10 Amazing Uses of Baking Soda

Baking soda had its origin as a solution to an age-old problem. Ever since the discovery of baking, people have been looking for an alternative to yeast. Yeast is made of live organisms responsible for bread dough.

Understand that without yeast, the bread will be flat and tough. What makes the typical loaf of bread so nice, fluffy, and chewy is the amount of carbon gas holes in the dough. This process is called leavening.

Thanks to the carbon dioxide gas let out by the yeast as it digests the sugar added to the flour, it expands the dough when you add yeast to the flour.

You may think that this is the ideal solution for bread. It isn’t.

First of all, it takes a long time. Depending on the type of bread that you are going to be baking, you might have to wait hours.

Also, yeast is very sensitive. Back in the bad old days, you may be stuck with a bad batch of yeast. In that situation, it doesn’t matter how long you wait. Your dough will not rise.

The amount of live yeast in that concoction simply isn’t enough to produce the carbon-dioxide needed for a nice, fluffy loaf of bread.

I’m giving you this context, for people have been frustrated with yeast for a very long time. Therefore the invention of baking soda was such a big deal, at least for the baking world.

Baking soda is made of sodium bicarbonate. When combined with milk or buttermilk or any other liquid that contains some sort of acid, it goes through a chemical reaction.

This chemical reaction takes place as baking soda, which is a base, is combined with an acid. In this case, it creates carbon dioxide gas bubbles, and this makes for a great stand-in for yeast.

Baking soda stores better. You don’t have to worry about it going bad. You can store in a wide range of temperatures, unlike yeast.

Any acid paired with baking soda will do. So, over the years, baking soda has far outgrown its original purpose as a leavening agent.

Now, if you are a homesteader or if you would like a more natural or more basic way to clean things, baking soda is your best bet. It just needs some sort of acid and it will do its job of producing carbon dioxide gas.

It makes for a great cleanser and its chemical processes make it so practical as you can use it in a wide range of ways.

Many people treat it as home-medicine. It has many beneficial uses for the body, and it also has industrial uses around the house. If you’re looking to clean stuff, get rid of insects, or discourage pests, or put out fires, this handy compound is nothing short of amazing.

Here are 10 amazing uses of baking soda for your body and your home.

1. Baking Soda can be used to treat heartburn or acid reflux. It helps by neutralizing the acid in your stomach. Just dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it one sip at a time. Baking Soda has very high sodium content, do not use this treatment if you have blood pressure or heart problems.

2. It can be used to whiten the teeth. It is found to be effective in removing plaque and teeth stains, and antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

3. Baking Soda can be used as a deodorant. Body odor is produced when bacteria converts sweat into waste products that cause the odor. This is caused by acidic waste products, and baking soda helps eliminate this.

4. It can be used to Whiten your laundry. Baking soda is a potent stain remover by interacting with the acids in stains, thus effectively removing them. It can also brighten white clothes when washing. Just add a half cup to your batch in the washing machine, and it will help make your laundry smell fresh and clean.

5. Baking Soda is an effective kitchen cleaner and sink cleaner. It can remove stubborn stains and odors from the sink, counter tops, coffee cups, silverware and pans. Create a baking soda paste by mixing equal parts of water and apply to the surface with a sponge or cloth.

6. It cleans your fruits and vegetables from harmful pesticides. Simply soak fruits and vegetables in a basin with baking soda solution (Baking Soda + Water) for 15 minutes to remove pesticides.

7. It can be used to polish silverware and clean a scorched pot. It removes tarnishes from your silverware and it can also be used to remove stubborn scorch stains in your pots and pans.

8. Baking Soda can also be used as a fire extinguisher. It is used in “dry” fire extinguishers, it works by reacting to the heat which causes it to produce CO2 that helps extinguish fires. It is also effective for small fires from grease of oil, but not large fires.

9. It can be used as a multipurpose bathroom cleaner because it helps whiten and disinfect all bathroom surfaces like tiles, toilets, bathtubs ,baking soda on the carpet stain and spray with water & vinegar mixture. Let sit for an hour and scrub and vacuum the stain.

10. Baking Soda can be used as an air freshener. In a jar, mix baking soda and your favorite essential oil, cover with cloth and secure with a string.