In the Kitchen:

1. Make a paste with water to clean up your sink that isn’t very abrasive.
2. Stick a box in your fridge to keep the smell gone.
3. Mix 3 tsp with hot water to soak and remove tea and coffee stains from thermos’ and tea cups.
4. Use it on your counters to get rid of Kool-Aid stains off.
5. Rinse your fruits and veggies with baking sod. Make sure you rinse well.
6. Did you know it will tenderize meats?
7. If you like fish but hate the smell, soak your fish in water and baking soda for an hour in the fridge.
8. A pinch of baking soda added to tomato recipes can help cut down the acid in the recipe.
9. When you make baked beans, add a pinch of baking soda to the beans to help rid them of their gas producing ability.
10. 1/2 tsp of baking soda added to 3 eggs makes a light and fluffy omelet.
11. Baking soda is just as good as lemon juice for getting rid of foul smells on your hands.
12. I boil my baby bottles with baking soda to get them clean.
13. Just as with your laundry detergent, adding baking soda to your dishwashing detergent is a great idea.
14. Boil a little water and baking soda to get burned on food off your pots and pans.
15. Use it to clean your oven as well.
16. Make your own baking powder.
17. Keep an extra box near your stove in case of a fire.
18. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down your drain and chase it with 1c hot vinegar. 5 minutes later, chase it with 1 quart boiling water.
19. For the naturalist in you, when you are taking the feathers off the chicken, add 1 tsp baking soda to the boiling water.
20. Remove melted plastic bread wrappers from the toaster by using baking soda as a mild abrasive.
21. Use it as a mild abrasive to clean those stubborn stains in your Tupperware.

In the Bathroom:

1. Clear out slow drains.
2. Baking soda and water rubbed on rough elbows, heels, etc will help smooth and soften. Follow up with your favorite moisturizer.
3. 1/4 c baking soda and 2 cups warm water will work just as good as a clarifying shampoo.
4. Use it as a tooth whitener.
5. Put a box in the worst of the bathrooms (you know, the ones that the boys get hold of) to get rid of odors.
6. Mix 1 part baking soda with 2 parts oatmeal as a facial scrub.
7. Soak in the bath with baking soda will heal anything form poison ivy, sumac, sunburns, etc…
8. Soak your hairbrushes with warm water and baking soda to get the oil off of them.

In the Laundry Room:

1. Stretch your laundry detergent further.
2. Get the smell out of your clothes.
3. Soak cloth diapers with baking soda to get the smell and anything else that is there out.
4. Soak oil or grease stains with baking soda and water before washing the clothes.
5. You can also use it as a fabric softener in the rinse cycle if you use cold water.

General Cleaning:

1. Use it with water to polish your silver.
2. Mix it with Borax to make a great scouring powder.
3. Put it on a wet sponge to clean crayon off a chalk board.
4. Sprinkle it on your carpet or cloth covered furniture before you go to bed and them vacuum in the morning. Be careful not to let your kids crawl around before you vacuum.
5. If you have pets, sprinkle baking soda where they lay and let it set for 30 minutes. Vacuum it back up.
6. A bonus to vacuuming up baking soda is that it will help you keep your vacuum smelling better.
7. Use it for general cleaning by adding 4 tbs to 1 q of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and wipe clean.
8. Mix it with salt as a great soap scum cleaner.
9. Freshen up stuffed animals by rubbing them with Baking soda and then let them sit for a while. Shake them off and you are good to go!
10. Mix it with a little water as a great chrome cleaner.
11. Wash your garbage cans with baking soda.
12. Clean grease off the garage floor.
13. To maintain good drains, pour 4 tbs baking soda down each drain each week and chase it with hot water.
14. Soak your shower curtains with a baking soda/water solution to keep mildew away.
15. Take a soft brush and baking soda to canvas bags to clean them.
16. Take those stubborn black streaks off your RV or car with a little baking soda and a damp cloth.
17. Baking soda works well to clean your fish tank.  Just make sure you rinse it really well.

General Household:

1. Fill a pair of old socks with baking soda and place it in odorous shoes or your kid’s closet.
2. Put a sock in your car for when your sweaty football players come home.
3. Wipe water stains off your wooden furniture with baking soda and toothpaste.
4. I put baking soda in my diaper pail to help with odors.
5. Karen puts baking soda in the bottom of her litter box.
6. Clean corroded battery terminals with baking soda and water.
7. Put out small fires out by smothering it with baking soda.
8. Fill in nail holes in drywall with toothpaste and baking soda. Let it dry completely.
9. Mix slat and baking soda equally and sprinkle it where you see ants coming in to keep them from liking your home.
10. Need to determine if your soil is acidic for planting? Mix 1.4 c baking soda and 2 c water. Place 1 c soil. If the mixture foams, your soil is acidic.
11. Play Clay recipe: 1 1/4c water, 2 c baking soda, 1 c cornstarch.
12. Repel water from your windshield by heavily coating a damp cloth and wipe the windows inside and out.
13. Clean your jewelry with a baking soda paste and toothbrush. Silver does best but gold will work well too. Be careful with the gems themselves as some are soft and a toothbrush will scratch it.

General Health Ideas:

1. Mix baking soda and a glass of water for an antacid.
2. Gargle baking soda water to help with ulcers.
3. Put it on insect bites to take the sting out.
4. Use 1/2 tsp in a half glass of water as a mouthwash.
5. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water to take care of zits.
6. Remove splinters by putting moistened baking soda on the band-aid over night.  The splinter should be easily removed in the morning.
7. A thick baking soda/water paste poured on a burn and wrapped in gauze will help the healing process and prevent scarring.

Hope you liked the list.  I have learned a lot.  I’m sure there was a surprise or two in there for you too.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Stir and sift together 2 parts Cream of Tartar, 1 part baking soda, and 1 part cornstarch.

It’s that easy.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

10 Ways to Get Chores Done While Hanging Out with the Kids (congratulations, Kelly!)

Ten Ways to Clean with Baking Soda

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Crayon marks – Clean crayon marks off your floors and walls with baking soda and water.

Clean coffee mugs – Mix 3 tsps of baking soda with hot water to clean stains from coffee mugs.

Laundry – Add some to your wash to help clean your clothes.  You can cut the amount of chlorine bleach used in your wash by half when you add 1/4 cup to front loading washers and 1/2 a cup to top loading machines.

Sinks & Counters – Sprinkle some on your kitchen counter or sink.  Perfect to use as a gentle scouring powder.  Helps to remove kool-aid stains from counters.  You can also add some salt and make a baking soda and salt paste.

Pots & pans – Shake some on your pots and pans, add dish detergent and hot water, and let them soak.

Freshen your carpet – Sprinkle some baking soda on your carpet before you go to bed.  Vacuum the carpet when you get up in the morning.

General cleaner – For a general all-purpose cleaner, dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of water.

Soap Scum Remover – Mix baking soda and salt to make a paste that will remove soap scum.  No harsh fumes!

Freshen Stuffed Animals – Give stuffed animals a dry bath in baking soda powder and let it sit for at least 15 minutes.  Brush off excess.  This method is even safe for baby!

Clean Baby Equipment – Sprinkle some baking soda on your wet cleaning rag.  Use it to wipe down the crib, changing table, toys, etc.  Rinse and allow to dry.

Some sources and sites for more baking soda information:  How-To Info, Arm & Hammer, The New Homemaker, Frugal Living.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Baking soda

1. Mix baking soda and table salt with water for a great paste to clean your porcelain tub or sink.
2. Stick an open box in the fridge /freezer to get rid of odors.
3. Baking soda and water paste to shine up that silver.
4. Mix baking soda with Borax for a scouring powder instead of harsh smelling cleaners.
5. Soak thermoses and tea cups with hot water and 3 tsp baking soda to remove coffee and tea stains.
6. Baking soda and a wet sponge will clean crayon off a chalk board.
7. Baking soda and water paste rubbed on rough feel, elbows, etc… Rinse with warm water and put on your favorite lotion.
8. ¼ cup baking soda added to 2 cups warm water will do wonders for your hair and cost less than a clarifying shampoo.
9. Insect stings can be eased with baking soda and vinegar (you knew that was going to appear soon).
10. Gargle water with baking soda for mouth ulcers and oral blisters.

Wow! Did you know there were so many uses for baking soda? Tell me what your favorite use of baking soda is. I love to learn from all of you as well.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Basic Wood cleaner & polish
1/8 cup oil (either linseed, olive or vegetable)
1/8 cup vinegar
1/4 cup lemon juice

Laundry Detergent stretcher
1-2 tbsp borax
1-2 tbsp. baking soda
1-2 tbsp. of liquid detergent

You can mix the borax and baking soda half and half and keep it in a tub; then just scoop 2-4 tbsp. of the mix as needed depending on how dirty your laundry is. Start the water in the washing machine, put in the borax and soda mix and add 1-2 tbsp. of liquid detergent, then put all the clothes in. This works REALLY well and makes the detergent last much longer.

I like to use Borax, or some other laundry booster for my whites.  I seem to have a hard time getting my whites clean and I cannot use bleach because I have such terrible problems with eczema.  Borax is definitely a good solution for getting your whites clean. 

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1.  To get rid of bad smells, pour vinegar in a bowl and let it sit overnight.

2.  Put natural spices in a pot and boil them on the stove.

3.  If you have clothes to hang dry, hang them in the room that you want to smell nice.  (The room will smell like your detergent or softener.)

4.  Place laundry detergent in the bottom of your tub overnight.  The bathroom smells good and the tub sparkles.

I will add that baking soda helps to absorb smells.  You can add a refrigerator style box in closets, behind the couch, under the bed, etc.  You can even sift a little bit on the carpet and let it set for a while before you vacuum.

Sometimes I also try a lightly scented candle.  Candles work well for absorbing odors, but be careful; some of them are strong.

Thanks for the tips, Angel.  I am sensitive to smells too.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

So I go to the store and spend tons of money on drain cleaners and use them on a regular basis.  It’s killing me.  Then I found a good recipe for a natural drain cleaner that is safe for my septic system.  Take and pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain and chase it with 1 c white vinegar.  Let it bubble for a few minutes and then rinse it with 1 gallon of boiling water. Now, before you think I am really smart, let me send you to a great article that gave me this wonderful idea.  Now you know I am just a vinegar-holic.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy