Baking Soda Not Only For Controlling Odors

Baking soda has always been used for baking and for controlling odors in the refrigerator.

That’s just a drop in the bucket of its uses.

Speaking of drops, drop a couple of tablespoons into your dishwater to improve even the cheapest dishwashing detergent.

Drop some around on the carpet or upholstery to control odors.

Leave it for at least 15 minutes before vacuuming it up.

Drop 3-4 tablespoons in a sock that has lost its mate. Tie a knot in the sock and put it in a drawer or closet as a sachet. Replace it every other month, or as needed.

This sounds like a good use for those stray socks.

Add some to the soaking water for beans, and it will help reduce their gasproducing properties.

Unclog a drain with 1 cup baking soda followed by a cup of hot vinegar. After 5 minutes follow with a quart of boiling water.

Use as a de- icer on concrete.

Keep handy to put out grease or electrical fires.

Put a mixture of baking powder and sugar out for roaches to eat, which kills them.

There are so many places to look for uses that I just have to stop. I think there’s a whole book on this item.

Here’s one I just tried today: I cleaned the garbage disposal with ice cubes made of half vinegar, half water.

To clean the black rubber pieces that keep extra food from falling in, I used a wet kitchen brush sprinkled with baking soda. I don’t think any of the disposal cleaners will get that gunk underneath that flap.

Here’s one I’m going to try tonight: Put baking soda on a damp cloth to get the melted plastic from the bread wrapper off the toaster oven.