If you are wanting to shift away from buying lots of different chemical based, highly packaged cleaning goods, Bicarbonate of Soda (or Baking Soda as it’s known in the US) is a really good place to start.
1/ Smell Buster
To be honest, if this was the only thing bicarb was good at I’d still love it cos it is SO good at removing nasty smells from pretty much anything. Ever had a kid throw up in a car? Next time it happens, clear up all you can, then completely cover the stain in bicarb. Within a week you’ll never know there had been an incident. If you don’t cover it in bicarb, that smell can longer for years. Truly.
2/ Soften hard or dry skin. Add a tablespoon of bicarb to a foot spa or tub and soak for at least 15 minutes. Add some essential oil if you fancy extra pamperiness, then just scrub away with a loofah, pumice or rough cloth until your pinkies become beautifully soft and smooth once again. Add a little dash of olive, sunflower or carrier oil to the water to ensure your skin gets deeply moisturised at the same time.
3/ Tuck a small bowl with a tablespoon or two of bicarb into the back corner of a smelly fridge. Within 24 hours it’ll be smelling sweet again.
4/ Sprinkle a good handful in the bottom of your dustbin to prevent or cure inevitable smells.
5/ Remove chemical pesticides off of fruit and veg by adding 3 tablespoons to a bowl of cold water and rinsing them in it for a few seconds.
6/ Musty, damp cupboard? Pop a bowl of bicarb inside and not only will it remove the smell, but it will also absorb excess moisture. You may need to stir or replace the bicarb regularly, depending on how damp the area is.
7/ Half a cup of bicarb can be added to a whites or a particularly smelly wash to brighten your washing and remove fusty smells from your machine. We have found this is especially useful when washing our towels.
8/ Sprinkle a generous layer of bicarb into the bottom of smelly shoes & trainers and leave at least overnight. Tip out before wearing again.
9/ Sprinkle on a damp cloth to clean kitchens worksurfaces, baths, sinks etc without the risk of scratching and without the need for chemical cleaners.
10/ Bicarb is perfect for cleaning out thermos flasks and drinks bottles. Pop 2 teaspoons of powder in, top up with boiling water from the kettle and leave over night. The next morning tip down the sink (or tip into a bowl and use for cleaning or soaking smelly clothes) rinse the bottles out and reuse. It’ll remove smells, germs and any other debris inside hard to scrub flasks.
Buying those small pots from the supermarket works out expensive when you start using a lot of this stuff. You can source bigger packets or bags online, my last batch came from a soap making company but also try catering suppliers, chemists or wholesalers. Make sure to ask if it’s food grade if you wish to use it in baking too!
Have I missed your favourite use for bicarb? If so, please let me know in the comments below!
It gets coffee stains off your teeth! Work a bit in with finger & a toothbrush…give it a bit of a rub with your fingernail & clean your teeth thoroughly. Mine came up lovely! x
Ooh, good one Julia! x
I use a teaspoon of bicarb with boiling water for indigestion . Also a small amount in tomato sauce makes it less acid
Hi Paul and thanks for your comment. I plant to make some tomato sauce soon, I’ll have to bear that trick in mind! Janie x
Baking soda is such a miracle worker I already buy it bulk – it goes in the cat litter pan, it keeps my drains running clear. It has totally replaced shampoo (Google no poo for how to use baking soda and cider vinegar to replace both chemical laden shampoos and conditioners and have great hair!). If I accidentally get a bad scorch mess on the bottom of a pan a damp paste of baking soda lifts it overnight. Can’t live without it ;-)
I’m thinking I’m going to have to increase the 10 good reasons to about 150 at this rate Slywlf!
Thanks for stopping by & commenting :)
Janie x
Add a tiny bit to brewing tea when you are making iced tea – it will remove the bitterness.
Really?? That is a new one on me! I’ll have to try and remember this for next summer Hilary.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Janie x
I use it along with vinegar to wash my hair. shake on BS wet into a paste then spray with vinegar. Scrub well and rinse.
Gonna have to try this, thank you!
Janie x
Where can I buy Biocarb of soda for cleaning in the US with UK quality and/or larger sizes than the boxes in the local supermarkets.
You could try soap making companies (just check it is food grade before ordering) or catering suppliers.
Janie x
Thank u Janie x.
You’re welcome, do let me know where you source some.
Janie x
Sprinkle about a cup on the bottom of your kitty litter tray then add kitty litter on top. (I use Safeway’s Homebrand – so cheap) This will get rid of that ammonia urine smell. Won’t do anything for the poo, though, you can scoop that out and make your tray of litter last up to 3 days.
Brilliant idea, thanks for taking the time to comment!
Janie x