What is sodium bicarbonate for
Capable of neutralizing and buffering the pH, bicarbonate serves as a wildcard for homemade solutions
Edited and resized "Close-up Of Baking Soda" image of Spoon is available from aqua.mech and licensed under CC BY 2.0
Answer the question “What is sodium bicarbonate for?” it is both a simple and a thankless task. Simple because it is possible to generalize saying that bicarbonate is good for almost everything. Salt is a wild card for homemade solutions and can be used both as an ingredient in food preparation (as yeast for breads and cakes) and as a cleaning product. And it is here, when it comes to giving details, that explaining what bicarbonate is for becomes a thankless task.
Sodium bicarbonate, whose molecular formula is NaHCO3, is a natural chemical compound and classified as a salt. It acts as a neutralizing agent, helping both to reduce alkalinity and acidity, as its action is to leave the medium with a pH as close as possible to 7, the neutral value. Furthermore, bicarbonate also works as a buffering agent, preventing changes in the pH balance. Read more about “What is baking soda”.
This dual ability to neutralize and buffer are the most striking properties of salt and it is thanks to them that bicarbonate has so many different uses. The product can be used as a component of shampoos and homemade conditioners, as a yeast for breads and light cakes, in recipes for homemade cleaning products, to sanitize vegetables, fruits and vegetables, as a remedy for cold sore and even to clean grouts.
What is bicarbonate for
Discover uses for baking soda that are amazing and will help you save a lot of money. It is possible to replace almost all conventional cleaning products with bicarbonate mixtures.
Wash vegetables, fruits and vegetables
Remove stains on walls
To use baking soda as a stain strip, place the salt in a damp sponge and gently rub it over the wall. This is to remove smudges and scribbles from pens.
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General house cleaning
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clean grouts
Mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide and rub over the dirt. Then remove with water. Remember to wear gloves!
Bicarbonate is used to make cosmetics
In the cosmetic area, baking soda is also very versatile. You can make shampoo for oily hair, deodorant and even an exfoliant.
bath salt
Replaces bath salts. Add half a cup of baking soda to your bath - it helps neutralize your skin's acids and remove excess body oils and perspiration, bringing a smooth skin feeling.
Skin scrub
To make a basic bicarbonate scrub you just need the following ingredients:
- Three teaspoons of baking soda;
- A tablespoon of water.
Method of preparation:
Mix the ingredients together, forming a paste. Apply to skin rubbing in a circular motion, then rinse with water. See more homemade scrub recipes.
Neutralizes body odors
Baking soda is also used to replace deodorant. See the complete recipe in "Learn How to Make Homemade Deodorant".
relax your feet
Soak your feet in a basin of hot water and three tablespoons of baking soda to soothe and relieve tiredness after a full day of work.
Shampoo and conditioner for oily hair
It is possible to use baking soda to wash oily hair. The recipe is part of the "no poo" techniques and can be seen in its entirety in the article: "Shampoo and conditioner recipes in the home style".
- Baking soda works as a home remedy for cold sore
Unusual uses
There are some things we never thought there could be natural alternatives. Baking soda also works in some of these cases.
unclog drain
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clean stuffed animals
Baking soda helps to remove the bad stuffed animals. Just sprinkle some of the salt over them and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then brush to remove the baking soda.
Baby powder
When applied to shoes, baking soda is also used to stop foot odor! Put a small amount of baking soda on shoes when not in use and then remove excess when using.
Cleans car batteries
Due to its neutralizing properties, baking soda can be used to neutralize acid corrosion in car batteries. Be sure to disconnect battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water and apply with a damp cloth to scrub away corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and reconnecting the terminals, clean them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion.
- How to use baking soda
