To Unclog Drains: Plastic facial beads aren’t the only things that are making their way from our households into the environment. Instead of dousing drains with harsh chemicals found in commercial drain un-clogging solutions, try pouring a cup of baking soda down the opening of a clogged drain, followed by a cup of hot vinegar. Let the solution sit for several minutes, and then flush the drain with a quart of boiling water for an all-natural draining solution.
As a Stain Remover: We all know that adding a scoop of baking soda to your laundry will leave your loads looking brighter, cleaner and smelling fresher. But baking soda can clean much more than clothing. To remove stains from coffee or tea cups, wipe them with a sponge or rag that’s covered in a baking soda paste. This same paste will also work wonders for removing tomato sauce stains from plastic and wooden utensils.
To De-Ice Slick Walkways: Sprinkling baking soda liberally on your front steps will melt ice and give you traction on icy winter days. This natural alternative to rock salts and kitty litter won’t leave a mess behind, and it won’t cause damage to surfaces or shoes. You can also keep a large container of baking soda in your trunk – it will both neutralize odors and give you something to sprinkle under your tires in case you get stuck in bad winter weather.
To Eliminate Pests: Sprinkling baking soda, like diatomaceous earth, around your home, on window sills, along pipe openings and in bathroom cabinets is a kid- and pet-friendly solution for managing all kinds of bugs – from ants to roaches. If you have troublesome ant mounds in your yard, try wetting the mounds, then covering them with baking soda. Wait up to an hour, then follow with a dose of vinegar to wipe out your ant hill. Mixing baking soda and sugar is also a natural ant and roach bait that causes the bugs to dehydrate and die but won’t hurt small pets or young children in the house.
This is merely a short list of what baking soda can do. Keep a box handy in the event of these common household woes.