Baking soda has a lot of practical uses that relate to preparedness, homesteading and surviving with minimal resources. Most people are familiar with how baking soda is great for the teeth and as a deodorizer, but these are just a couple of benefits among many that you should know about. Let’s take a look and see how this wonder substance can make life a lot easier for cleaning, health, hygiene and even pest control.
Health and Body
Antiperspirant- Baking soda is ideal for absorbing moisture, and a little dab under the arms will help to keep sweating and odors under control. You can also add some powder inside of your socks to control moisture the come from the feet as well.
Dandruff- Sprinkle some baking soda onto the head and massage for a few minutes. Rinse when finished. It will help to remove flaky skin while also soothing the scalp.
Canker Sores- Take one part baking soda and two parts water and apply the paste to the affected area to soothe pain and promote healing.
Bites and Stings- Make a paste with water and baking soda and apply to the skin to soothe pain from bee, wasp and hornet stings. It will also help to draw out the stinger. You can also use this method to soothe the pain from jellyfish stings as well by including some vinegar, but using a really thick layer of paste will help the most.
Splinters- Make a paste and apply to the affected area a few times a day until the splinter gets drawn out.
Burns from Wind- You can also make a paste and put it on the face after receiving wind burns. It will help to reduce pain and irritation while also expediting the healing process.
Adding some baking soda to your bath will also help to relieve a number of other maladies including sore feet and itching caused by chicken pox. It also works to help relieve mild aches and pains.
Kitchen and Bath
Laundry- Adding baking soda to detergent, the bottom of hand operated washers or directly into wash basins with water will boost cleaning and help to remove strong odors.
Dishwasher- Scatter a cup of baking soda across the bottom, run the dishwasher for a cycle and then keep the door open until it’s dry. It will remove odors and clean the walls of the unit.
Abrasive Cleaner- Create a paste with equal parts baking soda and dish detergent. It will help to remove stains, mildew and give bathroom sinks, tubs and tiles a fresh look and feel.
Toilet- Add a cup of baking soda to the bowl and let sit for about an hour before brushing and flushing.
Burnt Pots- Add some water to the bottom of pots and pans, sprinkle some baking soda and boil for about 15 minutes.
Containers- Deodorize containers by sprinkling them with baking soda and letting them rest overnight. Rinse and dry. You can also remove odors from baby bottles by soaking them in hot water with baking soda added.
Cleaning
Baking soda and water can also be used to remove water stains from wood, make floors shine, freshen garbage cans and remove stains from silver and chrome. It also can freshen hampers and carpets. This was the all-purpose cleaner, along with lemon and cornstarch long before commercial products became available.
Pest Control
Baking soda has been used for ages to control indoor and outdoor pests. Sprinkle some baking soda on topsoil in the garden to control invasive pests that can harm crops. Place some along baseboards inside to control ants. You can also use boric acid, which is a derivative of baking soda, to control a host of crawling insects, including cockroaches, without exposing yourself to toxic chemicals.
Baking soda is one of the most versatile products that you can have on hand to accomplish these and a million other tasks. It should be included in every stockpile to ensure that you have large supply on hand, and always remember that it is safe and non-toxic.
