The simplest is often the best. This is the case of sodium bicarbonatea basic mineral that works as a medicinal remedy, ecological cleaning product and even to take care of the garden, and that is really a must which should be in your home.
Why use baking soda?
Baking soda is a crystalline compound that can be found in nature, or produced artificially without losing any attribute. So, although their presentations might not give us much confidence -as they are usually similar to those of cleaning products-, the truth is that you can use it and always be sure that it is identical to the mineral produced in natureand that it will bring you the same great benefits.
In addition, using baking soda can save us a lot of money, and it is undoubtedly a way to be more sustainablesince it helps to replace all kinds of products, many of which tend to be unfriendly to the environment.
Why is it so magical?
Since it helps to dilate the blood vessels, this salt allows oxygen to expand throughout the body and the pH of the blood to balance. For this reason it has been used as a treatment for conditions such as heartburn, gastritis, arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes or cancer.
But also, being such a basic compound, sodium bicarbonate is the perfect base for hundreds of remedies, potions and substances; can function as a key ingredient to create substitutes, e.g. beauty products.
Although on many occasions baking soda is magical on its own. Here’s how to use it neat, with water, or with other natural ingredientsso that you become an alchemist of the good life.
Uses to heal and pamper your body
scrub
Mix 3/4 baking soda and 1/4 water. Gently rub over face or body in circular motions and rinse.
Muscle relaxant for feet
Submerge your feet in a bowl with warm water and three tablespoons of baking soda. Rub and let sit for a few minutes. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil.
Deodorant
Mix baking soda with coconut oil, so that it has a creamy texture and is absorbed by the skin. In a jar, go mixing both until you get the desired consistency.
antacid
Add a teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water and drink it quickly.
Serum
In a glass of water, mix the juice of one lemon, a pinch of salt, two tablespoons of sugar and one tablespoon of baking soda.
It is a fantastic hydrator, without dyes and with less sugar than commercial serums.
splinter remover
In a small glass of water, add a tablespoon of baking soda. Submerge the area with the splinter for several minutes, twice a day.
anti acne cream
Mix half a teaspoon of honey, a tablespoon of baking soda, and if desired, a drizzle of vegetable oil. Stir and apply it for 5 minutes. Massage and then rinse. This will cleanse your face, and doing it once or twice a week is enough to get results.
Conditioner
Mix 100 milliliters of water with three tablespoons of baking soda and spray the hair. Massage the scalp, leave it on for 5 minutes and rinse. This will give your hair shine and silkiness.
teeth whitener
Baking soda removes stains and leaves teeth white. It is enough to apply a little powder to the teeth with a finger, leave it to act for a few minutes and rinse. There is no need to brush.
household uses
Oil and grease stain remover
Sprinkle baking soda over the spot and scrub with a wet brush.
Disinfectant and bleach
On a damp sponge, sprinkle baking soda and scrub as usual. Then let it rest for 5 minutes, rinse well and dry.
Odor remover for shoes
Sprinkle a tablespoon or two in shoes while not wearing them; remove the bicarbonate when you are going to use them.
Fruit and vegetable sanitizer
Mix 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract with a tablespoon of baking soda, a cup of white vinegar, and a cup of water. Dilute and pour the mixture into a sprayer.
insecticide against ants
Mix equal parts sugar and baking soda, and place the mixture in the places that the ants invade and in the paths that they form.
The ants flee from this mixture probably because they learn that it is harmful to their bodies, since they have an acidic substance in it that produces a toxic reaction when in contact with it.
refrigerator deodorizer
You just have to place an open container with baking soda in your fridge and it will absorb all the bad smells. Change it every 3 months.
To cook vegetables faster
If you’re cooking beans, lentils, chickpeas, and other legumes that tend to take a long time to cook, add a pinch of baking soda to the pot and they’ll cook faster.
botanical uses
Fungicide
Mix 4 liters of water with four tablespoons of baking soda. Apply to plants or trees to combat fungal black spots when they begin to appear.
plant rejuvenator
Baking soda can give you a boost to your plants, making them recover their lustrous green and strengthening them. You only need to combine a teaspoon of baking soda with a little Epsom salt and half a teaspoon of ammonia in 4 liters of water. Feed your plants 1/4 of this solution.
to beautify flowers
If you want a better flowering that results in more beautiful flowers – with more vivid and brilliant colors – you only have to dissolve a little baking soda in the water that you spray on your plants.
To remove odors from compost
If you make your home compost but you want to control the smell of the one you are not using yet, just sprinkle on it a little baking soda. In addition to eliminating bad odors, you will prevent it from becoming acidic. Just don’t use too much, as you could cause the fermentation process to stop.
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