10 Green Uses for Baking Soda

After participating in Practically Green’s Water Sustainability Webinar earlier this month, I am certainly a lot more aware of how just about everything we do affects our water system in one way or another.  One of the simplest ways to Go Green is switching out the chemical cleaners in your house.  To the top of everyone’s list should be the addition of Baking Soda {BS} or sodium bicarbonate.

Baking Soda’s strength comes in its natural ability to neutralize PH-keeping a substance balanced-neither too alkaline or acidic.  Here are easy top 10’s to start you on the road to neutralizing your cleaning products.

• Remove crayon or spots on walls with Baking Soda and a damp sponge
  
• Neutralize odors in a smelly fridge
  
• Freshen up your coffee pots
  
• Sprinkle in the oven, spray with water in a plant mister to activate and let sit overnight - vacuum out the grime in the morning
  
• Polish silver with 3 parts BS/1part water. Rub into sterling with clean cloth and rinse completely
  
• Freshen sponges-soak in a solution of BS, rinse and then microwave to kill germs
  
• Use as a laundry booster-1/4 cup added to the wash will neutralize water and allow your detergent to work more effectively
  
• Use as a cleaner on tubs and other delicate surfaces
  
• My favorite-Mix 4T. into a quart of water.  Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil {optional} and spray on pungent hockey equipment {or other sports gear}
  
• **I would highly recommend purchasing a powdered sugar duster from a cooking store for the Baking Powder.  It allows you to control sprinkling and is very handy.**

You can basically use it for cleaning just about anything.  Once you have fallen in love with your new GREEN cleaning method, head on over to read Melissa Breyer‘s additional suggestions at Care2.com . You’ll feel great about keeping harmful pollutants out of our drains and water systems, and in time, working their way back into our bodies.  Would love to hear any additional ideas you can add to the list.