Saving a Ton of Money Using Simple Baking Soda

Ask any homeowner, or heck I will go out on the limb of chance here and say you can even ask a home renter what is the one item that can almost always be found in their refrigerator and 9 out of 10 of them will tell you baking soda. It is no secret, in fact I would think it is now considered common knowledge that a good box of simple baking soda will help to eliminate and control odor inside a fridge. It can also help to keep the contents of that fridge fresh for a longer time.

That alone makes it a valuable tool, but the other remarkable uses for this amazing substance may convince you to start replacing some more expensive items in your house with good old baking soda. I can assure you from experience this crafty little box of fresh making goodness has a ton of other great uses. All of which will save you money.

For most people the term baking soda will bring up the image of a muscular arm holding a hammer on the side of a yellow box. I am speaking of course of the Arm and Hammer brand of baking soda. This brand has been at the forefront of the baking soda industry since 1867, so they know a few things. Despite the accolades and stellar reputation of this company you can still accomplish all the things mentioned in this article with any brand of baking soda. Granted Arm and Hammer is only around $3 a box you can still use dollar brands to get the job done.

So now that all that jazz is out of the way let's get past the fridge and see what all we can do with good old baking soda.

We have already looked at how baking soda can eliminate odors and freshen up a refrigerator but what other fine uses does this heavenly powder contain in that little box? I am very glad you asked.

Fridge odors are not the only odors a little baking soda can remedy. We have all walked by that kitchen garbage can and nearly hit the floor from the smell of last night's dinner or who knows what else may be in that can. I sometimes shudder at the thought to be honest with you. It is possible we can replace our standard garbage bags with scented ones. Lavender or a nice fresh linen aroma to replace that stench. Sadly the beautiful aroma only seems to last a day or say before the garbage kicks it to the curb to make way for it's own array of in your face smells and fails. Let's also not forget that scented bags usually cost around $3 more per box. Is that really a deal?

Now here is a nice $1 replacement that will take that odor to the woodshed. When you remove your bag to take out the garbage simply sprinkle a little baking soda in the bottom of the can. Soon you will find that nose altering experience left by the garbage in the corner is now not so bad and maybe even a little better than you may have imagined. Go baking soda!

While I do not own a dishwasher I do have several friends who do. They often complain of how grimy and dirty the dishwasher gets and how much cleaners set them back for this less than fresh landscape. Again we can save some money by putting back the dishwasher washer, wow that seems illogical, and buy a box of good old baking soda.

Sprinkle a little baking soda in the washer and let it run on rinse. You will find a much cleaner and fresher smelling machine when you are done.

Baking soda also has a remarkable if not uncanny ability to remove pesky stains. So you have spilled some sauce on that nice white stove top. Other than doing what I seem to do on a regular basis you have made a huge mess and now there remains a nasty little stain to forever remind you of your mistake. What ever will you do?

Try this the next time you make a spill on a stove top that haunts you like a bad movie. Wet the stain with a damp sponge and sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the wet stain. Now scrub with a sponge and watch that little rascal vanish before your very eyes. Is it magic? Maybe not but you are more than welcomed to say presto, I always do!

While stove tops stains can be a bit much we have all had that moment of forgetfulness while cooking. Making that sweet pot of five alarm chili and guess what? Our favorite TV show comes on and we drift away to lala land and now our pot is sporting a nice black bottom.

It is almost impossible to get those burnt in stains off your pots and pans and usually we just toss them and buy another. Now you can avoid that walk of shame to the store to pay up to 20 bucks for a new pot by using the awesomeness of baking soda.

Simply clean as much of the burnt mess as you can. Now fill the pot a quarter of the way full of water and toss in a half cup of baking soda. Now bring the water to a boil. Turn it off and let it sit through the night.

The next day just pour out the watery mess and clean as usual and watch those stains go away like a bad sitcom character.

You can use baking soda as marble polish as well for those nice expensive counter tops. A mixture of water and baking soda will even keep brushes nice and clean. So we have seen some cleaning uses of baking soda but would you believe it has some pretty amazing medical ones as well?

I got a fever and the only prescription is baking soda. OK so maybe that is not how that quote went but I like it.

While we have seen some wondrous elements of cleaning handled by our little boxed friend baking soda you are going to be floored by some of the medical uses it presents. That's right baking soda is also a medicinal product.

Now don't assume you will find the cure for cancer in the little yellow box but you will be surprised at some of the other things this little box can treat.

Sunburns suck. let's just be blunt about it. They hurt, they itch and to call them uncomfortable would be to call the universe kinda big. The usual treatment for the sunburn is aloe. Aloe is pretty easy to find but a really good bottle can cost a few bucks and there is that pesky having to rub it in part that really sucks.

The next time you decide to catch a few Zs at the beach and forget to wear that sunblock try this nifty trick to ease the pain of natures instant red face.

Pour a nice lukewarm bath and put one full cup of baking soda in the water. Now have yourself a nice long soak and soon you will feel the sting subside and that Louisiana crawl fish color will start to return to your usual hue.

On the same subject as stings nothing quite feels like a mosquito sting does it? Kind of like being stabbed with a tiny knife loaded with poison. Sting kits are great but run from a few bucks to a ten spot easily. Now you can pocket that money and use some cheap baking soda to take the bite out of that.... well out of that bite.

Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of water until you have a nice paste like consistency. Now put the paste directly on the bite. This is the part where you must sacrifice the chicken and dance naked under a full moon. No wait a minute. That is a different article all together, let's pretend I did not say that.

Let the paste dry and as it begins to crumble off so will the pain and itchiness of the initial sting. This will also work on bee stings. Amazing what we can accomplish with a cheap box of baking soda.

Canker sores are a real nightmare and create a real inconvenience I am told. Take a cup of warm water and a teaspoon of baking soda and rinse your mouth every couple of hours and that little blotchy inconvenience will hit the road jack.

As I said before baking soda has some wonderful healing elements to go right along with it's cleaning ones.

Now you know how to protect that wallet with the powers of baking soda! This $1 box can save you a ton of money over the course of time and becomes one of those can't live without items real quick. Until next time keep pinching those pennies.