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Why should you use baking soda in your household?
First, it's cheap. A dollar or two you can get a box of 1 kg baking soda. Second, you can use the baking soda in many purposes. Third, it’s a very environmental friendly product.
Background: Baking
Soda, Sodium bicarbonate or sodium
hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with
the formula NaHCO3.
Sodium bicarbonate is a white solid that is crystalline but
often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste
resembling that of washing soda (sodium carbonate).The ancient Egyptians used natural deposits of natron,
a mixture consisting mostly of sodium carbonate decahydrate, and sodium bicarbonate. The natron was used as
a cleansing agent like soap.
In 1791, a French chemist, Nicolas Leblanc, produced sodium carbonate,
also known as soda ash. In 1846, two New York bakers, John Dwight and Austin
Church, established the first factory to develop baking soda from sodium
carbonate and carbon dioxide.
Let’s
talk about how baking soda apply in cleaning:
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1. Make a Surface Soft
Scrub
For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile and sinks–even fiberglass
and glossy tiles–sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub
as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste
with baking soda, course salt and liquid dish soap—let it sit then scour off.
2. Hand wash Dishes and
Pots & Pans
Add 2 heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent)
to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots and pans.
For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water
first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratchless
scouring powder.
3. Freshen Sponges
Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the
mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water).
4. Clean the Microwave
Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the
microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.
5. Polish Silver
Flatware
Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub
onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for
shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.
6. Clean Coffee and Tea
Pots
Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs
and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm
water. For stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution
and detergent or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge.
7. Clean the Oven
Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen
the baking soda. Let sit overnight. Scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime out
with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.
8. Clean Floors
Remove dirt and grime from no wax and tile floors using 1/2-cup baking soda in
a bucket of warm water–mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For
scuffmarks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse.
9. Clean Furniture
You can clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture
by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean,
dry cloth.
10. Clean Shower
Curtains
Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking
soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and
rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.
11. Boost Your Liquid
Laundry Detergent
Give your laundry a boost by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to
make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets
clothes cleaner, fresher and brighter.
12. Gently Clean Baby
Clothes
Baby skin requires the most gentle of cleansers, which are increasingly
available, but odor and stain fighters are often harsh. For tough stains add
1/2 cup of baking soda to your liquid laundry detergent, or a 1/2-cup in the
rinse cycle for deodorization.
13. Clean Cloth Diapers
Dissolve 1/2 cup of baking soda in 2 quarts of water and soak diapers
thoroughly.
14. Clean and Freshen
Sports Gear
Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to
clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf
bags and gym bags to deodorize, clean golf irons (without scratching them!)
with a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda to 1 part water) and a brush.
Rinse thoroughly.
15. Remove Oil and
Grease Stains
Use baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage
floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a
wet brush.
16. Clean Batteries
Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers,
etc. because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals
before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply
with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning
and re-connecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent
future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery–they contain
a strong acid.
17. Clean Cars
Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats
and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda
solution of 1/4-cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge
or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs and tar. For stubborn
stains, use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush.
This is the cleaning section only, next I will share another uses of baking soda - personal care. To Be Continued....
