Sodium Bicarbonate ( Baking Soda)

As to toothpaste, I've only used toothpaste containing baking soda, but found it difficult to use b/c there's an unwanted taste that couldn't be avoided, even without swallowing. I think I ended up throwing that tube away.

It does have a lot of other uses, most of which I don't recall right now b/c the primary use for which I've used it recently is for odor elimination. I put a little bowl of it in damp areas to absorb the odor of dampness. It came to my father's rescue, along with coffee grounds and newspaper, years ago when he and my mother camped in Texas for the summer. He developed pneumonia and complications but wouldn't accept hospitalization and leave my mother alone in their trailer, so I flew down to bring both of them home where my sister and I could get the help he needed.

The proprietor of the RV park for some bizarre reason turned off their electricity, despite having been told that we'd be back to close out his camping area. When Dad returned with a friend about a month later, he found that everything in the freezer and refrigerator had spoiled. There was a lot of meat that spoiled, so you can guess how bad it was.

Dad and his friend used baking soda, coffee grounds and newspaper to eliminate the odor, and it worked. One of the freezers is now in my basement and bears no signs of having harbored foul smelling food.

I've also used baking soda to clean my enamel sink, and food scorched onto pans. It's been awhile since I've been stung by wasps or bees, but I think I used it on those stings. It's good as a general purpose cleaner for kitchen items as well, but I also use lemon juice, sometimes diluted with water (mostly to extend the juice so I don't have to use as much.) And I usually keep a small bowl or cup in the fridge, in case anything hides and tends to get too old.

I've gotten a lot of good ideas on natural remedies from Herb Quarterly, a magazine focusing on natural solutions and diverse uses for herbs.


These are some sources that you might want to try for other baking soda usages:

www.farmersalmanac.com/the-many-helpful-uses-of-baking-soda-2417

www.healthline.com/nutrition/baking-soda-benefits-uses#section5, although I would disagree with using it for deodorant. Cornstarch is much better, and more soothing to skin.

www.tasteofhome.com/article/50-clever-ways-to-clean-with-baking-soda/ And this article reminded me that I've used it on batteries.

rebeccad, you wrote the magic word (cake) so I had to check it out. And on the link were two other delicious looking, tempting, mouth watering chocolate cakes. Please tell me it's not a tasty cake and I shouldn't be mentally salivating over it, or I can guarantee that tomorrow there will be a crazy cake in the oven.

I have been using baking soda for toothpaste for about a decade. I switched because it does not attract bears (no sweet odor), but I also like how light it is. I also use it on bug bites - make a paste with a little water and smear it on a bite. Helps with itch, etc.

--Kurt