Baking soda is the product. Less commonly known as sodium bicarbonate. Not to be confused with baking powder, which is not pure sodium bicarbonate (you can read about the difference here). It really shouldn't be called "baking soda," because baking is only one of the hundreds of things it can be used for. Really, it should be called "Magic Soda," but that sounds too suspicious. You can find lists everywhere just by googling "baking soda uses." You can search those on your own, but here are 5 things I use it for at home and in my dorm:
1. Hair:
This is what I use it for the most. I have a little Tupperware bowl that I fill up with baking soda before I get in the shower. When I get in, I add a little bit of water to it, put the lid on and shake it up, then stir it up a little with my finger. I like mine to be less watery so I can actually hold it in my hand. The less water you add, the more like a paste it is. Then I scrub it in! It feels very gritty, and might itch a little at first, but it will help strip your hair and make it soft. It also brings out your natural highlights! You can just add it to your normal shampoo if you don't want to go through the trouble of doing it my way. Be sure to add fresh at least once a week though, or else it won't work as well. I always use some conditioner after I use it to keep my hair from drying out. If you add vinegar (which I don't usually since I hate the smell) it will make your hair super soft! I don't use baking soda in my hair every day, though some people do. I almost always use it after swimming laps at the YMCA, so a few times a week. It helps strip the chlorine right out!
2. Skin:
Baking soda baths are amazing! They are great for your skin and make the water soft. If you scrub it on your skin, it will turn your pimples into whiteheads! It sounds gross I guess, but it is helping to bring all of those out from under you skin! It is good on your face too. Yay for exfoliation! As I said, I swim a lot, and even if I take a shower and use body wash (which I do!) I can still smell the chlorine on my skin. After using baking soda, the smell is gone.
3. Drains:
Does your drain smell bad? Pour some baking soda down it! I did this in my dorm a lot since I used my sink for everything.
4. Cleaning agent:
Baking soda works well for cleaning counters and and other surfaces, but I wouldn't say that "cleaning" and "sanitizing" are the same. This is good if you have small kids that have their mouths all over things, but if you want to actually kill germs use Clorox wipes or Lysol. I did an experiment in biology with various cleaning agents and "natural cleaners" did the least good in killing germs. But, if you just want to clean something, baking soda is great.
5. Deodorizer/Freshener
You can use baking soda to freshen up shoes that smell, use it in the washing machine, or sprinkle it in places that give off a bad odor. I don't use it for this much, but I have put it in my shoes before.
Bonus: I have heard that it will keep ants and such away. I have never tried it. I always use cinnamon.
You can get this magic soda for cheap and in fairly large boxes. What do you use baking soda for?
