Uses of Baking Soda

Baking soda is such a versatile natural product it can be used throughout your home. It has a mild alkali property that makes it a key player in your laundry room. Baking soda can cut grease, remove dirt, brighten and refresh your clothes, as well as save your clothes from laundry mis-haps.

10 ways to use baking soda in your laundry room

1. Cut the musty smell in your hamper by sprinkling a small hand full of baking soda over your dirty clothes. The baking soda will also help clean them when you put them in the washer.
2. Boost your laundry detergent by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to each load.
3. You can get rid of expensive dryer sheets and/or fabric softeners. Instead add 1/2 of baking soda during the rinse cycle. Your clothes will come out soft and deodorized.
4. Easily remove perspiration stains by scrubbing in a paste of baking soda and water and let sit for 1 hour, then wash. For the stubborn stains, make a paste with 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 1/4 cup of warm water. Scrub in the paste, let stand for a few minutes, and then add a little white vinegar and wash.
5. Blood stains can be removed by first, dampening the stain with warm water. Then rub in some baking soda. Finally, dab with hydrogen peroxide until the stain is gone. **Use caution with hydrogen peroxide - - it can remove color pigments.
6. Remove cigarette smoke smells from your clothes by soaking them in a baking soda solution made of 1/2 cup baking soda per gallon of water. This also works for chlorine smelling bathing suits.
7. Save your whites with baking soda. If you have washed your whites with colors and they are now dyed, you can undo the damage by soaking them in a solution of warm water, baking soda, salt and detergent.
8. Remove grease spots on polyester fabrics by rubbing dry baking soda on the stain. Just brush off and the stain will be gone.
9. Clean suede with baking soda applied with a soft brush. Let sit and brush off.
10. Remove ink stains from leather. Lay the item flat, sprinkle baking soda over the stain and let sit until ink is absorbed. You may need to repeat this technique.