There are a few staples I keep around my house and baking soda is one of them (duct tape is another - is there anything it can’t fix?!). The reason I love baking soda is because it’s inexpensive, it has so many practical uses, and it’s easy to mix with a variety of other staples I keep on hand to get stuff done.

Baking soda’s uses go well beyond the kitchen.

Five ways to use baking soda

1. A multi-purpose cleaning hero

Baking soda is great for absorbing odors and working as a mild abrasive to scrub away gunk without causing any surface damage. I sprinkle it in the shower and use a small amount of dishwashing liquid and water to scrub the floor and walls clean. I sprinkle it on my carpet and let it sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming. I even sprinkle it in my garbage cans and running shoes to help combat odor.

2. Inexpensively whiten your smile

I can’t promise this will taste as great as the $1.4 billion over-the-counter teeth whitening products we buy every year, but this is an inexpensive and easy way to brighten that grin! Simply add 1 tbsp. of baking soda to 5 drops of hydrogen peroxide (3%), mix, brush your teeth and rinse. Use this homemade whitener paste 1-2 times per week (in addition to brushing with toothpaste twice daily). This helps to remove stains, brighten your pearly whites naturally, and promote good oral health.

3. Keep your fridge fresh!

There is nothing easier than spending a dollar or two on a box of baking soda, opening it, and popping it in the back of the refrigerator to absorb unwanted smells. As a natural deodorizer, baking soda keeps your fridge smelling fresh. Pro tip: Replace it every few months for maximum effectiveness.

4. Wash fresh produce

Do you clean your produce before using it? Maybe you do it right after you bring it home or before you use it for a meal. Either way, say hello to another use for baking soda. Fill your sink (or a large bowl) with cold water, add a few tablespoons of baking soda, then let your produce soak for ten minutes. This will wash away any dirt and chemicals on the produce. Rinse under clean water before drying.

5. Keep fresh flowers alive longer

It doesn’t matter the season, there is something special about having fresh flowers in the house. (There’s something less special about dead ones.) I would do anything to keep my flowers alive as long as possible. Baking soda helps with this. If flowers are exposed to too high or low water acidity, they will die faster. Baking soda to the rescue! It’s ideal for cut flowers because it creates neutrality; it's not too acidic or alkaline. To make this work, be sure to have a clean vase and water, get rid of any foliage beneath the waterline, and then add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water.

Freshly cut flowers stay alive longer with a touch of baking soda in the vase.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: FOCUS ON INGREDIENTS

At Mona Moon Naturals, it’s important for us to not only create products using ingredients that are effective, efficient, and healthy for our bodies but also to create products that use ingredients that are available to us just like baking soda. It’s important that we re-think how we can utilize ingredients so we can avoid purchasing products where “contains bioengineered food ingredients” is listed in the ingredient section. The FDA must do better, but until they do, we must be our best advocates and shop from companies that support our health and our communities.

MONA MOON PRODUCTS

Baking Soda: A Budget-Friendly Ingredient with Many Uses