Baking Soda - A Million Cleaning Uses and Counting

• Deodorant- Yes! Believe it or not, baking soda works as well as commercial chemical preparations. Either straight from the box, or mix in two tsp. of cornstarch for every cup of soda, and use a large, soft blusher brush to apply.
• Toothpaste- Has slight abrasive qualities, and makes a good mouthwash when you rinse.
• Indigestion- Mix a couple of tsp. in a glass of water and down it all at once. It will create a gas as it neutralizes acid in your stomach, and cause you to burp. Old folks used to take it straight from the box!
• Facial- Make a paste and roll it gently over your face for an exfoliating scrub
• Feet- Sprinkle in your shoes and boots to eliminate foot odor
• Stings and bites- Apply a paste to bee stings or insect bites to eliminate the pain and itching
• Itching- a tepid bath with half a cup of soda, will ease the pain of sunburn, and the itching of bug bites or chicken pox.
• Hair Cleaner- When added to a handful of your shampoo, it will help remove the residue of sprays, gels, and grease.
• Combs and brushes- fill sink with warm water and ½ cup baking soda, then soak your combs and brushes. It will remove the grease and dirt.

• Fridge- An open box absorbs competing food odors.
• Garbage cans- Sprinkle in the can, and underneath the bag inside a trash holder
• Cushion floor marks- For crayons, a paste of baking soda will remove the mess.
• Steel wool- will rust less and be fresh to use, if wrung out and stored in a dish of soda
• Fire- When a pot or spill on the stove catches fire, douse it with baking soda.
• Dishwasher- two tbsp. borax and two tsp. soda makes a great powdered detergent
• Coffee Pot- Run 2 cups warm water and ½ cup baking soda through your machine, then run a “rinse" cycle of plain water. Cleans and freshens.
• Tea Pot- Fill pot with boiling water, and add two tbsp. of soda and the juice of a lemon. Let sit for a few hours, then scrub out.
• Taps- Clean chrome fixtures with a “polish" of dry soda on a dry cloth
• Jars/Containers- Remove odor from jars or containers by filling with warm water and two tsp. of baking soda. Leave overnight. When storing something like a thermos bottle, sprinkle in some dry soda before putting the top on.
• Silver- Polish silverware by taking a non-metal pot, and placing a six-inch square of foil in the bottom. Fill with water and add 1 tsp. of soda per quart. Bring to a boil, then drop in silverware and remove after a brief time, with tongs. Dry and buff. Do not use on shaded or figured items.

• Porcelain- A thick paste will clean those dirty rings in the tub or sink, and mixed with white vinegar, also makes a stain remover.
• Drains- A cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar will not only make it smell fresh, but will remove minor clogs

• Airborne Odors- to freshen a room, especially where someone smokes, put a pie plate of soda under the furniture.
• Carpet Odors- Sprinkle on soda and leave overnight if possible, then vacuum.

• Garden - Mixing one cup of soil, two cups water, and ¼ cup of baking soda, will tell you that the soil is acidic, if it foams.
• Garden - Reduce the acidity of tomatoes by sprinkling soda around the base of the plant. Use the box that was in your fridge for freshening, or was in pans under the living room furniture.
• Litter box- Sprinkle on the cat’s litter to keep it fresh smelling.
• Paint Brushes- If brushes have been left stiff after use, place them in a pot of boiling water, with ¼ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of soda