Long known for its odour reducing properties, baking soda can also remove smoke and sweat odours from your laundry. Simply soak smelly clothes in a tub of water mixed with a ½ cup of baking soda for at least a half an hour before you wash them the way that you normally would.
What is baking soda?
Baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate or Bicarbonate of Soda) is a fine, white powder that neutralises acids. It is found in the human body where it reduces the acidity of hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach. It is also produced artificially.
Before the introduction of Eno and Rennies, I remember that my dad used to mix a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water as a cure for indigestion. Not very tasty but it did the job.
There are so many uses for baking soda and it can be used for various tasks around the home, here are just some ideas:
- Use on burns, mosquito bites, sun burn or allergy sites to relieve itching.
- Mix a small amount of baking soda in your cleansing cream to make a facial scrub.
- Make into a soft paste for brushing teeth once a month.
- A watery solution can be used to clean tarnished silver.
- Baking soda and a toothbrush will restore the colour of grout.
- Use as an alternative to fabric softener and to remove odours.
- Add to water to pre-soak stained clothing. Add a quarter cup of baking soda to your washing powder. The baking soda will help to soften your clothes and give your detergent an extra boost of cleaning power.
- Sprinkle over odours in carpets and on curtains.
- To rid clothes of a petrol or oil smell, sprinkle with baking soda and wrap in a sealed garbage bag. Let sit overnight before washing the clothes.
- When going on holiday, sprinkle baking soda in the drum of your washing machine to keep it smelling fresh and to keep mould from forming.
- Deodorise your fridge by placing an open container of baking soda on a shelf to absorb odours. You can also use baking soda to clean the fridge every couple of months with dry baking soda sprinkled on a damp cloth; rinse with clear water.