Baking soda is cheap and can be found in most grocery cupboards. If you think baking soda is just for baking, then you're about to discover a whole new world!
Baking soda is cheap, widely available, and a great pantry staple. You might be tempted to write baking soda off as an ingredient in your favorite cookies, but this simple product can be used around the house in a surprising variety of ways.
Saline solution is great for rinsing out noses and eyes during the hayfever season. You can buy it ready-made, but it's cheap and convenient to make at home. The ingredients are only boiled water, salt, and baking soda. It couldn't be simpler!
Baking soda and vinegar are both cheap and you likely have them in your pantry already. They make a great combo for cleaning and have a wide range of applications, from freshening drains to removing stubborn dirt and even hard water stains. You'll want to mix them in different amounts depending on the cleaning job at hand and the best part is you'll be cutting down on harmful chemicals in your home.
If you suffer from occasional heartburn, then baking soda can provide a simple solution. Baking soda helps neutralize your stomach acid which can provide temporary relief from heartburn. Simply mix half a teaspoon of baking soda into a four-ounce glass of water and sip it slowly to relieve the pain.
Baking soda isn't as effective as fluoride toothpaste, but it's a great, affordable backup if you run out of toothpaste. Use a paste of water and baking soda to clean your teeth, just like you'd use regular toothpaste. Some recipes suggest adding vinegar or lemon juice to the mixture, but it's really not a good idea. Adding an acid to the mixture definitely boosts the cleaning power, but it'll also damage your teeth.
Baking soda is great for getting rid of bad smells. Sprinkle it anywhere that you have a problem with odors. Smelly shoes, car trunks, stinky clothes, and musty towels are all great candidates. Simply sprinkle it, let it stand for a few hours, and then brush, shake, or vacuum it out.
A great alternative to a bubble bath, adding baking soda to your bath can help with a variety of (mostly skin-related) issues. It's said to help relieve itching caused by eczema and yeast infections, reduce hives, cool a poison ivy rash, soothe diaper rash, reduce body odor, and even help with athlete's foot.
Looking for more ways to save around the house? Save has loads of savvy ideas to help you stick to your budget without sucking the joy out of life. With ideas on how to prepare your vegetable garden, recipes for iced teas, how to save money on work lunches, self-care items that you can make, and much much more!
