Though air fresheners may smell great at the store, they often just mask bad odors instead of eliminating them. Air fresheners can also contain many harmful chemicals, making them a less appealing option for filling a room with fragrance.
But baking soda works well to actively eliminate odors, making it a great natural alternative. All you need is to mix some baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and then place it in a bottle or bowl. Then, simply set the container in the room you want to freshen; it’s that simple!
Freshen and Disinfect Your Mouth
When it comes to oral care, the details matter. Sometimes, your toothbrush can still leave bacteria behind, causing bad breath. Baking soda can help fill in the gaps here, too.
Due to its antibacterial properties, baking soda can help keep your mouth clean and your breath fresh. For quality oral care on a budget, mix half a tsp of baking soda and equal parts warm water.
Keep Your Underarms Fresh
If you would rather be able to pronounce the ingredients in your deodorant, baking soda is a solid alternative.
You can actually make deodorant for yourself by carefully mixing baking soda and water into a paste. Simply apply it under your arms as needed to stay fresh and odor-free.
Whiten and Brighten Clothes
Are your clothes looking a bit dull? Adding a cup of baking soda to your next load of laundry will not only brighten your clothes, but they may come out cleaner, too.
This is because baking soda is an alkali (a soluble salt), making it great at removing stains. This is also effective in keeping your clothes from wearing and having them last longer.
Clean Your Bathroom
You can typically find an entire grocery store aisle dedicated to cleaners, especially for the bathroom. But for an effective, low-cost, and natural alternative, baking soda once again is the winner.
When applied to surfaces, it will disinfect and whiten them. You first create a simple paste of baking soda and water, which you can apply to any surface in the bathroom, from floor tiles to toilets and bathtubs. After letting the paste sit for 20 minutes, just wipe it away to reveal brighter, cleaner surfaces.