Baking Soda
Although much more expensive products have been developed over the years to do the same jobs, baking soda can work for you just as well, if not better. Use it in the following ways:
1.To make your own baking powder, stir and sift together 2 parts of Cream of Tartar to 1 part baking soda and 1 part cornstarch.
2.Be sure to keep an extra box of baking soda by your stove in case of grease or electrical fire. Scatter the powder by the handful to safely put it out. Baking soda will also put out fires in clothing, fuel, wood, upholstery and rugs
3.Keep a container of baking soda in your garage as well as in your car to put out a fire. It won't damage anything it touches.
4.Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda. Sprinkle in water, soak and rinse the produce.
5.Wash garbage cans with baking soda.
6.Soak and wash diapers with baking soda.
7.Oil and grease - stained clothing washes out better with soda added to the washing water.
8.Deodorize your fridge and freezer by putting in an open container of baking soda to absorb odors. Stir and turn over the soda from time to time. Replace every two months.
9.Soda absorbs kitty litter odors. Cover the bottom of the cat box with 1 part soda; then add a layer of 3 parts kitty litter on top.
10.Wash marble-topped furniture with a solution of 3 tablespoons of soda in 1 quart of warm water. Let stand awhile, then rinse. You can do the same with a formica counter top.
11.Wash out thermos bottles and cooling containers with soda and water to get rid of stale smells. Wash glass or stainless steel coffee pots (but not aluminum) in a soda solution (3 tablespoons soda to 1 quart water).
12.Run you coffee maker through its cycle with a soda solution. Rinse. Also, run your dishwasher through its cycle with soda in it instead of soap to give it a good cleaning.
13.Sprinkle soda on barbecue grills, let soak, then rinse off.
14.Sprinkle soda on greasy garage floor. Let stand, scrub and rinse.
15.Polish silverware with dry soda on a damp cloth. Rub, rinse and dry. For silver pieces without raised patterns or cemented-on handles: place the silver on aluminum foil in an enamel pot. Add boiling water and 4 tbsp. baking soda. Let stand, rinse and dry.
16.To remove burned-on food from a pan: let the pan soak in soda and water for 10 minutes before washing. Or scrub the pot with dry soda and a moist scouring pad. For a badly-burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on food: pour a thick layer of soda directly onto the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle on just enough water so as to moisten the soda. Leave the pot overnight, then scrub it clean next day.
17.Clean your bathroom with dry soda on a moist sponge - sink, tub, tiles, shower stall, etc. Soak your shower curtains in water and soda to clean them
18.Keep your drains clean and free-flowing by putting 4 tablespoons of soda in them each week. Flush the soda down with hot water.
19.To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and rub them hard with soda, then rinse.
20.Sprinkle baking soda on your wet toothbrush and brush your teeth and dentures with it.
21.Sprinkle soda in tennis shoes, socks, boots and slippers to eliminate odor.
22.Putting 2 tbsp. of baking soda in your baby's bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.
23.Apply soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.
24.Take ½ teaspoon of baking soda in ½ glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.
25.To relieve sunburn or windburn: use a paste of baking soda and water.
26.Bug bites: use a poultice of baking soda and vinegar.
27.Making Play Clay with baking soda: combine 1 ¼ cups water, 2 cups soda, 1 cup cornstarch.
28.Use soda as an underarm deodorant.
29.If your baby spits up on his shirt after feeding, moisten a cloth, dip it in baking soda and dab at the dribbled shirt. The odor will go away.
30.Repel rain from windshield. Put gobs of baking soda on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.
31.Add to water to soak dried beans to make them more digestible.
32.Add to water to remove the "gamey" taste from wild game.
33.Use to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from toaster. Dampen cloth and make a mild abrasive with baking soda.
