baking soda remedies

Homemade Scouring Powder
* 1 cup baking soda
* 1 cup borax
* 1 cup salt

Drain Cleaner
* 1 cup baking soda
* add 1 cup hot vinegar
Wait a few minutes, then flush the drain with 1 quart of very hot
water.

For garbage disposals, use 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup of
vinegar.

Automatic Dishwasher Powder
Use 2 tablespoons baking soda and 2 tablespoons borax per load.

Drip Coffeemaker Cleaner
Mix 1cup warm water and 1/4 cup baking soda. Let it drip through
the coffeemaker. Then drip a pot of plain water through to rinse.
It will keep your coffeemaker clean and fresh.

Teapot Cleaner
To remove rust stains and mineral deposits, fill the teapot with
water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and the juice of half a
lemon. Boil gently for 15 minutes. Rinse and repeat if needed.

Microwave Cleaning
Make a cleaning solution of 4 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 quart
of warm water. Use it to clean the inside surfaces of the oven.
Or, place a few spoonfuls of baking soda in water in a microwave
safe cup. Boil the water 3-5 minutes. The walls of the microwave
will be damp. Simply take a sponge or paper towel and wipe down
the insides of the oven.

Unclog Gas Stoves
To unclog burners on a gas stove, simply add 1/4 box of baking soda
to 2 quarts of water and boil for a few minutes.

Easy Toilet Cleaner
Sprinkle 1/2 box of baking soda into the toilet tank once a month.
Let it stand overnight before flushing. The tank and the bowl will
be clean and deodorized.

Economical Air Freshener
Mix equal parts of baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath
salts. Put it in a soap dish or in small sachet bags wherever you
would like to freshen the air.

Economical Carpet Deodorizer
Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of cornstarch, and 15 drops of
essential oil fragrance for scent. Sprinkle on the rugs before
bedtime and let it sit overnight. If you like, you can work it
into the carpet the next morning with a stiff bristle brush or
broom. Then vacuum.

Laundry Booster
Add 1/2 cup baking soda to the washing machine along with the usual
amount of liquid laundry soap. It will make whites whiter and
colors brighter. (NOTE: It doesn't work with powdered laundry
detergents!) .

Clean Brushes and Combs
Fill sink with hot water and 1/4 cup of baking soda. Place brushes
and combs in the water and watch the dirt and oil dissolve away!

Underarm Deodorant
Sprinkle under your arms, even after shaving. It won't irritate
your skin. If you prefer a smoother-textured deodorant, mix it
with a little talcum powder.

Clean Glasses
Hold your eyeglasses over a sink and sprinkle a small amount of
baking soda on them. With wet fingers, gently rub the lenses.
Rinse clean and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Breath Freshener
Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of water and rinse.
It will eliminate even morning mouth, garlic and onion odors! Make
your own mouthwash by combining 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1
teaspoon of salt, and 1 cup of water. Add a few drops of flavoring
if desired.

Tooth Whitener
Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Using
a cotton swab, apply it to your teeth, brush clean with water and
rinse. Coffee and tea stains will disappear! ( NOTE: This is an
occasional treatment only. Lemon juice contains a lot of acid and
shouldn't be overused or used alone. Combined with baking soda,
the acid is buffered and won't destroy the tooth's enamel).

Denture and Retainer Cleaner
Combine 1 tablespoon of baking soda. 1 tablespoon of powdered
laundry detergent and 1 cup of water. Soak the dentures or plastic
retainer for 30 minutes and rinse well. If you prefer, you can use
1 cup of water and 2 teaspoons of baking soda in a glass.

Clear Up a Stuffy Nose
Add a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer. It will unblock
nasal passages and keep the vaporizer clean as well!

Baby Fever Reducer
Bathe the infant in a tub of lukewarm water with 1/2 cup of baking
soda. Use less if you are using a plastic infant tub. This is also
an effective remedy for diaper rash.

For Dogs and Cats
Sprinkle baking soda on your pet's brush or comb to deodorize their
skin and fur. Adding 2 tablespoons of baking soda to your dog's
bath water and rinse water will make their coat clean and shiny.
Using baking soda on pet stains will eliminate the odor and prevent
the pet from returning to the same spot in the future for another
accident. Sprinkling the litter box with baking soda keeps it fresh
and deodorized.

Paint Brushes
To restore brushes stiffened and hardened by paint, boil them in a
solution of 1/2 gallon of water mixed with 1/4 cup vinegar and 1
cup of baking soda.

Non-toxic Pesticide
Put baking soda under sinks near pipe openings and along basement
windows to repel ants, silver fish and roaches. Roaches will
dehydrate and die after eating baking soda.

In the Garden
Occasionally, lightly sprinkle baking soda around flowerbeds to
prevent rabbits from nibbling at your buds. Sprinkle baking soda on
slugs to get rid of them without having to resort to costly and
toxic pesticides.
To sweeten your tomatoes by reducing their acidity, sprinkle baking
soda lightly on the soil around your tomato plants. The soda from
an old box used to absorb odors in the refrigerator is fine for
this purpose.
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