Do You Use Baking Soda To Be Frugal?
By villageanne
@villageanne (8553)
United States
February 28, 2007 4:21pm CST
I never let myself run out of baking soda. I keep a small box on the back of my cooking stove all the time to put out those little grease fires. I just sprinkle it on the fire and it is out immediatley. It works for those oven grease fires too.
Baking soda is made from soda ash, it is slightly alkaline, it's pH is around 8.1 and 7 is neutral. As a result of this pH balance, baking soda neutralizes acid based odors in water and absorbs odors from the air.
Baking soda is great to use in the ash tray if someone smokes. It absorbs the odors of the cigarette.
Baking soda is great to keep in the frige and freezer because it obsorbs food odors.
Baking Soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or cloth can be used as a gentle nonabrasive cleanser for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens and ever fiberglass.
Baking soda will eliminate perspiration odors and neutralize the smell of many chemicals if you add up to one cup per load of laundry.
Baking Soda is great to sprinkle on carpet to deorderize the carpet.
When I was a child, we could not afford toothpaste, we would wet our toothbrush and dip it in the baking soda. It will whiten teeth and freshen your breath.
What frugal ways do you use baking soda?
2 people like this
10 responses
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
28 Feb 07
I buy bags of baking soda at Sam's club. It is very inexpensive this way. I use it in loads of wash, to freshen and whiten, and soften. I use it for brushing teeth. I have made carpet freshener with it, and scrubbed sinks. I add it to kitty litter trays. In general it is a great product to have around the house.
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
1 Mar 07
I used to be a member of sams club but let my membership go. I wish I knew someone who was a member to pick me up a few bags of baking soda.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
28 Feb 07
I did the same with teeth and sometimes I still do. I use baking soda in shoes, it works just as good as the expensive stuff. of course I use it in the cat box as well.
1 person likes this
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
7 Mar 07
What great ideas. I knew a lot of them but some I didn't know. I am always looking for great ways to be frugal. You have given me a lot of great ideas.
@sweetgirl_k1 (3972)
• United States
1 Mar 07
This is very good information. I always keep a box of it in my fridge.
@Willowlady (10657)
• United States
1 Mar 07
Here is one way I use Baking Soda:
1 16-oz. bottle Hydrogen Peroxide
1 TBS Baking Soda
1 tsp dish detergent (liquid)
Mix ingredients into an old plastic container and stir well with a plastic
or wooden spoon (do not use metal utensils or metal dishes).
Once powder is dissolved, pour liquid into a plastic squirt bottle and
squirt on urine spot, completely saturate the stain and surrounding area. Do
not scrub or touch the spot, leave the cleaner to set and air dry for at
least one hour.
After it’s completely dry, vacuum the spot–there may be baking soda
residue. You can wipe with a clean rag if needed.
It does take care of odor for me. Darling critters that they are they do take some tending. Good information about baking soda and hope it is helpful to many.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
1 Mar 07
I didn't know that baking soda does all that! I use baking soda to cook and in my fridge/freezer. I have also used it on the rugs when I run out of rug stuff... Never noticed anything different though-
I've never had a grease fire on my stove-- and we don't smoke--
But I am going to try it in the wash- I am always using spray-n-wash to try to get the pesky underarm stains and smells out of workout clothes-- softball shirts (gets hot out there in the sun).. It never seemed to do the trick-- So you just add 1 cup to the water? Or do you put it directly on the shirt?
And thanks for many great uses!
@AmbiePam (120786)
• United States
1 Mar 07
When I'm out of toothpaste, I'll use baking soda. I don't like to, because it doesn't taste very good. : )
It's essential to have baking soda near your stove if you cook, I agree. It surprised me that so many people still don't know you cannot put out a grease fire with only water - it makes the fire worse.
@chaygylmommy (2469)
• United States
1 Mar 07
I, too, use baking soda a lot. I clean my drains in the sinks, and tub and shower with baking soda and vinegar. I use it in the fridge and also to clean my stainless steel. I, too, have used it as a toothpaste in the past. I don't like to becaues it has a very salty wierd taste, but I have used it. Thanks for the tips...I never knew about the fire thing. :)
