Baking soda is a common kitchen product traditionally used for baking purposes. But it has since become a kitchen staple, thanks to its unexpected versatility. If you have it in your pantry or thinking of buying one, here are 10 Brilliant Uses You Can Do With Baking Soda.
1) Whiten Your Teeth
Baking soda can be used to remove plaque and stain, which in turn, helps to whiten the teeth. It is also natural with no fluoride, flavourings or harmful chemicals whatsoever. Best of all, it’s cheap and economical than purchasing a store-bought whitening toothpaste.
All you need to do is making a paste using the combination of baking soda and water and brush with it. But do keep in mind that brushing with baking soda paste on a prolonged basis is not encouraging. It is best to use it up until a week or two to protect the tooth enamel, given the abrasiveness of the baking soda.
2) Remove Pesticides From Fruits And Vegetables
We usually wash our fruits and vegetables with tap water before eating or cooking them. Washing them helps to remove soil, bacteria and pesticides from the outside. But the good old plain water method alone may never be enough. For a more effective way, simply soak fruits and vegetables in water with a mix of baking soda for around 15 minutes before rinsing and drying them.
3) Eliminate Odour From Trash Can
Got a pile of smelly rubbish lingering from your kitchen’s trash can? Well, here’s a handy solution: Just sprinkle some baking soda in it! It acts as a neutraliser that helps to get rid of unwanted odours.
4) Give Omelette A Fluffier Texture
Omelette is no doubt one of the popular egg dishes that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or even dinner. And nothing tastes better than a fluffy omelette straight out from the pan. But how do you actually achieve that? One of the cooking methods is to add baking soda since it helps to create air pockets in the beaten eggs. But a word of warning, though: Too much baking soda can make your omelette taste soapy. Just one-quarter teaspoon to 2 or 3 beaten eggs would do just fine.
5) Relieve Heartburn
Running out of an antacid tablet or powder? While you can always head out to your nearest pharmacy, there is a cheaper alternative to get rid of heartburn. Baking soda happens to be one of them since it is basically a natural antacid. Simply dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda into one cup of water and drink it. The combination of baking soda and water solution helps to neutralise stomach acid in your body and relieve the symptom of heartburn.
6) Get Rid Of Stinky Feet
Nobody likes a pair of stinky feet. While there are many different ways to eliminate the odour, baking soda happens to be a popular home remedy. Baking soda contains an active ingredient known as sodium bicarbonate, which basically acts as a neutraliser. Just add a few teaspoons of baking soda in warm water and soak your stinky feet for around 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing and drying them off.
7) Relieve Canker Sores
Canker sores can happen to anyone at some points in their life. It typically occurs due to the consumption of acidic foods, food allergies or even emotional stress. While you can use over-the-counter topical treatments like Bonjela and watermelon frost, another alternative is baking soda. Simply dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 cup of warm water. Give them a few swishes and rinses in your mouth since baking soda’s natural alkaline properties help to neutralise the acids while eliminating the bacteria in your mouth.
8) Clean Burnt Pan/Pot
Accidentally burn your pan or pot after leaving it a little too long on a gas stove? Well, the cleaning part is going to be a tough one! And that means extra scrubbing. Thankfully, you can save the burnt pan or pot by sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda in it and add hot water. Let it sit overnight, followed by scrubbing. All done!
9) Remove Musty Smells From Books
When your favourite book sits on a shelf for a certain period of time, it bounds to develop a musty smell. But you can get rid of them by using baking soda. Simply sprinkle some baking soda between the pages and place it in the box or plastic container. Add more baking soda outside the book and close the lid. Let it sit for at least 48 hours before removing it and shake out the baking soda.
10) Relieve Razor Burn
No matter how careful we are, razor burn tends to happen at some point in our shaving routine. Here’s an old-school remedy you can try at home: Make a paste by mixing baking soda and cold water together. Apply the paste on your affected skin and leave it for around 15 to 20 minutes or until dry. Rinse it off and pat your skin gently with a towel.
