You would be amazed to know the number of uses of baking soda. It is a very versatile product sitting in your kitchen. You may have heard those folk tales about its several uses other than for leavening. Baking soda mixed with water or vinegar can be used for cleaning, deodorizing, as fire extinguisher, etc. There are several uses of baking soda added in gallon of water.
Among the most popular uses is to put a shine back on objects made from silver or those which are silver plated. You need a pan. It should be large enough to immerse the silver item. You also need aluminum foil to cover the pan bottom, baking soda and water. You need to line the bottom of pan with aluminum foil. Put the silver object on top of the aluminum foil. In a separate vessel heat the water. Add one cup of baking soda for one gallon of water. It will froth a bit and may even spill over. Now pour the mixture in the pan that holds the silver item. It should cover the silver completely. The tarnish on silver starts to disappear immediately.
You can easily make an inexpensive tile cleaner with half a cup of baking soda, 1 cup distilled vinegar, 1 cup ammonia and a gallon of warm water. Mix them well and clean the tiles. You will be impressed by the clean sparkle of the tiles. A similar mixture with 1 cup baking soda and half cup ammonia along with 1 cup vinegar and 1 gallon warm water is useful for cleaning woodwork and walls. Make sure to wipe it with a sponge or a damp towel to easily and safely clean woodwork. You can prepare an all purpose cleanser with one cup white vinegar, one fourth cup baking soda and one gallon warm water. It can be stored in a container for future use. It can be used to clean tiles and linoleum floors, Formica tops of counters and various appliances.
Baking soda is not only useful for cleaning but also helps in your garden. If you have powdery mildew on your plants, baking soda can be used to keep it in control. A Russian plant pathologist suggested using one ounce of baking soda per gallon of water to control mildew on climbing roses. A research in Japan found using one fourth ounce of baking soda per gallon of water for effective control of powdery mildew on cucumbers, strawberries and eggplants.
Make a mixture of two cups of baking soda and one gallon of water. You can give your deck a weathered look by spreading the mix onto its surface. Use a stiff brush to spread and work in the direction of the grain. Rinse it with cool water after an hour.
Baking soda and water can be very effectively used for cleaning. Taken in right proportions with a gallon of water, you will get spotless and sparkling clean tiles, silverware and woodwork. You have a very handy product at home in your kitchen. Know the several uses and enjoy environment friendly cleanser and deodorizer.