There are a few very simple and handy things in your kitchen, which can be used for multiple purposes. Vinegar and baking soda are amongst the most useful things to have at hand. You may be using baking soda as a leavening agent in baking right now. However, baking soda added to water and with other combinations is used for cleaning, deodorizing, laundry and so on. The best thing about using baking soda is that it is pretty cheap and natural. What’s more, it is quite safe for the environment, so you are also doing your part to save our environment.
A major benefit of baking soda is that it is non toxic. It is present in most organic forms and is mostly made from sodium carbonate or soda ash. Its major use is for cooking but its medicinal and cleansing values cannot be ignored. In fact, you may already be using it while soaking dried beans to make them more digestible.
In the kitchen add a little bit of baking soda with hot water and rinse food containers. It virtually removes the stale smell from containers. To clean your silverware, make a paste of 3 parts baking soda and one part water. Rub the paste onto each item thoroughly and rinse them clean with warm water. You would find sparkling silverware to use anytime. Even if there is burnt food on pot bottoms, it can be easily removed with baking soda. Just sprinkle baking soda and add hot water on the dried food and leave it overnight. Next morning when you clean, the food will come loose easily. Scour marbles, plastic surfaces or even formica with soda and water to remove those stubborn stains.
You can even clean vegetables and fruits with baking soda and water. Even baby bottles can be cleaned with soda and hot water.
In your yards, if you want to clean your lawn furniture, simply add one fourth cup baking soda in one quart of warm water. The furniture is easily cleaned with this mixture. To remove mildew and clean the children’s pool simply wash it with baking soda and warm water. When you do your laundry, add baking soda to the water. As it helps stabilize the pH level of water the detergents can work effectively.
Baking soda has a weak alkaline property. It works as an acid neutralizer. There are several first aid used of baking soda. It helps soothe the uneasiness often caused due to sunburn. Similarly it eases the pain of bee stings as well as itch of poison ivy. One half teaspoon of baking soda added to 4 ounces of water works well as an antacid. It is important to note though, that it is best to check with your physician before consuming baking soda.
You can get rid of the odor from ashtrays by washing it with soda and hot water. If you sprinkle a bit of dry soda in ashtrays it prevents smoldering as wells as reduces odor to a large extent.
Among several more uses, add half a cup of baking soda to bath water. It gives a soothing, soft feel to your skin. Similarly, adding it to a baby’s bath water helps relieve the little one from diaper rash irritation.
Keep baking soda at hand and you can find it easier to get most things done which otherwise seem like a daunting task.