5 Surprising Uses of Sodium Bicarbonate
Do you know NaHCO3? And sodium hydrogen carbonate? No? Sodium bicarbonate, maybe? Well, there you go! Did you know that this inorganic chemical compound is much more than it seems?
It is a real all-purpose powder that you can use in the kitchen, in the garden, in cosmetics, and for cleaning, without endangering your health or the environment. In addition to being very useful, it is ecological… What more could you ask for?
Attention: make a distinction between sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and caustic soda. All three have different uses and should not be confused.
1. In cosmetics
You have probably already heard that baking soda whitens teeth. It does! But not only that. It is a natural and inexpensive product that you can use in many ways.
To take care of your hair and scalp: it will prevent the appearance of dandruff or sebum and make your mane shine. To do this, add a teaspoon (5 g) from time to time to your usual shampoo or use it as a shampoo (1 measure of bicarbonate for 3 measures of water, and 2 or 3 measures more for long hair).
On the skin, sodium bicarbonate rebalances its pH and has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. However, be careful to observe the reaction of your skin because drying it out can cause acne.
As a scrub, simply mixed with twice as much water, it exfoliates and purifies the skin.
Good to know: by replacing the water with nourishing vegetable oil, you can adapt the recipe to your needs!
2. In the garden
Sodium bicarbonate is a very simple natural weed killer. Pour the powder on the weeds to be eliminated, between the joints of the driveway tiles or a terrace, for example.
Sprinkle with water or wait for rain.
It can also be used to eradicate parasitic fungi and prevent certain diseases such as mildew, rose rust, or powdery mildew.
To prolong the life of cut flowers, add a teaspoon to a medium vase. Simple and effective, your roses won’t wilt the first night, and you won’t have to prune the tails every other day.
3. As an alternative medicine
Holiday periods and gourmet palates are not kind to us: by taking several refills, we forget that our stomachs must be able to keep up with our digestion!
Sodium bicarbonate can help:
Mix 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate in 1 glass of water.
Drink this glass in one go.
Good to know: bicarbonate will produce CO2… bubbles when mixed with water. We prefer to warn you!
In the case of mycosis, bicarbonate alone will not be able to eliminate the fungi, but it can reinforce the effectiveness of the treatment followed. For example, in case of mycosis of the feet, after a long walk, or to relieve blisters:
Make a foot bath with 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate in 2 L of hot water.
Soak your feet for 15 minutes and then dry them.
4. For the household
Baking soda is an excellent cleaning agent for many stubborn stains on stone (sandstone, granite, or marble):
To give your garage or mechanic shop a clean sweep, sus to gasoline stains!
Do you like French fries? So do we. But we don’t like greasy stains.
Strolling through the fields is good, but without grass stains, it is better.
It can also give you a helping hand to untie the mattress of your little one who doesn’t know how to go without diapers yet. To do this:
Sprinkle the stain with bicarbonate, and wait 3 minutes.
Vacuum, then repeat 3 times.
Spray vinegar on the area to remove the smell and let the mattress air out.
Note: act right away or the following day for more effectiveness.
5. In the kitchen
In addition to facilitating digestion, baking soda can also be used in the kitchen as an ingredient in its own right. It will prove invaluable for:
Cleaning your vegetables: use a teaspoon of baking soda instead of vinegar or bleach!
Making products more digestible: baking soda will make cabbage less smelly, less strong in taste, and more digestible when cooked. It also works with pulses, such as lentils or chickpeas.
Fight acidity: in a citrus salad or tomato sauce, add a little baking soda to make your preparation sweeter for your taste buds and your stomach.
Good to know: add some to homemade lemonade or orangeade to make it fizzy!
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