Baking Soda: A Fresh Alternative

 

Last week, I wrote about how distilled white vinegar was a naturally green, all purpose cleaner, so today I thought I would expand by including baking soda, otherwise known as bicarbonate of soda,  to the growing list of natural products which have more uses than we might realize. 

Baking soda is weak alkaline – it acts to neutralize acids and break down proteins. It’s neutralizing action on acidic scent molecules makes it an effective deodorizer. Added to the water when doing laundry, baking soda stabilizes the pH level, enhancing the detergent’s effectiveness. Baking soda may also be added to swimming pool water to balance the pH and keep the water clear.

Other uses for baking soda include:

Freshen Closets
Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh and remember to replace the box every three months.

Deodorize Sneakers
Shake a little baking soda into sneakers after taking them off and shake out before wearing.

Clean Furniture
Clean and remove marks – even crayon marks – from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.

Freshen and Deodorize Carpets
Sprinkle baking soda to freshen carpet areas, let it sit for about 15 and then vacuuming as usual (be certain to check for color fastness first).

Deodorize Pet Bedding
Sprinkle pet bedding with baking soda; wait about 15 minutes, and then vacuum.

Liquid Laundry Detergent Booster
Give your laundry a boost! Add ½ cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work better.   Adding baking soda to the rinse cycle also neutralizes and eliminates harsh odors.

Microwave Cleaning
Apply baking soda to a clean damp sponge and wipe down the inside and outside the microwave.  Rinse well with water.  

Hand Cleanser
Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or 3 parts baking soda to your liquid hand soap, then rinse clean.  This is great for neutralizing odors.

Remove Oil and Grease Stains
Use baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.

Deodorizing Cars
Sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets, wait 15 minutes and vacuum (check for color-fastness first).

Camping 
Baking soda makes camp clean up a breeze.  Use it to wash dishes, scrub pots and pans, clean hands, use as toothpaste, to put out fires and more.

Besides cooking, what other ways have you used baking soda?