Baking soda in the environmentally friendly home

A wide range of uses!

Just about every home has baking soda (also known as bicarbonate of soda) on hand. But did you know it has far more uses in the environmentally friendly home than just for baking?

Here are just some of the ways you can use it!

Toothpaste It can be used to clean your teeth - if you don't mind the taste. You can use it on its own or combined with salt (8 parts soda to 1 part salt).

Denture cleaner To clean dentures, soak them overnight in a solution of 2 tsp. of soda per 8 oz. of water.

Bath A handful of soda dissolved in warm bathwater is refreshing and soothing after heavy exercise.

Insect bites Make a paste of soda with a little bit of water and apply to the skin to help take the pain and swelling out of insect bites.

Mild stomach upset Mix 1/2 tsp. of soda in in 4 oz. of lukewarm water and drink. This can help with occasional mild indigestion but anything more requires the advice of a doctor.

Cleaning glass coffee makers Run your coffee maker with water and 3 tablespoons of soda. Run through the entire cycle then wash with dish detergent, rinse well, and dry. (Do not do this with aluminum coffee pots - it will pit the aluminum - use vinegar instead).

Diaper bags and food containers Clean and deodorize by wiping with a solution of warm water and soda. Rinse well.

Windshield cleaner Bugs, tar, and road dirt can be removed easily with a damp sponge sprinkled with dry baking soda. You can also use this method on chrome.

As a fire extinguisher You can use soda to help smother small fires, particularly grease fires on the stove. With chimney fires ideally you will want to discharge a class ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher into the stove or fireplace but as an alternative you can also use baking soda.

Dog grooming If you don't have time to give your dog a bath but you need to clean him up, brush some soda into his coat and then brush it out. When you do bathe him, add a handful of soda to the water.

Porcupine quill removal Mix 2 tsp. of soda in one cup of vinegar and apply where the quills enter the skin. Wait 10 minutes, then reapply. Wait another 10 minutes. The reaction of mild alkali and mild acid chemically soften the quills for easy removal. Grip each quill with tweezers and while someone holds the pet, pull away with a quick motion. Rinse the area immediately with cool water.(Note: I haven't tried this myself and we had some discussion about whether a dog or other pet will allow you to do this. If anyone has had any experience, share your story).

I adapted these ideas from an article I found in a 1982 issue of Chatelaine magazine.

Have you got some tips for using baking soda? If so, send them in so we can share them!