8 Baking Soda Hacks That’ll Make Your Life Easier

8 Baking Soda Hacks That’ll Make Your Life Easier

I firmly believe in recycling and reusing stuff. It’s my little contribution towards being environmentally conscious. If I can fix something that’s broken, I will do it over throwing it away. I don’t know if I’m generalizing but I think it’s a very Indian thing. After all, jugaad is a part of our lives. This is precisely why I’m always reading up on hacks that will make my life easier. Here’s what I stumbled upon: Baking soda can be useful beyond its role in the kitchen! Trust me folks, these really work.

1. Get Rid Of Deodorant Stains

Do you have a white shirt in your wardrobe that you have hardly worn twice and had to push away in a corner because of those evident (and gross) deodorant stains? Well, don’t lose your classic white shirt to a stubborn stain just yet, because baking soda is here to the rescue! Mix 4 spoons of baking soda with warm water and rub it on the area. Let this paste dry on the fabric for a few minutes and then wash it off. Say hello to that crisp white shirt again!

2. Clean Hair Brushes and Combs

Brushes and combs tend to have a lot of oil and dirt build up due to daily use and it is absolutely necessary to clean them frequently. To clean your brushes thoroughly, soak them in a mix of warm water and baking soda and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Once the dirt is out, rinse and dry on a paper towel.

3. Make Your Own Air-Freshener

If you can’t stand toxic air-fresheners, here is a fix for you. Mix half a cup of baking soda with around 10 drops (depending on how strong you want the scent to be) of your favorite essential oil in a small glass jar. Cover the lid with a piece of cloth and it is done. You have your very own natural air-freshener.

4. Freshen Your Closet

You know that trademark musty closet smell that seeps into those clothes that you hardly ever wear? Well there’s a way to get rid of that smell if only you freshen your closet. All you need to do is place a cup or box of baking soda inside your closet. What this does is, it absorbs any kind of odor that’s inside, leaving your clothes smelling and feeling super fresh.

5. Remove Shoe Odour

Everyone’s feet sweat, but only some people’s feet have the capability of raising a stink. So instead of living in denial let’s tackle that strange odour coming out of your shoe, shall we? You need to add baking soda into a tiny cloth bag or you could just fill it in a piece of cloth and tie it up with a string or ribbon and throw the bag into your shoe at night. If you want it to be more effective, you can sprinkle it directly inside your shoe if you don’t mind the white remains after you dust it out. Warning: Do not try this on leather or suede shoes. Since it absorbs moisture, it might make them brittle.

6. Whiten Teeth

It’s embarrassing to contain a toothy smile if your pearlies aren’t exactly the right shade of white. This is especially true when you have put on a rather bold and bright shade of red lipstick since that’s exactly when your teeth are most likely to be in focus. Avoid this situation by mixing baking soda with an equal amount of water, put it on your toothbrush and brush gently and you have made yourself a quick teeth-whitening solution. Caution: Don’t leave the paste on too long. It could damage the enamel that coats the teeth.

7. Remove Built-Up Tarnish From Jewelry

Make your jewelry look shiny and brand new just like when you bought them by wiping it with a sponge or cloth dipped in a solution of water and baking powder.

8. Soothe Your Feet

Now who doesn’t enjoy a relaxing soak after a really hard day? Dip your feet in warm water, add a few teaspoons of baking soda into it and give your feet the R&R it deserves. Scrub your ankles after soaking it for a while, layers of dead skin will slough off easily.

Caroline Padayatty

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