When you think of Baking Soda? What do you see? An old 50s housewife making a cake for her family? Well, think again. Baking Soda is a multi-purpose house essential item which can solve a multitude of issues – not just help with baking!
EverydayHealth
The miracle, yes we are calling it that, powder can help with anything from pesky house maintenance issues to seriously improving your overall health. Click next and find them all out for yourself!
Treat HeartburnShare
Heartburn is also known as acid reflux. It is a painful, burning sensation that rises in the upper region of your stomach and can spread up into your throat. It is caused by acid refluxing out of the stomach and up your oesophagus, the tube that connects your stomach to your mouth.
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A few common causes of reflux are overeating, stress and eating greasy or spicy foods. Baking soda can help treat heartburn by neutralizing stomach acid. Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of cold water and drink the mixture slowly.
Mouthwash
Mouthwash is a great addition to a good oral hygiene routine. It reaches corners of your mouth and crevices of your teeth, gums and tongue that may be missed during brushing. Many use baking soda as a replacement for mouthwash.
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It can help freshen your breath and provides antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. The recipe for baking soda mouthwash is simple. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to half a glass of warm water, and then swish as usual.
Soothe Canker Sores
Canker sores are small, painful ulcers that can form inside your mouth. Unlike cold sores, canker sores do not form on the lips and aren’t contagious. Research has found that baking soda mouthwash is great for soothing pain caused by canker sores.
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You can make a baking soda mouthwash, just follow the handy recipe above and rinse your mouth with this mixture once a day until the canker sore heals. This might sting a little and probably won’t taste great but will definitely help.
Whiten Your Teeth
Baking soda is a popular home remedy for whitening teeth. Many studies have found that toothpaste containing baking soda is better for whitening teeth and removing plaque than toothpaste without baking soda.
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This is likely because baking soda has mild abrasive properties that let it break the bonds of molecules that stain the teeth. It also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can help fight harmful bacteria.
Deodorant
Surprisingly, human sweat is odourless. Sweat only gains an odour after it is broken down by bacteria in your armpits. These bacteria convert your sweat into acidic waste products that give sweat its odour.
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This topic is getting a little bit unsavoury but still, we have to mention that baking soda can eliminate the smell of sweat by making the odours less acidic. Try patting baking soda onto your armpits and you may notice the difference.
May Improve Exercise Performance
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a popular supplement among athletes. Some studies show that baking soda can help you perform at your peak for longer, especially during anaerobic exercises like high-intensity training and sprinting. During high-intensity exercise, your muscle cells start producing lactic acid, which is responsible for the burning feeling you get during exercise.
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Lactic acid also lowers the pH inside your cells, which may cause your muscles to tire. Baking soda has a high pH, which may help delay fatigue, allowing you to exercise at your peak for longer. For example, one study found that people who took baking soda exercised for an average of 4.5 minutes longer than people who didn’t take baking soda.
Relieve Itchy Skin and Sunburns
A baking soda bath is often recommended to soothe itchy skin. These baths are especially effective at soothing itches from bug bites and bee stings. Additionally, baking soda may help soothe itching from sunburns. It seems more effective when combined with other ingredients like cornstarch and oatmeal.
DermatologyAssiocites
To make a baking soda bath, add 1–2 cups of baking soda to a lukewarm bath. Make sure the affected area is soaked thoroughly. For more specific areas, you can create a paste with baking soda and a bit of water. Apply a thick layer of paste to the affected area.
May Treat Calluses
Calluses are hard, rough patches of skin that are caused by longtime friction or pressure. Activities that typically cause calluses are frequent walking, gardening or sports. While calluses aren’t necessarily serious, they can cause pain and discomfort when applying pressure.
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Interestingly, studies have found that soaking calluses in a baking soda bath may help soften them, remove any scales and reduce discomfort. We won’t recommend scrubbing your calluses dry, this can usually do more harm than good.
May Slow the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease
People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) slowly lose function of their kidneys.
The kidneys are incredibly important because they help remove excess waste and water from the blood. At the same time, they help balance important minerals like potassium, sodium and calcium.
Healthline
Research shows that baking soda may help slow the progression of CKD.
In a study including 134 adults with CKD, it was found that those taking sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) supplements were 36% less likely to rapidly develop kidney failure than people who did not take the supplements.
May Improve Certain Cancer Treatments
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. It is often treated with chemotherapy, which works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells. Normally, cancer cells grow and divide at a rapid rate.
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Some research shows that baking soda could help chemotherapy medicines work more effectively. Baking soda may make the environment for tumours less acidic, which benefits chemotherapy treatments. However, the evidence is limited to preliminary indications from animal and cell studies, so more human-based research is needed.
Neutralize Fridge Odors
Have you ever opened your fridge and come across a surprisingly foul odour?
Chances are that some foods in your fridge have overstayed their welcome and started spoiling. This foul odour may stick around long after emptying the fridge and cleaning it thoroughly.
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Fortunately, baking soda can help freshen a smelly fridge by neutralizing bad odours. It interacts with the odour particles to eliminate them, rather than just masking their smell Fill a cup with baking soda and place it in the back of your fridge to neutralize bad odours.
Air Freshener
Not all commercial air fresheners eliminate bad odours. Instead, some simply release fragrance molecules that mask bad smells. In addition, fewer than 10% of air fresheners tell you what they contain. This can be problematic if you are sensitive to chemicals that may be found in air fresheners.
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Baking soda is an excellent and safe alternative to commercial air fresheners. It interacts with odour particles and neutralizes them, rather than masking them. Add the baking soda and essential oils to the jar. Cover it with the cloth or paper, and then secure it in place with the string. When the scent starts to fade, give the jar a shake.
May Whiten Your Laundry
Baking soda is an inexpensive way to whiten and clean your laundry. Baking soda is an alkali — a soluble salt that can help remove dirt and stains. When dissolved in water, an alkali such as baking soda can interact with acids from stains and help remove them.
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All you need to do is, add half a cup of baking soda to your regular amount of laundry detergent. This will also help soften the water, which means you may need less detergent than usual.
Kitchen Cleaner
The versatility of baking soda makes it a great kitchen cleaner. Not only can it remove tough stains, but it also helps eliminate foul odours. To use baking soda in your kitchen, make a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water. Apply the paste to the desired surface with a sponge or cloth and scrub thoroughly.
ReadersDigest
Here are a few things found in the kitchen you can clean with baking soda, Oven, Stained coffee cups, Stained marble, Grease stains, Kitchen tiles, Clogged drains, Tarnished silver and Microwaves.
Eliminate Garbage Odor
Garbage bags often have a putrid odour because they contain a variety of decaying waste products. Unfortunately, this odour can spread to your kitchen and other areas of your home.
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Fortunately, baking soda can help eliminate garbage odours. These odours are often acidic, so the baking soda can interact with odour molecules and neutralize them. In fact, scientists found that spreading baking soda at the bottom of waste bins can help neutralize garbage odour by 70%.
Remove Stubborn Carpet Stains
A combination of baking soda and vinegar can remove the most stubborn carpet stains. When baking soda and vinegar are mixed, they create a compound called carbonic acid, which is a common ingredient in cleaning products. This reaction creates a lot of fizzing, which may help break down tough stains.
MethodClean
Here’s how you can eliminate stubborn carpet stains with just baking soda and vinegar: First, cover the carpet stain with a thin layer of baking soda. Next, fill an empty spray bottle with a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water and spray over the stained area. Wait up to an hour or until the surface becomes dry. Scrub the baking soda loose with a brush and vacuum the residue.
Multipurpose Bathroom Cleaner
Like kitchens, bathrooms can be difficult to clean. They have a variety of surfaces that are frequently used and thus need to be cleaned often. While a variety of commercial bathroom cleaners are available, many people prefer a more natural and cost-effective cleaning option. Baking soda comes in handy because it whitens and disinfects many bathroom surfaces.
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Here are a few surfaces you can clean with baking soda, Bathroom tiles, Toilets, Showers, Bathtubs and Bathroom sinks. Make a paste using baking soda and a bit of water. Using a sponge or a cloth, rub the mixture thoroughly onto the surface you want to clean. Wipe down the surface 15–20 minutes later with a damp cloth.
Clean Fruits and Veggies
Many people worry about pesticides on foods. Pesticides are used to prevent crops from damage by insects, germs, rodents and weeds. Peeling fruit is the best way to remove pesticides. However, it also means you don’t get the important nutrients, such as fibre, vitamins and minerals, found in the skins of many fruits.
LiveScience
Interestingly, recent research has found that soaking fruits and veggies in a baking soda wash is the most effective way to remove pesticides without peeling them. One study found that soaking fruit in a solution of baking soda and water for 12–15 minutes removed nearly all of the pesticides.
Polish Silverware
Baking soda is a handy alternative to commercial silver polishes. This is one of the complicated methods and you will need a lot of things and lots of elbow grease. Start with an aluminium baking pan or a baking dish lined with aluminium foil, add 1 cup of boiling water, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1/2 cup of white vinegar and baking powder. Finish with slowly pour in the vinegar. Next, pour in the boiling water and then place the silver in the baking pan.
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Almost immediately, the tarnish should begin to disappear, and you can remove most silverware from the pan within thirty seconds. However, heavily tarnished silverware may need to sit in the mixture for up to a minute.
Save a Scorched Pot
Many people have inadvertently scorched the bottom of a pot while cooking.
These can be a nightmare to clean. Fortunately, you can save a scorched pot easily with baking soda and water.
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Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the bottom of the pot and add enough water to cover the burnt areas. Bring the mixture to a boil and empty the pan as usual. If stubborn stains remain, grab a scourer, add a small amount of washing liquid and gently remove the remaining burnt bits.