A Year of Blogging: December 30, 2011

December 30 is 'Bicarbonate of Soda' day. I would bet you have some of this in your house. Somewhere. It is most commonly found in a yellow box under the name 'Arm and Hammer'. Bicarbonate of soda is more commonly known as Baking Soda. Baking Soda has many uses. While you may think of all the ways you use it in cooking- cookies, breads, cakes, there are many household uses for baking soda also. It is a terrific deodorizer. Have you noticed that your refrigerator or freezer has an odor? Perhaps your refrigerator smells of the leftover onion you are storing there, or your freezer smells like last month's catch of the day. Put an open box of baking soda in the frig and freezer, and it will absorb the odors. You should change the box every 3 months. Since baking soda is a great deodorizer, you can use it in those unspeakable places- like a litter box or diaper pail. We have a stainless steel double sink in the kitchen, and it can be hard to clean. Sometimes the drains also smell unpleasant. I cover the inside of the sinks with baking soda and pour vinegar over it. Let it set for a few minutes, then rinse with hot water. It helps keep the sink clean and gets rid of the funk coming from the drains! If you mix baking soda with water, you could use it to clean your stainless steel appliances. Unlike many other cleaners, it isn't toxic or harmful to the environment (or your family). You can freshen your carpets easily without steam cleaning them by sprinkling baking soda on the carpet. Let it sit for 15 minutes (or more if there are strong odors) and then vacuum the carpet. It won't damage your carpet and will leave the house with a pleasant refreshing feel. Apparently you can also use it as a pet shampoo. Create a thick paste of baking soda and water to remove tarnish from silver. How often have you fixed dinner, only to have the pan or dish covered in cooked on food that you have to scrub for days to get clean? Dampen the area covered in food, sprinkle with baking soda, and let set overnight. Then scrub with a sponge. I think I'll be trying that next time Erich forgets to use the Pam on a baking dish! Baking soda has many uses for health as well. You can use it as an antacid to help with an upset stomach. You can gargle it as a mouthwash. Or you can use it as a toothpaste. When I had my braces, the orthodontist recommended baking soda and peroxide toothpaste. It didn't taste very good, but it did help keep my teeth nice and clean. It will also soften your skin- add one half cup to your bathwater and soak away. This is such a versatile staple, it's no wonder most people have it in their pantry. And if you don't buy it because you thought it was just for baking, maybe you look at that yellow box differently now. For more ideas on how to use baking soda around the house, check out this link.