17 of the most brilliant ways to fix things with baking soda

Baking soda is one of the most versatile home remedies in your pantry. Here’s how to use baking soda to clean your home, improve your health and more.

For restaurant-quality “puffiness,” add a scant one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda to every three eggs you beat. The omelette will be light and fluffy. You can also use this trick to make big fluffy curds when scrambling eggs. Don’t add too much or your eggs will taste bland, and be careful not to oversalt since the soda adds a slightly salty taste.

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Afraid those dry beans have been on the shelf too long? Help soften them by adding a pinch of baking soda to the soaking water.

Been chopping something pungent? The smell of garlic or fish can linger on your fingers long after the food is gone. To avoid that, scrub your wet hands with baking soda (as if it were soap), then rinse in warm water. Your hands will smell sweet (and feel softer too).

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Avoid hearing another whiny, “I’m boooored.” Boil 2 cups of baking soda with one cup cornstarch and 1¼ cups water until thickened. Remove from the heat and cool. It makes a fun, pliable modelling clay that’s good for a day.

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Sort out the stink with a baking soda wash. Put 1 cup of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher and run it on a rinse cycle. If the smell persists, sprinkle a few tablespoons on the bottom of the washer to sit there between loads. There’s no need to rinse it out before running the next load.

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By the time you’ve thought, “What’s that smell?” and then remembered you left the stove on, it’s often too late. The bottom of the pot is a blackened mess. You can save it, though. Scrape out as much food as you can and then fill the pan a quarter full of water. Pour in a half cup of baking soda and bring the water to a boil. Turn it off and let it sit overnight. In the morning, you can clean off the black stuff with ease.

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If last year’s garden tomatoes tasted dull, take action this year to ensure your garden harvest is as good as it can be. Sprinkle baking soda lightly on the soil around the base of your tomato plants; the resulting bounty will taste sweeter.

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Found mildew around the edge of a childhood classic you adored? If it’s a mild case, sprinkle baking soda lightly between the pages, then put the book in a paper bag and dust the outside with more baking soda. Let it sit for several days, then remove, shake out, and dust off the baking soda, and let the book get a shot of bright sunlight. It doesn’t remove mildew marks, but if you store it in a dry place, no more mildew will grow.

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Pour a cup of baking soda into a lukewarm bath, then soak and relax. It will help lessen the pain more quickly.

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The flaky scalp on infants known as cradle cap is harmless and will usually go away on its own, but most parents can’t stand to look at it. Make a paste in your palm of a couple of tablespoons baking soda and a teaspoon of water. Rub gently on the affected area, being careful not to get near the eyes, then wipe off with a damp washcloth, using no soap or baby shampoo. Repeat for two to three days until the flakiness lessens. (If the baby’s head is very red after this treatment, try rubbing in baby oil instead; the soda could be too abrasive).

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It’s hard to believe how much pain a tiny sore on the inside of your mouth can cause. Help the sore heal faster by swishing every couple of hours with a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda stirred until it dissolves into 1 cup warm water.

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Got a lot of gunk baked onto the walls of your microwave? Put 1 cup water and a few tablespoons of baking soda into a glass container. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Use a damp sponge to wipe off all the loosened grime.

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Don’t let a trail of greasy little fingers down your favourite hallway wallpaper upset you. Rub the stain gently with a damp sponge sprinkled with baking soda, then rinse and pat dry.

Careful use of baking soda can help make certain foods more palatable. A very tiny pinch of baking soda in coffee, orange juice or tomato soup, for example, can prevent an acidic stomach after eating. Be careful not to overdo it or food will taste bland.

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For a fresh bite, rush inside and pour a tablespoon of baking soda in your palm. Wet it with a few drops of water to make a paste, then smear it on the bite area. Let it dry and flake off. Treating a mark this way as soon as possible will minimise the red welt and the itching should promptly subside. The same treatment works for bee stings, assuming you have carefully removed any sign of the stinger.

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To keep grass and weeds out of the cracks between your paving stones, sprinkle on baking soda and sweep it into the cracks.

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For hot, sweaty feet or tired, achy toes, plop your feet in a basin of cool water with baking soda stirred in. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse and dry. This will help cut down on odour and may also help ease athlete’s foot.

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Source: RD.com