Susan Patterson – It sits in my cupboard, probably much like yours — a cheap box of what is better known as the go-to fridge and freezer deodorizer. Yes, you might also cook with it, but I bet you didn’t know there are a gazillion ways to put sodium bicarbonate to work in your home. It seems that I find new uses for this stuff daily.

Before we dig into some really practical applications, allow me a minute to clarify what exactly baking soda really is. Quite simply, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a chemical salt that, in its natural form, is the mineral nahcolite. This interesting substance can react as both an acid and a base, although in an aqueous solution it is a bit on the alkaline side.

Pure nahcolite is found in abundance in the Green River Basin which cuts through several states in the central part of our country. A number of commercial companies mine nahcolite directly from the ground and sell it as a raw product, while others heat and treat it with chemicals and then sell it. Either way, both methods produce an environmentally friendly product.

Alrighty, now that we have the short and sweet science lesson out of the way, I am going to let you in on 23 ways I have actually used baking soda in my home. You wouldn’t believe the money I have saved — I regularly purchase about three boxes of the stuff every time I go to the grocery store. Like many other natural substances such as Epsom salt, and coconut oil, baking soda is highly esteemed in my home and gets front and center pantry real estate.

#1 Ultimate pot and pan scrubber — It never fails, I always seem to char my pots and pans. Good news, a little baking soda and water combined with just the right amount of elbow grease is an easy and safe way to get your pots and pans sparkling clean. Continue reading →