Hand Wash

Sometimes antibacterial soap just can’t cut through a greasy mess. Baking soda can actually cut through the oil slick to thoroughly clean skin. Pour a little bit of the powder into a hand and mix with water to remedy oily palms.

Dry shampoo

When people have used dry shampoo to the last pump, turn to baking soda for a quick DIY fix. Sprinkle the powder close to the roots and massage into the scalp to dry up excess oil. For dark hair, add a spoonful of cocoa powder to avoid the pure white cast.

Natural deodorant

If people are looking for a natural deodorant without the threat of aluminum, they can turn to the kitchen cupboard. Use baking soda mixed with water to create an odor-repelling paste. There are also more complex recipes that add essential oils, cornstarch, and arrowroot to the mix to create a DIY stick.

Teeth whitener

Stir together a paste of baking soda and water. The natural exfoliant will help lift surface stains from coffee, red wine and smoking. To really boost the efficiency of this treatment, mix the powder with hydrogen peroxide. While this DIY mix will immediately brighten tarnished teeth, baking soda can’t whiten permanently like an in-office bleaching treatment.

Face scrub

The abrasive particles of sodium bicarbonate make it an easy and natural skin exfoliant. Sprinkle the mix into a favorite gentle face wash for an added scrubbing effect. Also make a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water.

Nail whitener

An addiction to colorful nail polish shades can lead to yellowing tips and discolored cuticles. To whiten nails, use a concoction of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Apply the salve with an old toothbrush and let sit for three to five minutes before rinsing.

Self-tanner remover

Got streaks? One wrong move and self-tanner can turn into a streaky, orange mess. Fix visible tanning lines with baking soda. Apply a mix of baking soda and lemon juice to the area that’s uneven to scrub away the mistake.

Foot soak

Adding baking soda to a DIY pedicure bowl can help dissolve callus skin on heels and relieve itchy soles. If the dead skin still won’t budge, apply a paste of baking soda and water directly to the area.

Brush cleanser

People have probably been using hand soap and oil to clean makeup brushes, but they can also use baking soda. Just dip a brush in a bath of warm water and a few teaspoons of sodium bicarbonate to dissolve product buildup. This is also a good trick for old toothbrushes, hairbrushes and combs.

Breath freshener

Eating acidic foods and sugar can interfere with the pH balance of the mouth, causing bad breath. Baking soda, an alkaline mineral, helps to balance things out and eliminate halitosis. Stir one teaspoon of the powder into warm water and gargle. Sodium bicarbonate also helps keep plaque from forming on teeth for overall mouth health.

Skin soother

That old wives’ tale about using baking soda to relieve skin irritation is actually true. The powder can help cool down a burn, take the redness out of a sunburn and relieve itchy skin from a bug bite or poison ivy. Get all-over relief by adding the baking soda to a bath. Spot treating with a sodium bicarbonate and water paste is also an option.

Unclog shower drain

To unclog a drain without damaging the pipes, whip up a natural solution of equal parts baking soda and vinegar. Pour the mix down the sink or shower and cover with a damp cloth. Wait five minutes. Flush out the drain with scalding-hot water.

Don’t: Clarifying shampoo

Baking soda has gotten a reputation as a clarifying hair treatment to be used in place of shampoo, called the no-poo method. The treatment helps dissolve product buildup, but at the same time it ruins the pH balance of hair. The alkaline baking soda has a pH of 9, when strands should be between 4.5 and 5.5. Continued use of baking soda as a cleanser can cause extreme breakage and dryness.