Uses for Baking Soda

Baking soda is the name of a chemical known as sodium bicarbonate. The substance is an alkaline-producing carbon dioxide gas when mixed with acid. This explains why the substance is most commonly used for baking, because the carbon dioxide gas bubbles it creates cause baking products to rise or inflate during the baking process. In cooking, it is often employed to cook bread or breakfast and pastry edibles such as pancakes, cakes, and muffins. Some might be surprised to learn, however, that the product has gained a reputation for proving beneficial when used in various other ways. Here are a few uses for baking soda you may find useful.

For Bodily Hygiene

Baking soda has proven effective for cleaning various body parts. The substance is often used as a mouthwash and toothpaste. The material has garnered a favorable reputation for producing fresh breath by eliminating mouth-borne pathogens capable of inducing unpleasant odors. Its mild abrasive properties also make it an effective teeth-whitening product.

Baking soda also produces positive outcomes when used for bodily aesthetics. Researchers have found that the substance is especially adept at circumventing the unpleasing smells created by body sweat and dirt.

Uses for Baking Soda Around the House

For some time, baking soda has also been used for various home care purposes. The material is particularly effective in reducing odors emanating from refrigerators and trash bins. Aging or rotting foods often produce noticeable offensive whiffs, so placing a container of baking soda inside the fridge or wherever garbage is stored neutralizes the bacteria capable of creating such odors.

The product's strong and acidic properties render it a solid kitchen cleaning agent. Researchers have found that the material has produced favorable results when remediating ovens, countertops, tile, grease stains, utensils, bowls and cups, and even microwaves.

The cleaner's effectiveness in addressing bathrooms cannot be overlooked either. When applied for cleaning surfaces such as toilets, showers, vanities, and sinks, it removes dirt, grime, dust, and other commonly seen particles.

For Laundry Brightening & Stain Removal

Some people employ baking soda as a laundry detergent. The product has shown itself as a viable clothes washing agent because of its ability to rid said articles of dirt and stains. Moreover, its acidic quality renders the substance effective in whitening clothes and making them look new.

Additionally, baking soda has enjoyed success removing carpet stains. When mixed with solutions of water and vinegar, the material has been known to lessen or eliminate some of the most stubborn and glaring such blemishes.

For Food Safety Purposes

Baking soda has been employed for cleaning edibles like fruits and vegetables, which often contain appreciable concentrations of pesticides used to kill insects. When ingested in measurable enough quantities, these substances could cause potentially serious illnesses. Fortunately, when soaked in solutions containing baking soda, pesticide levels can be eradicated or at the very least dropped to safer levels.

Uses for Baking Soda In The Garden Or On The Lawn

Those who enjoy toiling in the garden might use baking soda to protect homegrown produce or flowers. In the garden, baking soda solutions penetrate soil and protect foliage from insects.

Additionally, baking soda can prove useful in fighting weeds. These persistent and ugly collections of plant life infiltrate lawns and create eyesores out of otherwise well-maintained properties. However, solutions made with baking soda travel deep into a weed's roots and kill said problems without the harsh and potentially health-damaging chemicals comprising commonly used herbicides.

For Fire And Grease-Squelching Purposes

Some fire extinguishers contain appreciable quantities of baking soda. These apparatuses, which are officially labeled dry chemical extinguishers, are especially effective in putting out relatively small and contained fires produced by oil, grease, and electrical faults.

For Health Purposes

Baking soda offers notable health benefits. For skin maintenance, baking soda can be used to reduce the impacts of bug bites and bee stings. It can ease discomfort and reduces inflammation caused by bites and stings. Baking soda can also be used for sunburns by easing the itching they can cause.

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When it comes to digestion, baking soda can be used to treat common complaints such as heartburn and gas created by the production and accumulation of excessive stomach acid.

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