Baking Soda, or Sodium Bicarbonate or Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, is chemically classified as Acid Salt.
Most know it as a great raising agent when baking many foods. Its raising property is a result of it releasing carbon dioxide when heated. You know when you forget the baking soda as your cookies are flat.
In addition, its alkalotic properties make it a powerful and safe choice to assist in many healing and cleaning aspects.
Health & Healing
- Baking soda is a good tooth polisher and combined with other products such as tooth paste with calcium powder makes for a better smile.
- Gargled with water it can assist with gum inflammation.
- Upset stomachs can be settled with a teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of room temperature purified water.
- For your dog’s upset stomach, wet your finger and tap it into fresh baking soda and put your soda finger print on their nose. They will instinctively lick it off and settle their stomach harmlessly along with alkalizing their digestive track.
- Mixed with a small amount of water it can make a poultice or sticky paste that will harmlessly draw bee stingers, rashes and skin reactions out of the affected area.
Cleaning
- Baking Soda can be used instead of expensive cleansers to clean and sanitize bathroom sinks and tubs by sprinkling a bit on the surface and rubbing with a damp cloth. After a quick rinse, the surfaces are clean and smooth.
- Mixed with the right amount of white vinegar it can clear sluggish drains as it breaks up the sticky lining and moves it down the drain.
- Baking Soda is well known as a way to draw out offending scents in closed areas such as refrigerators and closets. It needs to be changed once a month, but is very inexpensive as well as nontoxic.
- For oily or greasy drops on cotton clothing, moisten the spot, put a dab of baking soda on it and allow it to dry. This draws out some of the oil to help clear it in the next wash.