17 Baking Soda Tricks That Belong in Every Mississippi Household

What do cleaning a toilet, treating a sunburn, and whitening your teeth have in common? You can complete each task with the same ingredient: baking soda.

Most grocery stores carry sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), but its uses go far beyond baking. This powerful, low-cost ingredient has applications for everything from cleaning your bathroom to neutralizing smelly odors to removing pesky insects.

I’ll introduce you to some of the uses of baking soda that everyone should know.

The next time your Mississippi home has a household problem you can’t solve, check to see whether the solution might be sitting in your kitchen cupboard.

1: Unclog Drains

Do you have a stubborn clog in a kitchen or bathroom sink?

When mixed with vinegar, baking soda produces a reaction to tackle clogged drains, according to MarthaStewart.com.

Pour one-half cup of baking soda into the clogged drain, followed by one-half cup of white vinegar. After 30 minutes, flush the drain with hot water.

2: Clean Toilets

No one enjoys cleaning toilets, but baking soda can make this chore a bit more pleasant.

It’s also a greener way to clean toilets and other bathroom fixtures, such as faucets and showers.

Apply baking soda to the inside of the toilet bowl and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a toilet brush to finish cleaning.

3: Brighten Stainless Steel

Stainless steel looks great in kitchens and bathrooms, but it can become dull over time. Clean and brighten your stainless steel fixtures with baking soda.

Apply baking soda to a stainless steel sink and rinse with a dampened cloth or sponge.

You can also clean stainless steel appliances and fixtures by adding baking soda to a damp cloth and gently scrubbing.

4: Neutralize Fridge Odors

If you accidentally leave food in the fridge too long, it can result in unpleasant odors. Baking soda acts as a natural deodorizer to remove foul smells.

Per The Old Farmer’s Almanac, you can place an open box of baking soda in the fridge to absorb bad smells.

When it’s time to replace the box with a new one, use the old baking soda for cleaning tasks.

5: Get Rid of Cockroaches

Cockroaches are the last insect many people want to find inside their homes. If you have an insect infestation, use baking soda to remove the critters from your home.

You can spread baking soda along areas where insects can infiltrate your home, such as basement windows and under sink pipes. Cockroaches that eat the baking soda will become dehydrated and die.

Baking soda can also kill other insects, such as carpenter ants and silverfish.

6: Control Cravings

Do you have an overactive sweet tooth? Curb your cravings with a dash of baking soda.

The next time you want a sweet treat, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of warm water.

Swish the mixture around your mouth and spit it out. You’ll discover your craving has disappeared.

7: Relieve Sunburn

Nothing ruins a summer day faster than a sunburn. When you spend a little too much time in the sun, turn to baking soda for some relief.

You can add sodium bicarbonate to your bath water for a calming soak.

It’s also an effective treatment to stop bug bites from itching.

8: Make Yummy Baked Goods

If you enjoy baking, you probably know that baking soda is a common ingredient in many recipes.

That’s because it acts as a leavening agent to help batters expand and rise. You can use baking soda to make a variety of tasty treats, such as cakes, cookies, muffins, and breads.

It’s so helpful for baking that there’s even a National Bicarbonate of Soda Day. It occurs each year on December 30, near the end of the holiday baking season.

9: Clean Fruits and Veggies

Fresh fruits and vegetables can contain traces of pesticides. Using baking soda, you can wash your produce to remove these harmful substances.

One study even found baking soda to be the most effective way of removing pesticide residues from apples.

Before rinsing your fruits and veggies, add baking soda to a bowl of water. Wash your produce in the solution and dry it before eating.

10: Deodorize a Mattress

Can you remember the last time you cleaned your mattress? If not, grab a box of baking soda and get to work.

Sprinkle baking soda on the mattress and allow it to sit for a few minutes before vacuuming it.

The baking soda acts as a deodorizer, allowing you to sleep on a cleaner, fresher mattress. You can also remove mattress stains by spraying the stain with vinegar and adding baking soda.

11: Freshen Shoes

Whether you want to admit it or not, your shoes may start to have an unpleasant odor over time. Baking soda can neutralize this smell to make your shoes good as new.

To freshen your shoes, sprinkle the insides with baking soda.

Allow the baking soda to work its magic overnight. Don’t forget to remove the baking soda before you wear the shoes again.

12: Remove Sweat Stains

You don’t need to toss out your favorite shirt when sweat stains start to appear. Instead, look inside your pantry for an easy fix.

To remove sweat stains, mix baking soda with water until it becomes a thick paste.

Apply the paste to the stain and leave it there for one hour. Toss your shirt in the laundry and watch how much cleaner it comes out.

13: Get Cleaner Laundry

Along with sweat-stained clothing, the rest of your wardrobe can look cleaner with the help of baking soda.

Sodium bicarbonate contains properties that can aid your laundry detergent by increasing the pH level of water, according to ChemicalSafetyFacts.org.

Just add baking soda to your laundry for cleaner, fresher clothes. The baking soda works to remove dirt from clothing fibers.

14: Treat Heartburn

If you get heartburn after eating your favorite foods, you may not need to give them up. Baking soda can neutralize stomach acid, providing effective relief for heartburn and indigestion.

According to Healthline, you can treat heartburn by mixing one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of cold water and drinking the mixture.

However, be aware that baking soda contains a high amount of sodium, which can be problematic for some.

15: Whiten Teeth

Want to dazzle everyone you meet with a whiter smile? Look no further than baking soda. It’s mildly abrasive, making it effective at removing stains from teeth.

Create a paste by mixing baking soda and water together. Apply the paste to your teeth and brush.

For an even simpler solution, look for a toothpaste that contains baking soda the next time you’re at the store.

16: Freshen Breath

Besides a whiter smile, baking soda can give you fresher breath. It’s a cost-effective alternative to buying mouthwash.

For fresher breath, add one-half teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of warm water.

You can also add it to peppermint tea. Swish the mixture around your mouth and spit it out.

17: Neutralize Garbage Smells

When your garbage starts to stink, baking soda can work to neutralize the unpleasant odor.