Life, Products

5 Tried and Triumphed Ways to use Baking Soda

by CeeGrrn
A hill of baking soda a.k.a caustic soda, on a black background with orange box behind hill. Image by CeeGrrn

Baking soda is a staple in our home. It’s almost as always on my shopping list with the likes of bread and milk. Baking soda has gained popularity in recent years. It’s part of a greener solution for household cleaning supplies, with many families opting for less toxic alternatives to bleach and other household cleaners.

When I was about the height of a kitchen counter, I remember my grandmother always had an orange box with powder in her kitchen cabinet. I would notice her warm up some water and add this white powder to her drink.

Here’s one of the stories where curiosity got the better of me.

My gran had a sweet tooth, therefore I figured the white powder in the orange box tasted good and was always stored with the other baking ingredients. I plotted my move and waited till no one was in sight. I stood on a chair and poured a handful of the powder in my hand. I then opened my mouth as wide as I could to get it all down in one gulp before anyone saw me.

As soon as the white powder touched my tongue, I could not spit it out fast enough. I leaped off the chair (falling off would’ve been a much funnier story, lol) ran to the bathroom and rinsed my mouth over and over. The salty, metallic taste imprinted on my taste buds, and I couldn’t seem to shake the yucky taste until breakfast the next morning.

From there on, every time I saw my gran put baking soda in her cakes, I refused to eat it. Later, in my teen years, I learnt why she drank baking soda in warm water, for acid reflux. As I got older, I eventually ate baked goods with baking soda and realized I couldn’t taste that salty metallic taste from my earlier years.

Here are 5 ways my family and I use baking soda in our home, apart from baking.
1. Oven Cleaner

This mixture is one of my favourites, because the toxic fumes from the store-bought oven cleaners suffocate me.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup of baking soda
  • 1/4 cup of Dawn dish soap 
  • 1/4 cup of lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup of vinegar
Method
  1. Mix everything into a paste.
  2. Apply generously to the inside of your oven.
  3. Let it sit overnight or for at least an hour.
  4. Use a damp cloth or the rough side of the sponge to remove some of the more stubborn stains.

I recommend doing this monthly.

2. Deodorant

I touched on this topic on Instagram, way before I knew about aluminum allergies.

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1/4 cup corn starch
  • 3 drops of tea tree oil
  • 6 drops of essential oils of your choice (optional)
Method
  • Mix baking soda and cornstarch.
  • Add coconut, tea tree and essential oils.
  • Place mixture into a jar.
  • Use your fingers to heat coconut oil and apply to your arm pits.

3. Teeth Stains

Keep in mind this not a one-time solution and should only be done once a week. You will first notice the week’s stains disappear; soon, you’ll gradually see whiter teeth.  

Ingredients
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda 
  • 1/2 teaspoon of lime 
Method
  1. Brush your teeth with the mixture. 
  2. Let it sit for a minute before washing it off.

Remember only do this once a week because the acid from the lime will weaken the enamel on your teeth.

4. Coffee Lovers

As much as I love coffee, there are times coffee upsets my stomach. I recently learnt adding baking soda to my coffee helps neutralize the acidity in coffee. Being the only one in our home who drinks coffee; I add a tiny pinch of baking soda to my coffee press. If you’re making a pot of coffee, add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda.

5. Acid Reflux 

Here’s to you, grandma. Dissolve half a teaspoon of baking soda in half a glass of water. According to Healthline.com, it’s best to sip the mixture slowly. 

I hope our family’s tried and tested baking soda solutions can benefit you and your family too.

Share this and tag me into your baking soda solutions @TriednTriumphed.


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