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The fact that baking soda can be used excellently in the kitchen and household is a well-known fact. But did you know that it is just as useful and inexpensive a helper for our beauty? Read on and you will learn more about its versatile uses.
Cracked heels and aching feet
If you are on your feet all day at work, wear high heels, or are troubled by cracked heels, baking soda will again help you effectively. Pour 3–4 tablespoons of baking soda into a pot and cover with warm water. This solution acts beneficially on the feet, relieves pain and unpleasant cramps, and as a great scrub helps remove thickened and dead parts of the skin on the heels.
Homemade ointment for joint pain
Baking soda is excellent also in combination with other ingredients. Make a homemade ointment that you can use as a supportive treatment for gout, arthritis or other musculoskeletal conditions. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of mustard, 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Mix all the ingredients and apply to the painful areas before bed. Cover with plastic wrap and a woolen scarf. Leave it on overnight.
Muscle relaxation and natural detox
From time to time you can treat yourself to a relaxing bath. Add 1 cup of baking soda and ½ cup of apple cider vinegar to warm water. This bath is great for stiff muscles and relaxing the body.
Speeds up healing of wounds and cold sores
Baking soda can also help with wounds, insect stings and speeds up the healing of cold sores. Make a paste from water and baking soda, apply it directly to these spots and leave it on for several minutes.
Instead of dry shampoo
Dry shampoo is a great invention. If you don’t have time to wash and dry your hair, simply apply the powder to your hair and brush it out. Baking soda can work similarly, but your hair must not be damp or too greasy. Use a little baking soda and proceed the same way as with dry shampoo — brush it thoroughly out of your hair.
Facial and body scrub
You can mix it into honey or olive oil and you have an eco-friendly and inexpensive scrub for your face and body. After using baking soda we recommend moisturizing the skin with a cream or coconut oil, because it tends to dry the skin out.
Deodorant
Baking soda neutralizes unpleasant odors and acids, so it can serve as an emergency deodorant. However, do not use it if you have cut your armpit skin while shaving. It can act aggressively on freshly shaved skin.
Helps with itchy skin
If during winter you experience the feeling of tight, dry skin, try preparing a warm (not hot) bath. Dissolve half a cup of baking soda in it, immerse yourself and leave it on for at least fifteen minutes. In summer, such a cool bath will help relieve itching of the skin from pollen or insect bites.
Foot bath
For softening rough skin, removing yellowed skin or simply preventing hangnails, a foot bath with baking soda is excellent.
For nicer nails
Especially women certainly know the problem of hangnails. They arise from damaged or dried skin around the nails. Try during a manicure to rub your nails and the surrounding skin with a paste of baking soda and water. This gently removes rough and dry skin. Finish by treating your hands with a moisturizing cream.
You can clean your hairbrush with it
You should regularly take care of combs and hairbrushes. Take a closer look at them and you may not be pleased — they collect a lot of hair, grease and dry skin. Before you throw them away, we recommend soaking them in warm water in which you dissolve a tablespoon of baking soda. Leave them there for at least 20 minutes and then clean them, for example with an old toothbrush, and let them dry.
Whitens teeth
Baking soda is excellent for whitening teeth from stains caused by coffee, tea and other deposits. Simply mix the powder with a few drops of water and apply to the teeth, or gently clean them with a brush. Be careful with using it this way and definitely do not apply it more than three times a month. Baking soda can be abrasive to tooth enamel.
Heartburn
The bicarbonate that baking soda contains is produced naturally in the human body and is very important especially for neutralizing excess acids and maintaining optimal pH. If you suffer from heartburn, you can make a homemade antacid by mixing ½ teaspoon of baking soda and ½ cup of water. Drink this beverage about an hour after a meal. Baking soda helps create an acid balance and thus prevents reflux into the esophagus.
