Bicarbonate of soda has so many uses. This cupboard staple is so much more than just something you need to add to your homemade carrot cake. Read on to find out 10 uses for bicarbonate of soda (AKA baking soda) that you may not know about…
1. Cleaning Fruit and Vegetables
Create a bath of cold water in a bowl or sink, then sprinkle in a pinch of bicarbonate of soda. Add your fruit and veggies to the bath and leave for a few minutes to soak. This will remove any waxes and any traces of bacteria that may have been present in the soil, as well as airborne diseases such as norovirus.
This will also help to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer.
2. Smelly Shoes
Bicarbonate of soda is a natural deodoriser, so it’s perfect for smelly shoes, trainers, boots, and slippers. Add a sprinkle to the inner soles and leave for at least an hour. Remove by shaking it out into a bin or hoover it up. Enjoy your fresher-smelling footwear!
3. Sore Throat
Bicarbonate of soda’s antibacterial properties may help to prevent infections. At the first sign of sore throat, gargle a teaspoon of the powder dissolved in 240ml of warm water. It’s safe to repeat every four hours as needed.
4. Weed Killer
Ditch the chemicals in your garden and switch to bicarbonate of soda. Use in a spray bottle with water or sprinkle onto affected areas in order to kill weeds and prevent them from returning.
5. Defrosting
Why is it that you’re always running late when the windscreen needs defrosting? Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the frost and it’ll melt way quicker.
6. Carpet Freshener
To make your own natural carpet freshener powder, use an empty jar or tub and add around 100g of bicarbonate of soda with a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Pop a lid on and give a shake to mix the two ingredients together, then sprinkle onto carpets. Leave around 30 mins then use a vacuum cleaner to remove. Not only will your carpet smell clean, it will also help keep your vacuum cleaner stay fresh.
This mixture can also be used on car seats and car carpets.
7. Mouthwash
Bicarbonate of soda’s natural antibacterial properties can clean the mouth and help stop the growth of bacteria. Mixed with warm water and gargled (as above; see ‘sore throat’) may help to prevent oral infections and will clean your mouth after brushing your teeth.
8. Dandruff
Skip the shampoo for a few washes and massage your wet scalp with paste made from bicarbonate of soda and water.
You can also add bicarbonate of soda to your existing conditioner for a dandruff-busting hair mask. After shampooing, apply the conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair and leave for 5 minutes. For extra effectiveness, wrap up your hair to keep warm and leave for longer.
9. Insect bites
If you’ve been bitten by bugs and left with itchy bumps, apply bicarbonate of soda and a bit of water to the affected area to neutralise the itch and prevent infection.
10. Deodorant
Not just good for smelly shoes and carpets; you can apply bicarbonate of soda direct to stinky pits to freshen up without the chemicals or fragrances that are found in most deodorants.
Make a deodorant paste for daily use by adding bicarbonate of soda to coconut oil. You can add a drop or two of lavender essential oil for a relaxing scent or peppermint oil for minty freshness.
