Best Uses and Benefits of Baking Soda

Baking soda or Sodium bicarbonate is a commonly used ingredient for baking. It has leavening properties; it causes the dough to rise by producing carbon dioxide. Baking soda is not only good for baking but also has many household uses and health benefits.

Baking Soda Used and Benefits:

Here we have listed some common Baking Soda uses and benefits.

• Treating heartburn

Heartburn, also called acid reflux, is a painful and burning sensation that is caused in the upper stomach region and spreads up to the throat.

It is caused when acid refluxes out of the stomach and up to the esophagus, a tube connecting the stomach to the mouth. 

Some common causes of reflux are stress, overeating, or eating spicy and fried food.

Using baking soda helps in treating heartburn. It neutralizes stomach acid.

Dissolve one teaspoon baking soda in one glass cold water. Drink this baking soda water slowly.

Baking soda water is very beneficial for the body. However, there are also a few downsides that you should be aware of. 

According to studies (1) (2) 

1. Baking soda is high in Sodium content, almost 629 mg per ½ teaspoon.

2. Continuous uses of baking soda water can cause metabolic alkalosis and heart problems.

• Natural Mouthwash

Mouthwash should be a part of every individual’s oral hygiene routine.

It can reach the corners and crevices of the mouth, gums, and teeth, which may be missed by a toothbrush.

You can use baking soda as a mouthwash. Baking soda is a good natural replacement of mouthwash. 

Studies have shown that it freshens up the breath and has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

It was also found in a study that soda results in increased salivary pH that is important to inhibit bacterial growth.

To make baking soda mouthwash: add ½ teaspoon baking soda to a half glass of warm water. Swish around in the mouth.

• Soothes Canker Sores

Canker sores are painful and small ulcers that form inside the mouth. These are not contagious like cold sores.

Baking soda is known to benefit soothing canker sores’ pain.

You can make baking soda mouthwash. Rinse your mouth once every day until they heal.

• Natural Teeth Whitener

Baking soda is a very popular tooth whitening home remedy.

Studies have found that using a toothpaste that contains baking soda can help to whiten teeth and remove plaque.

Baking soda is mildly abrasive and breaks the bond of molecules staining teeth.

It has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that fight harmful bacteria.

• Natural Deodorant

Did you know human sweat is odorless? Sweat only gets odor when it is broken down by the armpit bacteria.

These bacteria convert the sweat into acidic waste products that make it gain odor.

Baking soda use can eliminate sweat odor by making it less acidic. Pat baking soda on your armpits, then rinse it off after a few minutes.

• Relieves sunburns and itchy skin

Baking soda can be used to soothe itchy and sunburned skin.

Baking soda baths are used as a home remedy for treating bug bites itching and bee stings.

To soothe sunburn itching you can use baking soda. People claim it can be more effective when combined with oatmeals or cornstarch. 

To make a baking soda bath: add 2 cups of baking soda to lukewarm water. Soak the affected area properly.

You can also make a paste to spot treatment. Apply a thick layer of baking soda paste on the affected area.

• Slow down Kidney disease progression

People who have CKD (chronic kidney disease) slowly lose all the kidney functions.

Kidneys are extremely important to get rid of excess water from the blood. They also help to balance important minerals like sodium, calcium, and potassium.

In a study done on 134 adults with CKD, it was found that people consuming baking soda supplements have 36% fewer chances of experiencing rapid progression of disease than people who did not take supplements.

Warning

consult your doctor before ingesting baking soda supplements.

• Improve cancer treatments

Cancer is the second biggest reason for deaths worldwide.

Often, chemotherapy is used to treat cancer, which stops the growth of cancer cells. Usually, cancer cells grow at a rapid pace.

It has been researched that sodium bicarbonate helps chemotherapy medicines to work more effectively.

Baking soda use makes the environment for tumor cells less acidic and thereby benefits chemotherapy treatment.

However, no human research has been conducted until now. It has only been tested in animals.

• Neutralize fridge odor

You might have noticed a foul odor when you open the fridge.

This happens when the food in your fridge has overstayed and starts to spoil. This odor can stick for a long time, even after cleaning the fridge.

RELATED: Places Where You Can Use Baking Soda

Baking soda can freshen up a smelly fridge by neutralizing foul odors.

It comes in contact with odor particles and eliminates them, rather than just covering the smell. 

Fill baking soda in a cup and put it in the fridge to neutralize the odor.

• Room freshener

Not every commercial room air fresheners eliminate the odor completely. They simply release the fragrance to mask the bad smell.

Less than 10% of air fresheners contain the ingredients they boast about. 

Baking soda is a safe and excellent commercial air freshener.

To create baking soda freshener arrange the following:

• a small jar
• 10–15 drops of essential oils
• 1/3 cup baking soda
• string or ribbon
• a piece of cloth or paper

Add baking soda and essential oil in the jar. Cover the jar mouth with a cloth and secure it using a string. Shake the jar when the scent starts to fade.

• whiten the cloth

Baking soda is an easy and inexpensive way of cleaning and whitening the laundry.

Baking soda is alkaline and soluble in nature. It removes stains and dirt.

When it is dissolved in water, it interacts with stain acid and removes them.

Add 1/2 cup baking soda to your laundry detergent. Using Baking soda also softens the water, meaning you will require less detergent.

• Kitchen cleaner

Baking soda is very versatile and you can use it as a kitchen cleaner. It not only benefits in getting rid of tough stains but also removes the foul odor.

To make the kitchen

cleaner: mix baking soda with water to make a paste.

Apply this on the surface that needs to be cleaned and scrub thoroughly with a sponge or cloth.

List of things you can clean in the kitchen:

• ovens
• microwaves
• stained marble
• stained coffee cups
• grease stains
• clogged drains
• tarnished silver
• kitchen tiles

• Eliminate odor from garbage

Garbage bags usually have a very bad odor because they contain decayed waste products. This odor can spread to different areas of the home, along with the kitchen.

Use Baking soda to eliminate this bad odor of the garbage. These odors are acidic and interact with the molecules of odor and neutralize them.

PRO TIP

You can spread baking soda at the waste bins bottom to neutralize odor by 70%

• Eliminate stubborn carpet stains

Vinegar and baking soda combination can get rid of the most stubborn stains of carpet.

When vinegar and baking soda are mixed, a compound called carbonic acid is created, which is a common ingredient of cleaning products. This reaction makes fizzing, which breaks tough stains. 

Procedure to remove tough carpet stains using vinegar and baking soda:

1. Cover carpet stains with baking soda mixture.

2. Fill an empty spray bottle with vinegar and water mixture on a 1:1 ratio and spray on the stained area.

3. Let it sits for 1 hour until the mixture dries.

4. Scrub the baking soda using a brush and then vacuum any residue left.

5. The stain will be removed completely by now. You can wipe the carpet with a damp cloth of baking soda residue that is still left.

• Bathroom Cleaner

Like the kitchen, cleaning the bathroom can be difficult. Bathrooms have different surfaces that need to be cleaned frequently.

There are a variety of bathroom cleaners available in the market; still, people prefer to use cost-effective and natural options, like baking soda.

Baking soda is a handy cleaner option that whitens and disinfects various bathroom surfaces, although it is less effective than commercial cleaners.

List of surfaces you can clean in the bathroom using baking soda:

• bathroom tiles
• Showers
• toilets
• bathtubs
• bathroom sinks

Make a baking soda paste. Using a cloth or sponge, rub the surface thoroughly and clean.

Wipe the surface after 20 minutes using a damp cloth.

• Cleaning veggies and fruits

People worry about the use of pesticides on foods. Pesticides prevent crops from germs, insects, weeds, and rodents.

One best way to remove pesticides is peeling the fruits and veggies.

This also means that you will not get nutrients like vitamins, fiber, and minerals that are found in the skin of fruits and veggies.

One research has found that soaking veggies and fruits in baking soda water are the most effective method of removing pesticides without getting off the peel.

Soaking apples in baking soda solution for 12-15 minutes to remove pesticides. 

WARNING

This method does not remove pesticides penetrated in the fruits.

• Polish Silverware

Baking soda is an easily available alternative to commercial silver polishing products.

you will need:

• an aluminum baking dish or baking pan lined with aluminum foil
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
• 1 cup of boiling water
• 1/2 cup of white vinegar

Sprinkle baking soda to aluminum baking pan and pour in vinegar slowly. Then pour boiling water and place it in a silver pan.

You will notice tarnish disappearing, and within 30 seconds, you can remove the silverware from the pan. 

The silver undergoes a chemical reaction with baking soda and aluminum pan.

It transfers the tarnish onto the aluminum pan from silverware or may create yellow or pale residue at the bottom of the pan.

• Reviving scorched pot

 Many people mistakenly scorch the bottom of the pot while cooking.

This can be very difficult to clean. Luckily, you can save your pot using water and baking soda mixture.

Sprinkle baking soda generously over the bottom of the pot and add water, enough to cover the burnt areas. Bring it to a boil and then empty the pan.

If you still notice stains, grab a scouring dish cleaning pad, add washing liquid and scrub off the burnt stains.

• Extinguish grease and oil fire

FACT

Many fire extinguishers contain sodium bicarbonate.

These extinguishers are known as dry chemical fire extinguishers.

These are commonly used to extinguish grease, electrical and oil fires. Baking soda reacts with the heat and produces carbon dioxide, which extinguishes and smothers the fire.

Don’t expect to extinguish big house fires. Such fires draw more oxygen and can have counter effects with baking soda.

• Natural weed killer

Weeds are the annoying plants that grow in driveways and walkways.

These have very deep roots, which makes them difficult to kills without using a chemical-based weed killer.

Baking soda is the safest and cheapest option that you have. You can use baking soda to get rid of the weeds.

Baking soda has high sodium content, which makes the environment harsh for the weed to grow.

Sprinkle baking soda all over the weeds in the cracks and any weed-infested area. 

WARNING

Do not use baking soda near flower beds to kill weeds; it can harm your other plants.

• Deodorize shoes

Is stinky shoes your biggest concern? Then, fortunately, we have the best solution for you.

Baking soda is a very effective and efficient remedy to revive and freshen up stinky shoes.

Put two tablespoons baking soda in a cheesecloth or any thin fabric.

Secure the cloth with a rubber band and place it in each shoe. Remove the bags when you wear shoes.

Final words

Baking soda is a versatile ingredient and has multiple household uses and well nutritional and health benefits.

One biggest benefit of using baking soda is that it neutralizes odor and cleans the surfaces. This is a household staple that can remove tough stains and get rid of odors from microwave, oven, and tile grout.

Baking soda has numerous health benefits. It can treat itching, hurt burn, and soothe canker sores. Baking soda can be found easily and is very affordable. You can grab it from the local grocery store.

Next time you need to get rid of the odor and tough stains, use Baking soda. These are some baking soda uses that can help you out in the household activities. If there are any other uses we have missed, please write back to us.