Baking Soda - Other Uses: Page 2

• Stove Gas Burners
  If you can remove the stove's gas burners easily to clean around them, immerse them in a pan of boiling water with four tablespoons of baking soda for a few minutes. 

• removing stains from coffee mugs
  Sprinkle a little baking soda into the bottom of the cup and add warm water to make a paste. Let stand for a while before rinsing.   

• Drain clearer
  1/2 cup (110g) baking soda
  1/2 cup (125ml) vinegar
  2 quarts (2 liters) water
  
  A slow moving drain can be a harbinger of bigger problems unless it's dealt with swiftly. But before you pour harsh chemicals down the drain, give this easy, natural formula a try: Start by pouring the baking soda in to the problem drain, followed by the vinegar and let sit for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, bring the water to a boil. After 15 minutes, pour the boiling water down the drain. Repeat monthly to keep your drain clean and smelling fresh.  

• foot odor eliminator
  2 gallons (7.5 liters) warm water
  1/2 cup (110g) baking soda
  4 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
  
  If embarrassing foot odor has you down, don't hide your feet in more layers of socks; instead, try pampering them with a baking soda soak once a week. Fill a plastic tub with the warm water and baking soda. If you like floral scents, add a few drops of lavender oil, too. Soak your feet for 15 minutes and then pat dry. The baking soda will gently restore your skin's pH levels and neutralize the odor-causing bacteria responsible for the stink. 

• Pre-treatment for grass stains
  1 tablespoon (14g) baking soda
  1 teaspoon (5ml) lemon juice
  
  How do moms know that spring has arrived? Their laundry baskets are suddenly overflowing with kids' jeans that are all sporting ground-in grass stains at the knees. Fortunately, there's a perfectly natural way to get rid of those stains. Sprinkle baking soda on the area, followed up with the lemon juice on top. As the mixture stars to fizz, rub the fabric to make sure it works its way through the stain. Launder as usual.  

• pet bed deodorizer
  1/2 cup (110g) baking soda
  
  A little baking soda can be a great way to keep your pet's bed smelling fresh between washings. Just sprinkle 1/2 cup (110g) on top and let it sit for a few hours to absorb unpleasant odors. Then take it outside and give it a few and give it a few good shakes; or, better yet, use a handheld vacuum to get rid of some of the hair as well. 

• pots and pans with baked-on deposit (Note: not nonstick) No. 2
  After a pan has been baking away in the oven for hours, put a layer of water in the bottom and add a cup of vinegar. Bring this to a boil, remove from the heat, and then sprinkle in two tablespoons of baking soda. Remember to expect the fizzing effect, and stand back unless you fancy the idea of two nostrils' full of the smell of vinegar at close quarters. The remains of the cooking should then loosen off without further resistance.  

• Clogged drain clearer
  1/2 cup (150g) salt
  1 cup (220g) baking soda
  1 quart (1 liter) boiling water
  
  When the kitchen sink is slow to drain, a sludgy build-up in the pipes may be the culprit. Let a trusted combination of salt and baking soda take the place of harsh chemicals that may be bad for the pipes. Pour the salt down the problem drain, followed by the baking soda. Let this mixture sit for several hours (overight is best). Follow this up by pouring the boiling water down the drain to rinse it free of sediment.

• stainless steel appliance cleaner
  1 small spoonful baking soda
  
  Stainless steel appliances are popular in part because they tolerate heat well, resist germs, and look great, but they do require careful cleaning. For most messes, baking soda is the perfect cleaner for the job because it won't scratch the metal. To use, put a small spoonful on a damp sponge and squeeze the sponge a few times to form a thick paste. Rub lightly on stainless steel in the direction of the grain. Make sure to rinse thoroughly and buff with a dry papr towel to remove water spots.  

• canker sore relief
  1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) baking soda
  1 small glass warm water
  
  Those painful white canker sores that occasionally pop up in your mouth can make it difficult to eat, so they demand swift treatment. One common formula is to make a mouth rinse out of 1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) baking soda and a small glass of warm water. Stir to dissolve the baking soda completely and then take a sip to swish around your mouth (do not swallow). Repeat 3 or 4 times a day until the sore is gone.   

• Lemon air freshener
  2 tablespoons (28g) baking soda
  2 cups (500ml) hot water
  1/2 cup (125ml) lemon juice
  
  Looking for an alternative to expensive room deodorizing sprays? Make your own! Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water, then add the lemon juice and transfer to a clean spray bottle. Use a few squirts now and then to fill your house with a just-cleaned scent (it's especially effective at clearing the air of dust after cleaning). 

• humidifier deodorizer
  2 tablespoons (28g) baking soda
  3 tablespoons (45ml) lemon juice, divided
  
  A home humidifier can be a great tool for coping with the dryness associated with winter weather, but over time it can develop odors. If your humidifier is putting out more than just moisture, give all the washable parts a good scrub down with a mixture of the baking soda and 2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice. Rinse thoroughly and fill with the recommended amount of water, plus the remaining 1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice. The lemon juice will help transform the vapors into a pleasant lemony scent. Repeat every few weeks as necessary. 

• urine smell eliminator
  2 cups (500ml) vinegar
  1 cup (250ml) water
  1 cup (220g) baking soda
  
  Repeated bedwetting not only makes for unpleasant sleep, but also a ruined mattress. Fortunately, you can rely on vinegar to get rid of the smell of urine. Mix the vinegar and water and apply with a sponge to affected areas. Blot dry with a towel and cover the spot with baking soda. Remove the baking soda with a handheld vacuum when it is dry to the touch. 

• Kitchen sponge reviver
  2 tablespoons (28g) baking soda
  2 tablespoons (30ml) vinegar
  water
  br> Few things can smell as foul as kitchen sponges past their prime, owing to the bacteria they can collect. It's best to replace them frequently to maintain the cleanest possible kitchen; however, that is not to say the sponges need to be disposed of completely. They can still come in handy for a variety of projects around the house, if you revive them with a healthy dose of baking soda and vinegar. Mix equal amounts on a sponge and add enough water to saturate. Squeeze gently to ensure the mixture has worked all the way through the sponge. Let it sit for about an hour, and then wring dry. Repeat if necessary. 

• Soothing footbath
  1/2 cup (60g) Epsom salt
  1/2 cup (60g) baking soda
  1 gallon (4 liters) warm water
  
  Looking for a great way to relax tired, aching feet? Try an olf-fashioned footbath: Simply mix the Epsom salt and baking soda into a large basin of warm water. Slip your feet in and soak for as long as feels comfortable. Not only will your feet feel and smell great, but this effective combination will soften calluses, too.

• Cleaning Bottom of Iron
  Make a paste of baking soda and vinegar to clean the bottom of your iron. 

• pool toy mildew prevention
  1 handful baking soda
  
  Inflatable pool toys, including air mattresses, balls, and inner tubes, are susceptible to mold and mildew once they're deflated and stored in the off-season. To minimize this risk, first make sure to dry them thoroughly in the sun for a couple of hours. And for an extra measure, sprinkle each item with a handful of baking soda before rolling up for long-term storage. The baking soda will help absorb any moisture they may be exposed to until next summer. 

• removing newsprint stains from surfaces
  The print can be a real pain to get rid of if you leave a newspaper lying on a slightly damp surface, or drop of rain gets the paper wet before delivery. Make a paste with baking soda and a little water and rub gently until the stain disappears. 

• Glass and stainless steel coffeepots (not aluminum)
  Fill the pot or jug with warm water while it is standing in a sink. Add a dash of white vinegar and half a teaspoon of baking soda. Let it fizz and soak for a few minutes. Rinse with fresh water and dry carefully.   

• Pots / Pans with baked-on deposit (Note: not nonstick) No. 3
  If the pan isn't too bad, soak it in baking soda and water for half an hour before washing normally. Alternatively if your not worried about scratching the pad, use the baking soda dry with a scouring pad.