learning a lot here, and no mistake…

        I like the instructions set out so clearly on
        the above example too, how very wicked 🙂 🙂

        Androgoth XXx

        Reply
  6. bear

     /  December 5, 2011

    how about cleaning the garage floor with a mixture of water and baking soda also ccan be used as a blasting agent replaces sand as in sand blasting. good start RED

    Reply
    • Baking soda does a good job of soaking up and lifting oil from concrete.

      <<<Seriously wants to play with a sandblaster…*Grins*

      Reply
  7. This means I’ve actually got to remember to get more baking soda. Funny, I’ve been broker and used natural cleaners, then my income went up I got sucked into the “newest, works better claims” and now that my income is suffering I can’t remember how to get back to basics. I’ve got to get some vinegar to clean my mirrors with too. Oh fudge, I’m never gonna make my savings goals for next year at this rate. If I’d stop getting nickeled and dimed I might lose the stress.
    Laurie recently posted..Changes in Hope of SimplicityMy Profile

    Reply
    • It makes a huge difference in budget. With the allergies and my low chemical tolerance, it is far simpler to use what we know works from the kitchen. Not to mention how much much much cheaper it is.

      Reply

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