Household Uses For Baking Soda

There have been books written about the numerous household uses for baking soda. This is a guide about the household uses for baking soda.

Solutions: Household Uses For Baking Soda

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Clean Coffee Pots with Baking Soda

The other day, I was in my local big box discount store, walking by the coffee making machines, you know, the Mr. Coffee type. On the shelf I saw a box of coffee machine cleaner. It cost $4.99, for an 8 oz. container. The active ingredient was sodium carbonate - baking soda. The instructions said to use 1 level tablespoon per 4 cups of water.

So, I put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in the carafe with 12 cups of cold water and ran it through the Mr. Coffee. I then ran 3 cycles of plain water through the machine. Guess what, my machine runs like new. The coffee (which had begun to taste bitter) is just as good as it was the day I bough the machine. So, save yourselves some money and use plain, old, cooking baking soda instead of paying $4.99 for the sodium carbonate.

By Jack from Peotone, IL

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Whitening Teeth With Strawberries and Baking Soda

Mash up two fresh strawberries and mix with two teaspoons of baking soda. Brush teeth twice a week with mixture. It takes a couple of weeks, but I did notice a difference. It's natural and simple.

By Marilyn D. from Gilroy, CA

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Baking Soda for Fireworks Fires

Please be careful as usual this Fourth of July and always take along a box of baking soda in case any small fire starts. Baking soda will put it out quickly. I keep one in the car also.

Happy July the 4th everyone and God bless America!

By Robyn Fed from Hampton, TN

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Another Use for Baking Soda

When making ice tea I add a good pinch of baking soda to the water along with the tea bags. By adding the baking soda, the tea won't become cloudy and have a bitter taste. It enhances the flavor of the tea.

By Janette from Parkersburg, WV

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Clean Drains With Baking Soda

Baking soda and lemon juice works like baking soda and vinegar to do your drains. It's the same chemical reaction and it smells good. I discovered out of curiosity and a tree full of lemons.

By Pamela from Sun Lakes, AZ

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A Shaker of Baking Soda in the Kitchen

I buy a 99 cent clear plastic drink "shaker" at Wal Mart with a detachable lid and flip top and fill it with a box or two of baking soda.

Here are some of the uses for baking soda in the kitchen:

Sit it on the countertop next to the stove. It's great for cleaning our ceramic top (and other tops).
In case of a fire, it safely extinguishes flames!
A shake from this and I can safely and cheaply scour the kitchen sink, countertops, or microwave (just a dab will do).
If I need baking soda for a recipe, it's right there to quickly measure into a spoon.
When taking out the trash, sprinkle some into your trash can and then add your trash bag for cheap deodorizer.
Sprinkle some on your hands at the kitchen sink for a gentle scrub that removes cooking and food odors.

Baking soda is very cheap and versatile to use in the kitchen this way!

By Missy W

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Baking Soda for Teeth Whitening

Use baking soda daily to whiten your teeth. It tastes terrible at first, but you get used to it. Just wet your toothbrush and dip it into the baking soda and brush as usual, then follow-up brushing with regular toothpaste for fluoride, etc., and also the flavored toothpaste will get rid of the baking soda taste!

It works and I'm a coffee and a tea drinker, so my teeth were terribly yellow. Aside from professional whitening (which made my teeth very sensitive), nothing worked very well. I was spending a lot of money on various products, even with coupons.

I checked with my dentist and he also said I could make a paste with peroxide and baking soda which works well. I am going to continue with only the baking soda for now. He also recommended brushing with a little toothpaste after brushing with the baking soda/peroxide paste.

I find baking soda for a great price at the dollar store and also watch for it on sale at the drugstore when they offer their two for one sale. If you want to add peroxide to make a paste, the store brand is very inexpensive. It is great to have on hand to rinse cuts and sores. My grandchildren are always amazed to see it foam up when I rinse their cuts.

By Bobbie from Rockwall

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Questions

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Beware Baking Soda in Drains

Baking soda is touted as an amazingly frugal cleaning product and it is. But be careful when you rinse it down the drain or the toilet. Baking soda, especially when mixed with hot water, solidifies. I once had a plumber come in after my husband and I could not unstop a kitchen sink which backed up and would not clear. (We lived in New York at the time.) The plumber broke one snake and had to get another and it took 2 hours to cut through the rock that the baking soda had become in the pipe. I had been using just a little baking soda once a week or so to clean the sink and counters for only three months when this happened!

Allison from Arizona

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

Dear Allison I've used Baking soda for years in my drain along with white vinegar,but I make sure it is all melted before rinsing.I let the faucet run for about 2 minutes after using the baking soda.a friend of mine did the same thing you did and she just poured the baking soda down the drain and ran a little water down but some had not melted.she had a plumber in to take the pipes apart.what a mess.I use a lot of vinegar until the soda stops bubbling. (07/02/2004)

By Louise

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

You can put baking soda down your drain and let it sit for about 30 minutes and then pour boiling vinegar down the drains. This works very well. I have been doing this for years. (07/15/2008)

By Becky

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

I've used baking soda several times to unclog drains. I pour it down the drain, then pour hot vinegar down. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then flush with hot water for 5 minutes. I've not had any problems. I do not put baking soda down the drains on a regular basis though. (09/23/2008)

By Sarah in Arizona

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

NEVER have I ever heard this before. I have used baking soda, vinegar and boiling water to break up grease/oil build up and just normal gunk out of my sinks and never has this happened to me. I lived in Arizona as well and this never happened. Was there ever any renovations done in the house or painting done where someone might have cleaned paint pans, grout buckets etc.? That could be what the mass was. Baking soda will actually "melt" with water and especially hot water, even if it is in clumps. (11/10/2008)

By Crockett

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

Wow, I have never heard about this problem. I have been using baking soda and vinegar to clean my drains out every week since I was a kid. My Mom used to use it in the laundromat she and Dad owned for years. I use 1 cup of baking soda (half a small box) and 2 cups of white vinegar (half a quart bottle) each week or so in the kitchen, bathroom sink, bathtub and the laundry tub, then run the water on all... I guess I'll run the water a bit longer now... (12/30/2008)

By katplaysgames1

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

I have used baking soda WITH vinegar for years. No problem.Thank goodness. (01/21/2009)

By roadgypsygranny

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

I have seen the hints about putting baking soda down the drain. The info I read, was to pour about 1 cp of baking soda in the drain and; pour vinegar on top of it. It was amazing. It foamed like mad and cleaned the drain really well.

This was a drain, in a separate sink, that I keep my dish pan in. It got really disgusting under there and I wanted to clean it, without using a bunch of chemicals. When you pour the vinegar on top, it creates a chemical reaction and there is no baking soda left, when it's done, to become hard. (01/21/2009)

By Chris T.

RE: Beware Baking Soda in Drains

Hot water, baking soda and vinegar is the magic potion. If you omit the vinegar you will not get the vigorous foaming action that uses up all the baking soda.

I use baking soda and vinegar on pet stained carpeting. That can leave a powdery residue which is easily swept up. (01/22/2009)

By Tracy

Clean Drains with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Allison from Arizona

RE: Clean Drains With Baking Soda And Vinegar

I agree with the baking soda and vinegar, however, I would not recommend pouring boiling water down the drain if you have plastic pipes. (08/30/2007)

By Syd

RE: Clean Drains With Baking Soda And Vinegar

I pour boiling water down my plastic drain all the time and have never had a problem. I think the drains and pipes are made of something very tough as not only am I using boiling water, I am also using Drain-O! I will try this recipe, though. I like using natural products. especially vinegar and baking soda. (08/31/2007)

By Lisingreece

RE: Clean Drains With Baking Soda And Vinegar

Going to try this. BTW, boiling water down the drain won't hurt this kind of plastic pipe. It is very thick and sturdy. (09/01/2007)

By fionarx

Clean Coffee Pots and Cups with Baking Soda

Baking Soda is a great way to clean coffee pots and coffee cups. Just make a paste with baking soda and water, scrub and rinse.

By Darla

RE: Clean Coffee Pots and Cups with Baking Soda

You can also use bicarbonate of soda (in Australia bicarb soda) to clean burnt pots and pans.

All you have to do is sprinkle a liberal amount on the burnt parts and fill with water and put it on the cooktop to boil. Leave it to boil for at least 10 minutes and then scrub off the burnt offerings. It usually works for me unless it is beyond redemption.

Cheers (10/06/2004)

By Bev In Western Australia