Better known as baking soda, sodium bicarbonate has more uses than you probably know. Most of us already know that some good, old-fashioned Arm & Hammer works wonders as a leavening agent in our favorite baked goods, and there are a number of classic household applications, too. For instance, keeping an open container of baking soda in the fridge helps eliminate odors – as does keeping baking soda in confined spaces or sprinkling it over litter boxes.
But this versatile household staple has a number of surprising uses that range in functionality from beauty to household maintenance. Here are some surprising uses:
To De-Gunk Your Tresses: Styling products, hair spray and other products build up on our hair over time, leaving it feeling sticky and looking limp and dull. A pinch of baking soda mixed into your daily shampoo can leave your hair feeling light and bright. Simply wash and rinse your hair as usual, and you’ll be left with shinier, more manageable locks. You can also soak your hairbrushes and styling tools in a baking soda solution overnight to remove buildup that would otherwise have them headed for the trash.
As a Dry Shampoo: Daily hair washing can strip hair of its natural oils and leave it brittle. But for those of us with limp or oily hair or those who have overslept or need a touch-up after a workout, a few pinches of baking soda worked into the roots of your hair and brushed out will soak up unsightly oil and work just as well as any salon-quality dry shampoo.
To Whiten and Brighten Teeth: Because baking soda is mildly abrasive, it cleans and polishes teeth well and can help eliminate bad breath. It also has an antibacterial quality to it that helps kill the bacteria that lead to tooth decay. You can use it as a safe and natural tooth whitener. Simply crush a ripe strawberry and create a paste with that and half a teaspoon of baking soda, leaving the mixture on your teeth for several minutes before brushing and rinsing.