Incredible Uses for Magical Baking Soda

Those considered aged and wise or those who are avid bakers, know the familiar orange box on the grocery store shelves containing the incredible magical product known as baking soda. Most people today walk right by the box having little clue about its contents, history or uses. The most familiar brand, Arm & Hammer, has been around for over 155 years.

The flashy toothpaste ads of television are suddenly touting and extolling the benefits of baking soda added to their toothpastes. Long before it became an additive to toothpaste, baking soda was used as a toothpaste. Beyond a great tooth cleaner (and breath freshener), it was:

· used as an antacid,
· made into a paste and applied to bee stings
· used as a scrubbing powder,
· added to bath water to sooth irritated skin,
· added to wash water to soften water and freshen clothing
· used as a deodorizing body and foot powder,
· used as a deodorizer for trashcans, diaper pails and drains…

…and, oh yeah, as an ingredient in baking those great old-fashioned biscuits that begged for butter and honey.

Hey! It can still be used in these ways. It is cheaper than fancy labeled cleaners and chemicals and is environmentally friendly. For a sparkling clean sink, sprinkle some baking soda on a sponge instead of an abrasive cleanser. You may already know it makes a great deodorizer for the refrigerator, but when you replace it, don’t through it in the trash, pour it down the kitchen sink drain to help deodorize. Diluted in water, use baking soda to clean and deodorize trashcans. Have a stinky closet? Open a box of baking soda and put it on the shelf.

Arm & Hammer now sells two types of baking soda, one packaged for baking and cleaning use that gives directions on adding to laundry and one package (smaller) that can be used and gives directions for use as an antacid. As for tooth brushing, put some baking soda in a small lidded container and keep it in the bathroom. Wet the toothbrush, dip it in the baking soda and brush away.