The Amazing and Incredible Invention Ever, Baking Soda

Okay, I told Lynn and I was going to blog about baking soda and he gave me a 'look' only Lynn could give me as to say, 'Are you totally crazy'? He shrugged his shoulders and walked away. And, I guess in a way I am a little crazy! I love to take every day things I use around the house, such as vinegar, cucumbers and now baking soda, which I usually use to bake cookies, cakes or bread, and now find out they can cure, add or take away about anything!!! So, if you don't mind .... I'll just ramble on for a few about this remarkable product known as baking soda. If you have no desire to read about baking soda you have my permission to exit our blog, but you have to be sure to come back in a few days or even next week for another thrilling and yet not to remarkable blog entry from the ... 'World of Lynn and Shelly Hook'.

Here are sixty-one 'happening' things you can do with baking soda inside and outside your home, straight from Bellybytes.com!

• To make your own baking power, stir and sift together 2 parts of Cream of Tartar to 1 part baking soda and 1 part cornstarch.
• Be sure to keep an extra box of baking soda by your stove in case of a grease or electrical fire. Scatter the soda by the handful to safely put it out.
• Keep a container of baking soda in your garage as well as in your car to put out a fire. It won't damage anything it touches.
• Baking soda will also put out fires in clothing, fuel, wood, upholstery and rugs.
• Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda. Sprinkle in water, soak and rinse the produce.
• Wash the garbage cans with baking soda.
• Soak and wash diapers with baking soda.
• Oil and grease - stained clothing washes out better when baking soda is added to the washing water.
• Clean your fridge and freeze with dry baking soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. Rinse with clear water.
• Deodorize your fridge and freezer by putting an open container of baking soda to absorb odors. Stir and turn over the baking soda from time to time. Replace every 2 months.
• Soda absorbs kitty litter odors. Cover the bottom of the kitty box with 1 part baking soda, then add a layer of three parts kitty litter on top.
• Always add 1/2-cup baking soda to your washing machine load.
• Clean combs and brushes in a baking soda solution.
• Wash food and drink containers with baking soda and water.
• Wash marble-topped furniture with a solution of 3-tablespoons of baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Let stand awhile, then rinse.
• Clean formica counter tops with baking soda on a damp sponge.
• Wash out thermos bottles and cooling containers with baking soda and water to get ride of stale smells.
• To remove stubborn stains from marble, formica or plastic surfaces, scour with a paste of baking soda and water.
• Wash glass or stainless steel coffee pots (but not aluminum) in a baking soda solution (3-tablespoons soda to 1 quart water).
• Run your coffee maker through its cycle with a baking soda solution. Rinse.
• Give baby bottles a good cleaning with baking soda and hot water.
• Sprinkle baking soda on barbecue grills, let soak, then rinse off.
• Sprinkle baking soda on greasy garage floor. Let stand, scrub and rinse.
• For silver pieces without raised patterns or cemented-on handles; place the silver on aluminum foil in an enamel pot. Add boiling water and 4 tablespoons baking soda. Let stand, rinse and dry.
• Reduce odor build-up in your dishwasher by sprinkling some baking soda on the bottom.
• Run your dishwasher through its cycle with baking soda in it instead of soap to give it a good cleaning.
• To removed burned-on food from a pan: let the pan soak in baking soda and water for 10 minutes before washing. Or scrub the pot with dry soda and a moist scouring pad.
• For a badly burned pan with a thick layer of burned-on food: pour a thick layer of baking soda directly onto the bottom of the pan, then sprinkle on just enough water so as to moisten the baking soda. Leave the pot overnight, then scrub it clean the next day.
• Rub stainless steel and chrome with a moist cloth and dry baking soda to shine it up. Rinse and dry. On stainless steel, scrub in the direction of the grain.
• Clean plastic, porcelain and glass with dry soda on a damp cloth. Rinse and dry.
• Remove that bad smell from ashtrays with baking soda and water.
• Sprinkle a bit of dry baking soda in your ashtrays to prevent smoldering and reduce odor.
• Clean your bathroom with dry baking soda on a moist sponge - - sink, tub, tiles, shower stall, etc.
• Keep your drains clean and free-flowing by putting 4 tablespoons of soda in them each week. Flush the soda down with hot water.
• Soak your shower curtains in water and baking soda to clean them.
• To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and rub them hard with baking soda, then rinse.
• Sprinkle baking soda on your wet toothbrush and brush your teeth and dentures with it.
• Sprinkle baking soda in tennis shoes, socks, boots, slipper to eliminate odors.
• Add 1/2-cup or more of baking soda to your bath water to soften your skin.
• Putting 2-tablespoons of baking soda in your baby's bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.
• Apply baking soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.
• Take a baking soda bath to relieve general skin irritations such as measles and chicken pox.
• Take 1/2-teaspoon of baking soda in one-half glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.
• Gargle with 1/2-teaspoon in one-half glass of water. Freshens and cleans your mouth.
• Used as a mouthwash, baking soda will also relieve canker sore pain.
• To relieve sunburn: use a paste of baking soda and water.
• Bug bites: use a poultice of baking soda and vinegar.
• Bee sting: use a poultice of baking soda and water.
• Windburns: moisten some baking soda and apply directly.
• Making Play Clay with baking soda: combine 1 1/4 cups water, 2 cups soda, 1 cup cornstarch.
• Use baking soda as an underarm deodorant.
• If your baby spits up on his shirt after feeding, moisten a cloth, dip it in baking soda and dab at the dribbled shirt. The odor will go away.
• When scalding a chicken, add 1-teaspoon of baking soda to the boiling water. The feathers will come off easier and the flesh will be clean and white.
• Repel rain from windshield. Put gobs of baking soda on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.
• Add baking soda to water to soak dried beans to make them more digestible.
• Add baking soda to water to remove the "gamey" taste from wild game.
• Use banking soda to sweeten sour dishcloths.
• Use baking soda dry with a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.
• Use to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from toaster. Damp a cloth and make a mild abrasive with baking soda.
• To eliminate dog odors or just freshen up the air, sprinkle baking soda on your carpet where your dog lies and vacuum up. Leave the soda on the carpet for half an hour. It also eliminates odor in your vacuum after it has been vacuumed up. A great way to freshen up your home air during the winter when everything is closed up.

And of course, the list could go ON and ON and ON and ON, but I will end the list, or at least my list of things we can do with baking soda, right here! :)

-Shelly