Favorite Things: Baking Soda

You know what baking soda is awesome for?  SO MANY THINGS!  I use it so often, I buy the large boxes they sell at Raley's (and if I'm in the mood to deal with people, which I almost never am, I go to Costco and get the big bag) and keep them in a big canister with a cup for scooping/measuring.

Keep reading after the jump.

If you have acne or dry, flaky skin, taking 1/4 tsp of baking soda by mouth can help clarify and soften your skin.  When I remember to do this regularly (which is not too often, but needs to be), my skin looks bright and smooth.  The baking soda neutralizes excess acid in the system, which, apparently, can cause funky skin.

I learned about this in Canada by talking to the guy trying to sell me expensive maple syrup, which, by the way, I bought, because it was the most amazing thing I've ever had.  In fact, if you mix the baking soda in a little good-quality maple syrup (not pancake syrup, the real thing) or raw honey, you have a better tasting elixir, but also the added health benefits offered by those two natural substances.  There are even some claims on the internet that maple syrup and baking soda can cure cancer.  I'm not sure what I think about that, but it couldn't hurt to try it.

Some people actually wash their hair with baking soda and condition with apple cider vinegar, which is so great for them.  I, however, tried it, and after three days, my fine hair was a rats nest of straw, and I wound up having to cut most of it off because it was so dry and damaged.

Other people use it as a toothpaste.  Why not? I probably should. 

Baking soda has a number of household uses, including:

Laundry:  Instead of using dryer sheets, which contain toxic chemicals, add a cup of baking soda to the washer.  It will make your clothes soft, but will also make your detergent more effective.  And it's super cheaper than dryer sheets.

Cast Iron and Enamelware:  As you may already know, I use an enameled Dutch oven and a cast iron skillet for 95% of my cooking.  The Dutch oven sometimes gets bits of food stuck to it that a normal scrubber sponge just won't get out, and sometimes stains.  A paste of baking soda and a little water is a wonderful, gentle abrasive for those hard-to-remove bits and stains.  The cast iron skillet sometimes gets a little rusty, if a helpful house guest washes it before I can stop them.  The baking soda paste removes the rust and leaves a clean surface for you to re-season the skillet on.  It can also remove tea or coffee stains from long unwashed coffee mugs.

Porcelain Sinks and other basins: My porcelain sink can get nasty, especially if I don't wash the dishes for awhile.  I mean, come on, it's almost 75 years old.  A good scrubbing with baking soda removes the layer of junk that settles and any smell that might be clinging to the layer of junk.  And, by "other basins," I mean your toilet.  There, I said it.  Swish 1/2 c of baking soda in the toilet bowl and let it sit for an hour or so, then clean the bowl with your toilet brush.  It'll make it sparkle and remove any smell that might be lingering.

Dishwasher:  Dishwashers can get a little smelly.  Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run it on a normal cycle (with no dishes in it).  It'll take the smell out.

Litter boxes:  Even just one cat and his box can really take the freshness out of your house, if you know what I mean.  In addition to cleaning your cat's box once or twice a day, a good sprinkle of baking soda over the litter will help neutralize your kitty's scent.

This is by no means an exhaustive list - the internet is full of lists.  These are just the most typical ways in which I personally use baking soda.  And this is my blog, so I do what I want.  And you're reading it, so you must care what I think. At least a little bit.