20 surprising uses for baking soda

20 Surprising Uses for Baking Soda Photo Researchers/Charles D Winters/Getty Images
20 Surprising Uses for Baking Soda

The uses for baking soda go far beyond simply deodorizing the refrigerator. Read on for some baking soda uses that solve a variety of common problems.









9. Remove the sour milk smell from baby's plastic bottle. Fill it with warm water, add a teaspoon of baking soda, shake it well and leave it overnight.


11. Make cloudy iced tea clear again.
Add a pinch of baking soda to the pitcher.

12. Prevent mildew in bathing suits. On a beach outing, bring along a large zippered plastic bag containing 1/4 cup of baking soda. Put wet suits in, then shake the bag well. The soda absorbs moisture and sour musty odors until the suits can be rinsed or washed.

13. Clean corroded terminals. Make a paste of baking soda and salt. After the paste bubbles up, wipe the area, then dry it.

14. Help with heat rash. After a lukewarm shower, use a cleaning product that doesn't contain soap (such as Dove). Towel dry and put a paste of baking soda on any rashy area. Leave it there as long as practical.

15. Keep your dishwasher smelling good when you're away. Sprinkle some baking soda inside the dishwasher and leave the door open just a bit. It won't smell musty when you return.

16. Substitute for other toiletries on a camping trip. You can use it as toothpaste, as deodorant and as a balm for bug bites.

17. Make a "fishy" taste disappear. Soak your catch of the day in a quart of water to which you've added a couple tablespoons of baking soda. Leave for an hour, then wash off and pat the fish dry.

18. Spell doom for slugs. Just sprinkle baking soda on them.

19. Get rid of a musty scent. If the clothes aren't completely dry when the dryer shuts off and smell musty, sprinkle baking soda on them, then put them back in and turn the dryer back on.

20. Clean crayon off a chalkboard. Just use baking soda on a damp rag to remove the wax and make the board clean for chalking again.

A version of this story originally appeared on iVillage.