Baking Soda... the Cheaper, Greener Cleaner!

So why write about baking soda?? Once I found out this stuff went WAY beyond cookies, I just had to learn more! That's when I came across: "Baking Soda Bonanza" by Peter A. Ciullo. It tells when sodium bicarbonate (scientific name for baking soda) was found, and its history to present day usage. Don't worry its focus is on household cleaning, child-adult care, bathroom uses, homeopathic remedies, and on and on.

I have provided a link in which you may buy the book online if you want. If you don't want to buy the book but would like some simple baking soda-ed summer simplifiers, keep reading! Happy Bonanza!

1) Fire... baking soda decomposes to sodium carbonate (soda ash), water, and carbon dioxide (just in case you wanted to know). It can be used on electrical fires in equipment/wiring and flammable liquid fires involving grease, gasoline, oils, and solvents.

2) Burn Soothers (4 types)... #1 for minor burns, including sunburns, soak in a tepid (warmish-coolish) bath containing 1 cup of baking soda. #2 take a sponge bath with 1/4 cup of baking soda mixed in 1 quart of warm water. #3 For small minor burns (like pot handle, cookie sheet, stove burner, etc) make a paste using 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water or witch hazel. #4 for SUNBURN BLISTERS soak a sterile dressing in a solution of 1 tablespoon of baking soda per cup of water and wrap around/on top of the blister.

3) Hard Contact Lens Storage Fluid... store hard contact lenses in a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of sterile water. Mix in a sterile container until clear. Pour the solution through a paper coffee filter and store in a sterile dropper bottle.

4) Earwax Softener... for buildup of hard earwax try a solution of 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 cup glycerin in 1 cup sterile water. Mix in a sterile container until clear and store in a sterile dropper bottle. Do this at bedtime.

5) Insect Bite and Sting Relief... quickly apply a paste of 1 tablespoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water, witch hazel, or clear ammonia. Cover with a damp cloth or the like.

6) Cloth Seat Cleaner... #1 clean 'just happened' stains on colorfast cloth chair seats and backs with a paste of 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water. Rub the paste in to the stain, let it dry, then brush or vacuum away. #2 Absorb 'just happened' greasy stains on colorfast cloth chair seats and backs with a blend of 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of salt. Sprinkle the powder on the stain and leave it for a few hours. When you come back vacuum the powder off.

7) Drain Cleaning-2 ways... #1 mix 1 pound of baking soda and 1 pound of salt in a container with a lid (store tightly covered). Once a week pour 1/2 cup of the mixture down the drain followed by 1 cup of boiling water. Allow it to sit for an hour or so, then flush with hot tap water. #2 Pour 1/2 cup baking of soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup vinegar. Let it sit for about 2 hours then rinse with hot tap water.

8) Rust Busters... remove rust stains on tile, tub, and sink by scrubbing with baking soda sprinkled on a damp nylon scrubber. Rinse well.

9) Roach Remover... mix 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of sugar in a large container. Sprinkle in roach-infested areas (holes, walls, outside..) as a pesticide-free roach killer.

10) Heavy Duty All-Purpose Cleaner... make a solution containing 1/2 cup ammonia, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, and 1/4 cup white vinegar in 2 quarts of water. This will clean and degrease almost all colorfast washable surfaces around the house. Apply with a sponge, rinse... and dry. USE RUBBER GLOVES AND GOOD VENTILATION!!