What Are Some Surprising Uses for Baking Soda?
Baking soda is considered a versatile product for goodreason. Here are just some of its many uses.
As a Produce Wash Forget the pricey, fancy produce washes on the market. A simple baking soda and water soak for 12 to 15 minutes is enough to remove 80 and 96 percent of certain pesticides from apples — better than tap water alone or bleach. Baking soda helps degrade certain pesticides so they can be washed away. (16)
As a Natural Cleaner A mixture of baking soda and water can be used as an effective, nonabrasive cleaner. One use: to wipe away old food residues from the inside of a refrigerator.You can also sprinkle baking soda down the drain with hot water to freshen up your pipes, clean your tubs, sinks, and shower curtain, and buff out scuff marks from floors. (18) Oh, and don’t forget, it’s a top-notch deodorizer. Sprinkle baking soda on a carpet, let it sit, and vacuum it — and the offending stink — up.
To Safely Clean Pots and Pans When cooked food stays stuck to the pan, the American Cleaning Institute recommends adding baking soda to the pan, filling it with hot water, and soaking it for 15 to 30 minutes. The baking soda will help lift the crusty food pieces. (19)
To Wash Clothes Adding ½ cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle will freshen up clothes — without all the chemicals in other products. (18)
To Help Ease Heartburn For the occasional heartburn episode, add ½ teaspoon to ½ cup of water and drink. The alkaline baking soda will neutralize excess acid. (7)
Care for Bug Bites You know that annoying itchiness from bug bites? Rather than reach for a hydrocortisone cream, you can find relief by applying a paste of baking soda (mix baking soda with a little water until you get the right consistency) to the bite several times a day, suggests the Mayo Clinic. (20)
To Care for Your Teeth During Pregnancy Morning sickness happens. Along with the discomfort of queasiness, the stomach acid that goes along with vomiting can wear away at your tooth enamel. If you’re saddled with occasional or regular vomiting, rinse your mouth with 1 tsp of baking soda mixed with water. (21) You can also do this when sickness (like food poisoning) is causing vomiting.
Treat Nail Infections If you have a mild nail infection, you may consider a baking soda and water soak, as baking soda has antifungal properties. (22)
Ease Discomfort During Cancer Treatment Swishing your mouth with a combination of baking soda, salt, and water can help ease throat discomfort caused by radiation or chemotherapy. This mixture may also help prevent mouth sores from getting infected. Just be sure to gargle the solution — don’t swallow it.The American Cancer Society says to check with your cancer care team before using any mouth rinses as they can sometimes be harmful or make mouth sores worse. (23)
