Jun 21, 2013

Prudent Pantry: 10 Uses for Baking Soda | Prudent Living – On The Home Front


Published June 13, 2013 | By Nancy

Did you know you can use this common kitchen staple to clean, deodorize, soothe and more? There are two places you will usually find baking soda in a home, in the refrigerator to absorb unpleasant odors and in your cupboard as a baking staple.

However there are other ways that you can put baking soda to work in your home.

There are many ways to use baking soda!

1. Fire Control: keep baking soda close to the stove in case of a grease fire. Water encourages grease fires to spread. Instead smother it with baking soda. Heated baking soda release carbon dioxide, eating the oxygen fires need for fuel.

2. Flower Freshener: Keep cut flowers alive longer by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to the water in the vase.


Use baking soda in your fresh cut flowers!

3. Sting Soother: stung by a bee or wasp? Because of its alkaline properties, baking soda can help neutralize formic acid in bee stings. Mix baking soda with a little water to create a paste and apply to the sting. Instant relief!


Baking soda gives instant relief from stings!

4. Hairbrush Cleaner: remove natural oil buildup from hairbrushes and combs by soaking them in a solution of 1-teaspoon baking soda combined with water.

5. Laundry Booster: Add ½ cup baking soda to the wash cycle to enhance the effectiveness of detergent, absorb odors and help remove stains from clothing.


Give a boost to your laundry with baking soda.

6. Caked On Food: Easily remove caked on food from pots and pans by soaking them in baking soda. Just sprinkle a liberal amount on tough spots, ad water, let soak for 30 minutes to an hour, then scrub off. For extra power add a few drops of white vinegar to the mix.

7. Silverware Sparkler: To clean silverware line a large glass baking dish with foil, then add the silverware, making sure each piece touches foil.


Place silver on aluminum foil.

Evenly distribute ½ cup baking soda over the silverware, then completely immerse in boiling water.


Cover silver with baking soda.

Let soak for five minutes, rinse and dry.


Clean silver!

8. Odor Absorber: besides keeping a box of baking soda in your refrigerator sprinkle some at the bottom of your trashcan liners. For carpet odors, sprinkle baking soda over your carpet and let sit for 30 minutes to overnight, then vacuum.

9. Homemade Play Clay: combine 2 cups od baking soda, 1 cup corn starch and 1 ¼ cups cold water in a pan and cook over low heat until the mixture reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes. Remove from the pan and let cook on a plate. Provides hours of fun!


Make play clay with baking soda.

10. Foot Soak: dissolve 3 Tbsp of baking soda in a basin of warm water and soak your feet. Gently scrub with a paste of baking soda.

For more helpful hints check out the Arm & Hammer website. They have numerous used for baking soda.- 

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