I'll admit I haven't tried everything with baking soda. I mean, come on, I do have a life. Hey now...no comments from the peanut gallery! But I have tried a few new things with it. Baking Soda aka BS to me (giggles), is a major staple in natural cleaning if you're goal is to go chemical free. One of my favorites is it's scrubbing & scouring power. Our glass stove top tends to get pretty yucky looking pretty darn easy. All it takes is a pot of water to boil over and I'm stuck with some nasty brown rings. Don't even get me started on burnt on food. Or melted plastic from when the boyfriend tried helping me out and left the spoon too close to the burner :/ Bless his heart.
To clean the glass stove top, I'll simply run a warm rag over it, mainly to get any crumbs off. Then sprinkle baking soda over the surface, use more on the tough spots. Let it sit for a few minutes. If it's a really tough looking spot, let a hot rag sit over the baking soda for a few minutes. Now get out your elbow grease and apply liberally. Ha that's my way of saying scrub it sista. Most of it will come out clean without even having to scrub, but if you have any spots you'll need to go over them a few times. If you have a hard time with just a was cloth, try a non-abrasive green scrubby. Then wipe over the whole area again with a warm rag and presto! Shiny glass stove top once again.
I've also used BS as a tub & shower scrub and it works like MAGIC! I simply take about a tsp of liquid soap (Dawn), 1 cup of baking soda, a few drops of essential oil (optional), then enough water to make a paste. I apply with a green pad and scrub the area, then rinse. Works like a charm!
Use BS on your carpet. That's right, BS can be used to make your own carpet fresh! I've been using this for a couple of years now and I love it. For starters, I saved an empty parm cheese shaker-I know, so genius. Simply dump in some BS (1-2 cups) then however many drops of essential oil, depending on desired strength. Use as a regular carper deodorizer before vacuuming and never worry what your pets, babies, toddlers, or even you are absorbing from your carpet.
In the bathroom. BS can be used as a wonderful detox bath when mixed with Epsom salt, apple cider vinegar and essential oil. Just add 1/2 cup Epsom, 1/4 cup BS, 1/3 cup ACV and a few drops of EO. This bath will help to draw toxins from your system and will aid with any skin issues, plus it's a great way to relax with a few minutes to yourself.
While you're in the bathroom, slather some on your face and teeth. Here's a great recipe from WellnessMama for homemade natural toothpaste: http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/. For your face, use BS as a natural exfoliator. Mix the baking soda with a little water, or for even better results, use coconut oil, then massage into the face for a good 20 seconds. Make sure to be gentle, we're not scrubbing stovetops anymore. Rinse your face with warm water and enjoy that silky skin.
Last but not least, you can cure BO with BS. That's right, use BS to make your own homemade deodorant! Most commercial deodorants contain nasty chemicals and additives and those can be absorbed right into our system through our pits. Try this recipe instead: http://wellnessmama.com/1523/how-to-make-natural-deodorant/
These aren't the only uses for BS, but they're my personal faves. I love cleaning with baking soda and with spring cleaning right around the corner, lots of us will begin our annual rituals of organizing, dusting, and scrubbing. I urge you to try a few homemade cleaners instead of those chemical & toxin laden products. Even if we can't smell them, those fumes are spread throughout our home and can be very harmful, especially over time. And don't think they're gone when you can't smell them anymore! Those fumes can be transferred throughout your house through your air ducts and continue to recirculate. Not to mention, BS and natural products are much, much easier on the wallet than store bought versions!
Rock on BS'ers.
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