BAKING SODA – A MIRACLE PRODUCT IN YOUR KITCHEN

Baking soda is a chemical compound that appears as a fine powder. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or bicarbonate of soda (alkali). The related names are Cooking soda , bread soda, and bicarbonate of soda . Baking soda has an indefinite shelf life if stored in a sealed container in a cool dry place.

Baking soda is salty in taste and releases bubbles of carbon dioxide when it interacts with an acid and a liquid. It is commonly used in baking, where it acts as a leavening agent. Mentioned below are some of the popular uses of baking soda apart from making muffins ,cakes soft and fluffy. If added to the product base you need to bake quickly to avoid flattening if delayed.

To test baking soda’s effectiveness: mix 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 2 teaspoons of vinegar and the mixture should bubble immediately.

Heat causes sodium bicarbonate to act as a raising agent by releasing carbon dioxide when used in baking. The carbon dioxide production starts at temperatures above 80 °C. Since the reaction does not occur at room temperature, mixtures (cake batter, etc.) can be allowed to stand without rising until they are heated in the oven.

Label the container in which you store baking soda to avoid any mix-up.

Health Benefits of Baking soda

1. Baking soda is an antacid, neutralizes stomach acidity.

2. Baking soda can be used as underarm deodorant by applying it with a powder puff.

3. Use Baking soda as a face and body scrub.

4. Relieves skin itch from insect bites and pain from sunburn.

5. Take a baking soda bath to relieve skin irritations.

6. Shampoo your hair as well with diluted solutions.

7. Baking soda can be used for first aid too.

8. Freshen your mouth by gargling half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed water.

9. Unblock stuffy nose by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer.

10. Useful in removing splinters from the skin.

Usage of Baking soda at Home

11. Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors.

12. Sprinkle it on your ashtrays to reduce bad odor and prevent smoldering.

13. Sprinkle it on your slippers, boots, shoes, and socks to eliminate foul odor.

14. Put out small fires on rugs, upholstery, clothing, and wood.

15. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain.

16. Improve the smell of dishrags by soaking them in baking soda and water.

17. Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor.

18. Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants.

19. Put out small fires on rugs, upholstery, clothing, and wood.

20. Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase.

Cooking uses of Baking soda

21. Wash fruits and vegetables with it.

22. Wash meat in water in which baking soda is added. This will remove the typical smell of fresh meat with blood.

23. Soak dried beans to a baking soda solution to make them more digestible and removes flatulence ( presence of excessive gas in the digestive tract )

24. It is also used in breadings and fried foods such as bondas, bajjis, pakoras  to enhance crispness.

25. Remove the fishy smell from your fillets by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda solution for an hour inside the fridge.

26. Make fluffier omelets by adding half a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs used.

27. To soften meat baking soda is added.

Benefits of Baking soda for Cleaning Purposes

28. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.

29. Use it to scrub sinks, showers, plastic and porcelain tubs

30. Add a spoonful to your dishwasher to make scrubbing dishes easier.

31. Spray it on walls, mirrors, and countertops.

32. Dry clean carpets and upholstered furniture by sprinkling baking soda over the fabric and gently brushing it. Leave it for an hour or overnight, then vacuum.

33. Combine it with water to make a paste for polishing stainless steel and chrome.

34. Remove scratches and crayon marks from vinyl floors and walls.

35. Clean the fridge with it.

36. Remove grease from pots and pans.

37. Soak brushes and combs in a baking soda solution.

38. Mix it with water to wash food and drink containers.

39. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles.

40. Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse.

41. Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes before washing.

42. Clean your ashtrays with a baking soda solution.

43. Keep your drains clean by putting four tablespoons of baking soda in them each week. Flush it down with hot water.

44. Clean your shower curtains by soaking them in baking soda and water.

45. Sodium bicarbonate can be an effective way of controlling fungus growth.

The most amazing thing about baking soda is that it’s very cheap and you get it over the counter at local shops too. You can utilize baking soda for cooking, cleaning, in first aid at a very small cost. Baking soda is truly a miracle product, whether it’s used for baking or not.

 

HOUSE CLEANING USING NATURAL RESOURCES

Here are a few natural cleaning solutions readily available at your home. Listed below is their solutions.

 LEMONS

The acidic property in lemon removes dirt and rust stains. Very effective when mixed with salt and applied as a paste.

Lemon is good to clean kitchen counter tops, cutting boards, stains on plastic storage containers , to remove grease from utensils,  remove bad smell in a container.

Cut lemon into half, squeeze a little juice in water and place the container in the refrigerator. You will be relieved of the foul smell . This can be applied for trash bins too.

To relieve smell off your hands after you touch or cut fish , rub hands with lemon juice and you will be relieved off the odor.

Lemon is widely used to brighten white clothes  . Add half a cup of lemon juice to the final rinse  and you will observe the difference.

To remove hard water scales on tiles and wash basins apply lime juice on the areas , leave it overnight. Next day you can gently scrub and remove the stains.

Lemons are used to clean the microwave oven too.

Note: Lemons are not recommended on marble surfaces.

TABLE SALT

The granular texture of table salt makes it suitable for scouring. There is a range of salts to select from. Table salt is the preferred and cheapest choice.

To remove tough stains on glassware, add some salt to the scouring pad and gently remove scrub.

Table salt can be applied on crockery too. Apply salt on a piece of lemon and apply on the crockery which has a tough stain.

To remove dust and dirt from artificial flowers and leaves , put them into a paper bag and add half a handful of salt to it. Shake it well and you will see great results. The flowers and leaves are clean now!

Coarse salt helps remove fins of fishes during cleaning activity. Put a handful of salt into a wide pan and shift the fish upside down in the  pan. The fins will totally be removed.

Salt is good to absorb any spills in the oven. It can be cleaned after use with a damp cloth.

TOOTHPASTE

The combination of surfactant, stain fighter and anti bacterial agent makes toothpaste an efficient stain fighter.

Toothpaste is good for cleaning tarnished silver articles. Use a toothbrush to enable better application. stains on glassware, add some salt to the scouring pad and gently remove scrub.

To remove hard water scales on taps and wash basins , squeeze toothpaste on the area and rub for some time with a soft cloth until it shines.

Tooth paste removes scuff marks on acrylic finishing and linoleum surfaces. Squeeze toothpaste on the desired area . Scrub it with a soft dry cloth until the toothpaste residue is removed.

Tooth paste is good for small burns . Apply on the affected area, It acts as a first aid remedy.

COOKING OILS

Vegetable and plant based oils removes dirt and minimizes scratches on the wooden surfaces. It hydrates wood that has aged or dried out from exposure to the sun

To prevent burning of hands during handling of spices like chillies, apply vegetable oil on the hands. You will not feel the intense burning.

To get paint off your skin, rub with vegetable oil and wash thoroughly with soap.

To brighten leather shoes , clean the leather shoes thoroughly off dust and grime. Add a few drops of oil on a cloth and apply on the shoe and rinse properly. This will make the shoe shine.

To prevent rattan and wicker articles or furniture from drying or cracking, lightly brush them with vegetable oil and gently rub in with a cloth. Warm the oil to enable east application

It is advised to use vegetable oil for getting the shine and cleaning Stainless steel . Lemon is not recommended for cleaning Stainless steel .

To clean wood furniture, mix 1 cup of vegetable oil or plant based oil with half a lemon. Add this on a soft cloth.  This will help smooth scratches too.

BORAX

Due to its alkaline property,  Borax kills mold, fungus and softens water. When added to a laundry wash you will observe excellent results due to its effectiveness.

You can remove foul smell from a dishwasher. Sprinkle borax in the bottom, let it sit overnight, then wipe down with a damp sponge. No need to rinse; continue washing operations.

Rub borax into cookware with a damp cloth and rinse well . This will remove stains.

Borax  gets rid of toilet rust stains also . Sprinkle borax in the toilet bowl, leave it overnight. Rinse it with a toilet brush and flush water.

VINEGAR

Due to its acidic property, Vinegar can wipe out tarnish, soap deposits, mineral deposits, and more. It is widely used for its varied benefits. It also prevents the growth of mold, mildew, and some bacteria.

You can clean glass ware and ensure no spots. Add 6 table spoons of vinegar to the rinse water.

Vinegar is used to disinfect the dishwasher. Rinse with 1 cycle of vinegar, add half cup. Follow rinse with plain water.

Remove hard water stains from Stainless Steel surfaces, shower heads. Dip the unit in vinegar mixed with water and leave overnight. Rinse with water in the morning.

Note: Vinegars are not recommended on marble surfaces.

BAKING SODA

Baking soda ( sodium bicarbonate) absorb odors. Baking soda is useful to remove odors from upholstery.

Baking soda removes stains from a can opener. It removes tough stains from mugs and cups.

Erase crayon marks by applying a baking soda paste (equal parts baking soda and water) to white painted walls (baking soda may dull colored walls). Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth.

WASHING SODA

Washing soda (sodium carbonate) absorbs odors. Recommended to use rubber gloves while handling washing soda as it is slightly stronger .

Washing soda is good to clean oily stains seen in workshops and garage floors. Lavishly sprinkle washing soda and leave it overnight. Thoroughly wash and rinse the floor with water.

Washing soda helps  remove grease from stove burner grates, garden tools.

Your accessories will be bright and sparkling.