We’ve already established the difference between baking soda, bicarb soda, baking powder and that it’s best not to use them interchangeably when baking.
But did you know there are almost endless uses for baking soda? Around the home, in your beauty routine and even in your garden, baking soda is one super leavening agent.
What are the best uses for bicarbonate of soda?
You’re in luck because we’ve got a helpful list that will help to make sure you’re getting the most from this popular pantry staple.
1. Clean your sponges
As we’ve reported before, your kitchen sponge is the most disgusting thing in your home.
It can be almost impossible to keep sponges fresh, let alone clean. Luckily, baking soda is here to save the day.
Simply mix four tablespoons of bicarb soda in four cups of warm water and mix and let the sponges soak, for an extra clean try running through microwave for thirty seconds.
2. Clean your floor
It’s never been easier to clean the dirt from your floors thanks to Baking Soda.
Just 1/2 a cup of baking soda mixed up in a bucket of warm water can be used with a mop to get your floor radiant and sparkling clean.
For marks that need a little more elbow grease, like scuffs, just put bicarb soda directly on to a damp sponge and et voila! Clean floors à la baking soda.
3. Deodorise your refrigerator
Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors.
These will normally keep working for at least 4 months.
4. Clean Furniture (and walls)
Polishing your furniture doesn’t have to be difficult.
All you have to do is apply a little baking soda to a damp sponge and then use it to clean and polish your furni, the same method can be taken to clean walls. The next step is simply wiping off with a dry cloth.
Too easy!
5. Clean Shower Curtains
Ever noticed how quickly your shower curtain can get dirty and well… start to smell?
No judgement, it happens to the best of us.
But never fear – baking soda is here!
Take your shower curtain down, then sprinkle a damp sponge with baking soda, scrub, rinse and hang up to dry.
6. Gently exfoliate
Yep, that’s right. Baking soda can also be used in your beauty routine!
Be very careful with this one, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Mix 3 parts of baking soda with 1 part water, then rub gently.
See you later, dead skin.
7. Create an Air Freshener
There is nothing ‘fresh’ about most commercial and toxic ‘air fresheners’.
To make your own more natural air freshener, just use
1 Tbs. Baking soda
Water
6 drops of your choice of essential oil
Mix it all together in a pray bottle and you’re done.
8. Give an extra edge to your laundry detergent
Just 1/2 of a cup of baking soda added to your liquid laundry detergent will give your wash a boost.
9. Help disguise toilet odours
Do you find that even after it’s scrubbed, your toilet still puts out a funky odour?
Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the toilet and leave it for one hour, then flush. This method should help give your toilet an extra deep clean as well.
10. Keep flowers fresh
Flowers are such a beautiful, thoughtful gesture but they don’t last forever.
Baking soda can help to make your flowers last a little longer, just add one teaspoon of baking soda to your flower vase to get them an extra week or two.
