If you don’t already have baking soda in your kitchen and bathroom, stock up now. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has a number of uses for cleaning, personal care, bath and body, health and wellness, and so much more. Plus, it’s really inexpensive – so that $1 box goes a LONG way.

30 Uses for Baking Soda

Cleaning

1. Soft scrub – clean tubs and sinks with a homemade soft scrub made with baking soda.

2. Pots and pans – clean cookware gently, yet effectively with a paste of baking soda and water. Just soak cookware for 15 minutes in a sink full of water with 3 tbsp of baking soda. This works really well for stainless steel pots and pans with cooked-on food or black burn marks.

3. Coffee pots, carafes and coffee makers – Add 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of warm water to a coffee pot. Swirl around until the baking soda dissolves. Let sit for 20 minutes. (If cleaning a coffee maker, pour the baking soda water mixture into the reserve part of the machine, return the coffee pot under the drip, and turn on the coffee maker. This will help to clean the whole coffee maker.) Wash the coffee pot or carafe as needed.

4. Stove tops and appliances – make a paste of baking soda and lemon juice.  Scrub stove tops and appliances to remove cooked-on food, grease, grime, etc.

5. Drains – pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, then pour 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar. The mixture will bubble and help to clean the drain. After 20-30 minutes, rinse the drain with hot water for a minute to rinse away dirt.

6. Cutting boards – sprinkle 2-3 tbsp of baking soda, 2-3 drops of lemon juice, and a little water to make a paste to clean cutting boards. This is great especially after fish, garlic, onion, and other foods with a strong odor.

7. Produce – clean dirt and debris off fruit and vegetables, such as grapes, radishes, and tomatoes. Soak produce in a sink full of water, 2-3 drops of lemon juice, and 2 tsp of baking soda. Lemon juice will help to clean, while the baking soda will gently scrub away dirt and debris.

8. Silverware – soak silverware in a sink full of hot water and 1/2 cup of baking soda for 30 minutes. You can even make a paste with baking soda and water to clean individual pieces of silverware gently.

Deodorize

9. Refrigerator and freezer – leave a box of baking soda in the back of the fridge and freezer to soak up odors and keep it smelling fresh.

10. Carpets and rugs – sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on carpets and let sit for 30 minutes, then vacuum it up to neutralize odors.

11. Laundry – add 1/2 cup of baking soda to laundry, and add detergent. Wash as usual. Baking soda helps to neutralize odors – and it works really well for stinky clothes, such as gym clothes or sports jerseys.

12. Washing machine – add 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda to an empty washing machine. Set machine to “tub clean” or other setting for cleaning the machine.

13. Dishwasher – add 2-3 tbsp of baking soda to the soap dispenser in an empty dishwasher and set to a light wash (or check the instructions on your machine).

14. Trash cans – sprinkle 1 tbsp of baking soda to the bottom of trash cans in the kitchen and bathrooms to neutralize odors.

15. Litter box – sprinkle 1-2 tbsp of baking soda in a litter box to get rid of odors and keep it clean.

16. Closets – put a box of baking soda in the back of a linen or clothes closet for a fresh scent.

Dental Care

17. Toothpaste – make your own DIY toothpaste with baking soda and coconut oil. Just mix the two to make a paste.

18. Mouthwash – mix 1/2 cup of filtered water with 1/2 tsp of baking soda to freshen breath.

19. Toothbrushes and retainers – mix 1 tsp of baking soda and 1 cup of water and soak toothbrushes, retainers, mouth guards, and other dental devices to clean and freshen.

20. Natural tooth whitener – make a paste with 1/2 tsp of baking soda and about 1-2 tbsp of water. Spread mixture on teeth and leave on for a couple of minutes. Brush teeth to remove paste and rinse well. This is best a couple times a week (rather than every day) as the baking soda can be too abrasive for daily use.

Personal Care

21. Deodorant – make your own homemade natural deodorant with baking soda, arrowroot powder, bentonite clay and coconut oil.

22. Shampoo – wash your hair with baking soda and water instead of shampoo. Here’s a tutorial on the No Poo method over at The Crunchy Moose. After washing your hair with baking soda, use apple cider vinegar to condition hair naturally.

23. Foot soak – add 3-4 tbsp of baking soda to a small tub of water to soak feet. You can even make a paste with baking soda and water to gently exfoliate feet to make them soft.

24. Detox bath – add 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of Epsom salt and 1 tbsp of almond oil.

Beauty

25. Facial scrub – mix baking soda and water to make a paste for a gentle exfoliant that makes your skin feel super soft. Here’s a DIY facial scrub recipe.

26. Dry shampoo – sprinkle 1/4 tsp (or less) of baking soda on the roots where needed.

27. Blackheads – mix 1 tsp of baking soda with 1 cup of hot water. Hold a dry towel over the head to tent in steam of baking soda/water mixture. This helps to draw out blackheads for extractions.

Health and Wellness

28. Sun relief – add 1 cup of baking soda to a warm bath. Soak for 20 minutes, and then come out and dry as usual. For toddlers and kids, use less baking soda – about 1/4 cup for kids under 5 and 1/2 cup for kids 5-10.

29. Insect bite relief – make a paste with 1/2 tsp baking soda and water.

30. Splinters – add 1 tbsp of baking soda to 1/2 cup of water. Soak the area with the splinter in the baking soda mixture 2-3 times a day for about 5 minutes each.

Photo credits: DepositPhotos.com / Melica and geo-grafika