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What are Some Personal-Care Uses for Baking Soda?

S. N. Smith
S. N. Smith

There are literally hundreds of household uses for baking soda, which is pure bicarbonate of soda. Its beneficial qualities are the result of its ability to act as a buffer, neutralizing both acidic and alkaline substances to regulate pH. This is the secret behind its effectiveness in so many personal-care applications. It should not be confused with baking powder, which has added acidifying and drying agents (typically cream of tartar and starch, respectively).

Baking soda is inexpensive, nontoxic, fragrance-free, environmentally friendly, and available on grocery-store shelves everywhere.

Face and Hair

  • To remove the residue left behind by styling products and chlorine, add 1 teaspoon to a dollop of your favorite shampoo and lather up as you usually do. Rinse well.

  • To rejuvenate the complexion, make a paste of baking soda and water — three parts to one part — and gently massage into clean skin. Rinse well with cool water and pat dry.

Hands and Feet

  • To remove strong food odors like garlic and onions from hands, make a 3-to-1 paste with water and scrub hands with it. Rinse with clean water. Your hands will be fresh-smelling and skin will be soft and smooth.

  • For a pre-pedicure foot soak, fill a basin with warm water. Add 0.25 cup (60 g) baking soda to the water and stir to dissolve. Soak the feet for ten minutes, then rub heels and any other calloused areas with a baking soda paste to smooth away dead skin. Rinse well.

Bath

  • For a relaxing bath, add 0.5 cup (120 g) to bath water. This is especially soothing to dry, itchy skin, and will provide some relief for poison ivy, skin rashes, and mild sunburn.

  • Add 1 teaspoon to a quarter-size dab of your favorite body wash and use it to wash your elbows and knees. Scrub gently in a circular motion to exfoliate and smooth rough skin.

Oral Hygiene

  • 1 teaspoon (5 g) dissolved in 4 ounces (120 ml) lukewarm water makes an excellent mouth rinse for eliminating bad breath.

  • To deodorize and refresh dentures, retainers, and other oral appliances, soak them in a solution of 2 teaspoons (10 g) baking soda dissolved in 1 cup (236.5 ml) lukewarm water.

  • Liberally sprinkle a damp toothbrush with baking soda and brush for clean, white teeth.

Other Personal-Care Uses

  • Baking soda can be used as an effective deodorant. Combine 0.5 cup (120 g) with 1 tablespoon (15 grams) or so of cornstarch in a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Simply dust armpits with this after showering and drying off.

  • Sprinkle a little of this mixture into your athletic shoes, work boots, ski boots, or other shoes to minimize foot odors and keep feet feeling fresh and dry.

Discussion Comments

medicchristy

You can sprinkle baking soda under your sink to repel ants or cockroaches.

Sprinkle baking soda around your flowerbed to keep rabbits out.

You can use baking soda as a substitute for baking powder by mixing it with a little cream of tartar.

GrumpyGuppy

Here are a few more baking soda uses:

If you have freshly cut flowers, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water in the vase to keep them fresh longer.

Sprinkle some baking soda into your ashtrays to reduce some of the smoke odor.

Wipe some on your windshield wiper to help repel rain.

Soak your dishrags in baking soda and water to remove odors that get absorbed into them.

Suck some into your vacuum cleaner to remove odor.

StormyKnight

I have a helpful little book on different things that you can do with baking soda. These are a few.

Did you just realize you were out of deodorant? Take a powder puff and apply some baking soda under your arms.

Add two tablespoons of baking soda to baby’s bathwater to relieve diaper rash.

For heartburn, mix a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a half glass of water.

For a stuffy nose, add a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer.

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    • Jar and a scoop with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
      Jar and a scoop with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
    • A person having a foot soak with baking soda.
      By: Jan Andersen
      A person having a foot soak with baking soda.
    • A combination of cornstarch and baking soda can be used as a homemade deodorant.
      By: Yuriy Afonkin
      A combination of cornstarch and baking soda can be used as a homemade deodorant.
    • Baking soda can be used as a remedy for bad breath.
      By: studiovespa
      Baking soda can be used as a remedy for bad breath.
    • Baking soda may be used to remove the smell of garlic from hands.
      By: Schlierner
      Baking soda may be used to remove the smell of garlic from hands.
    • Baking soda may offer relief for poison ivy and skin rashes.
      By: Adam Gregor
      Baking soda may offer relief for poison ivy and skin rashes.
    • Baking soda may be used to clean dentures.
      By: NilsZ
      Baking soda may be used to clean dentures.
    • Baking soda can be used as an alternative to toothpaste.
      By: Franny-Anne
      Baking soda can be used as an alternative to toothpaste.
    • Baking soda can be used for a foot soak.
      By: Nobilior
      Baking soda can be used for a foot soak.
    • Baking soda can be used to help whiten teeth.
      By: Subbotina Anna
      Baking soda can be used to help whiten teeth.
    • Baking soda can help remove residue left behind by styling products and chlorine.
      By: Vidady
      Baking soda can help remove residue left behind by styling products and chlorine.