Do you hear your friends suggesting to use baking soda for any skin problems, and do-it-yourself home tricks? Do you think it works? Well, worry no more because baking soda can be your go-to kitchen ingredient if you encounter health problems. This sodium bicarbonate substance is alkaline in nature so it has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties to fight off bad bacteria in your body.
1. Helps Remedy Dandruff and Smelly Hair
Sometimes your hair becomes smelly and it can be embarrassing especially when you go into dates or when hanging around with friends. This mostly occurs to those with oily hair because it picks up pollutants making your hair smell bad. Moreover, the uneven pH in your scalp can also cause dandruff. Most people experience worse dandruff problems during winter.
But say goodbye to your hair problems away. You can simply mix 1 part of baking soda in 3 parts water and apply it on your damp hair. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then rinse.
For those with pesky dandruff problems simply rub 1 tablespoon of baking soda into your wet hair when taking a bath then wait for a minute. Rinse and apply this method only once a week.
2. Oral Health
Using a baking soda helps in your oral health by using it as toothpaste. It helps remove plaque buildup in your teeth thus making it stronger, removes bacteria that toothpaste can remover and helps whiten your teeth.
If you have retainers, dentures, and mouthpieces, baking soda is a perfect soak.
You can simply dip your toothbrush into the baking soda along with your regular toothpaste and brush your teeth for 2 minutes. For your oral soak, just add 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl with warm water and leave it for a while.
3. Helps Whiten Skin
Uneven skin tone especially in your elbows, neck area, knees are a problem for many people.
Baking soda can help you save derma trips and money too. It is considered as a good exfoliating agent and helps normalize your skin’s pH levels.
Simply mix about 2 teaspoons of baking soda in filtered water and make a paste. Then apply the past in your face or any part of your body that you wish to lighten. Leave it for 1 minute and gently remove the paste with your fingers. Then wash it with lukewarm water.
4. Hand and Foot Soak Cleanser and Exfoliator
If you need a quick fix or your hands and feet, use baking soda to avoid paying overpriced salon spas. For your foot soak, you can make a paste using 3 parts baking soda in 1 part water. Then scrub the paste in your feet.
To neutralize the odor in your hands, you can simply add 3 parts of baking soda into your liquid hand soap.
Alternatively, you can just mix 3 parts baking soda in 1 part water and use it as your liquid hand soap alternative.
5. Helps Soothe Sunburn
Everybody loves the beach or soaking under the sun but nobody likes sunburns. So, during summer, make sure baking soda is your best friend.
Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda in cold water. Then using a washcloth, soak it in the solution and make it as a cool compress on the affected area. Do this for about 10 minutes and repeat 3 times daily or until you are relieved from sunburn.
6. Cleans Kitchen Equipment
Baking soda can be your all-around cleaner in the home. It is used by many people to clean kitchen appliances and equipment like silverware, oven cleaners, pots, pans, and many more.
Just add baking soda to the sponge with cleaning detergent and rub in your silver plates. Food particles and odors can be left in your oven. Sprinkle the baking soda and spray it with water to dampen and leave it overnight.
7. Gently Cleans Baby Clothes
Babies have sensitive skin and they need gentle cleaners to avoid skin rashes. Baking soda does not only clean your baby’s clothes but it also helps remove the stain.
Just add ½ cup of baking soda to the detergent used when doing the laundry and add another ½ cup when rinsing.
8. Deodorize Sneakers
We all hate those smelly sneakers but sometimes there is no way of getting rid of them even when washing your shoes.
Shake a bit of baking soda into the sneakers when not in use and remove it before using it.
9. Natural Deodorant
For those who want to avoid the aluminum and parabens in deodorant, just pinch baking soda and mix it with water.
Then apply the paste in your armpit making it your natural deodorant.
10. As an Antacid
A lot of people have been using baking soda as a remedy for ulcers, heartburn, and indigestion.
The sodium bicarbonate neutralizes the gastric acid in your stomach that causes ulcer pains.
Simply add ½ teaspoons of baking soda in half glass of water every 2 hours in 24 hours but you should not take more than 7 ½ teaspoons of baking soda. And if symptoms still persist, don’t hesitate to visit your doctor.