In the past, everything was far simpler. You had a small amount of powerful, multipurpose and wonderfully natural products that you used both for yourself and for your home, and they did a great job.

At some point, we all decided, or marketers decided for us, that we needed cleaning cupboards stocked full of different products for every possible use, and that no bathroom cabinet was complete without 20 different bottles full of lotions and potions for us to use on our faces, not to mention the rest of our bodies.

“Luckily, these days, more and more

people are coming to the realization that

mother nature does it far better than any

chemical-filled product with an ingredient list

as long as your arm, half of which you

can’t even pronounce.”

You’ve probably already heard about how amazing coconut oil is, probably the most versatile beauty product out there. It can be used as a moisturizer, makeup remover, a hair mask, lip balm, and as a key ingredient in practically every DIY cosmetic you can make.

The internet has gone crazy recently over apple cider vinegar (ACV), incredible as a toner, a replacement conditioner, internally for weight loss (some say), and even for cleaning, although basic white vinegar just does as well.

But you might not have realized just how many uses there are for baking soda, both in your beauty regime and around your home. I’m here to give you an idea of all the things you can do with this white powder that packs a powerful (but natural!) punch.

For You

Shampoo

You’ve probably heard about the ‘no shampoo’ bandwagon that everyone’s jumping on, and I can’t recommend hitching a ride enough!

We spend vast amounts of money on shampoos that are actually doing the natural balance of our hair damage. They aren’t doing the environment any good either once they’re washed down your shower drain.

I was a bit sceptical about the idea of washing my hair with baking soda, but I’m now a total convert.

You just mix a tablespoon or two (depending on how greasy/thick/long your hair is) of baking soda with water (1 part soda: 3 parts water) and pour it over your hair. Rub it in and give yourself a head massage in the process, and when it stops feeling grainy and starts feeling smooth (you’ll see what I mean!) then wash it out. Voila! Follow with ACV as a conditioner, in the same way.

My hair has never felt so clean and so soft. Why not give it a go?

Deodorant

Baking soda is the key ingredient in most DIY deodorant recipes. Whilst these aren’t antiperspirants, the baking soda neutralises body odour, without any of the dodgy ingredients you can find it a lot of shop-bought ones.

Although some of the evidence is a bit tenuous, there are claims that ingredients in antiperspirants can cause Alzheimer’s and even types of cancer, so I reckon it’s probably best to steer clear.

You’ll need:

• 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder

Melt down the oil over a double-boiler and allow to cool before mixing in the other ingredients; you should be left with a kind of paste. You can use your hands to apply or, if you’re careful, you can pour the mix into an old (clean) rollerball container.

Sceptical? Don’t be! You’ll be amazed at how effective this natural deodorant is.

Toothpaste

Read the back of any tube of toothpaste and you won’t recognise half of the ingredients. It’s not just what’s in the tube, however, it’s the tube itself. We’re constantly throwing tube after tube into landfill. Save the environment as well as steering clear of the chemicals!

• ½ a cup of coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2 packets of stevia powder

Melt the oil over a double-boiler, mix everything together and allow to cool. You can store this in a closed jar and dip your toothbrush in or place in a plastic bag and ‘pipe’ it into another container.

You can add essential oils to this for a bit of flavour. Clove is a great one for oral health, but go for peppermint if you want that classic toothpaste taste.

For Your Home

Air Freshener

Strangely, many commercial air fresheners are full of things you really shouldn’t be breathing in. Check out the reasons you should be avoiding air freshener and a simple replacement just using water, baking soda and essential oils.

Baking soda also works wonderfully as a deodorizer or freshener, so you can leave an open box in your closet or even in your fridge to keep smells at bay.

Essentially, for any strong smells, baking soda is the way forward. You can even sprinkle it at the bottom of your bin!

Oven or Microwave Cleaner

Steer clear of the nasty shop bought stuff and let baking soda cut through the grease. For your microwave, sprinkle it on a damp cloth and wipe. For stubborn grease in the oven, sprinkle it on, spray with water and leave it overnight to work its magic.

Make Your Detergent Go Further

Add ½ a cup of baking soda to your laundry to make your detergent go further and leave your clothes fresher and cleaner. Make sure your detergent is an eco-friendly brand!

If you’ve got any tough stains to deal with, soak the clothes in a solution of baking soda dissolved in water for a couple of hours before washing.

And For Everything Else…

You can also put it in flower water to make them last longer, use it to wash your fruit and vegetables, keep ants out, get tough smells off your hands, deodorize your carpet, unclog your drains (with the help of vinegar). It’s the ultimate multitasker.

Do yourself a favor and buy in bulk, and then have fun discovering the myriad ways you can use it for yourself and in your home.

About the Author
Katie is a wellness expert who spends most of her time trying out new plant-based recipes, trail running, travelling and napping. When she’s not doing that she’s writing for Sleep Health Energy (https://www.sleephealthenergy.com/), a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about enjoying top-to-toe health and getting a restful night’s sleep, which will leave you bursting with energy. Follow along on Twitter (https://twitter.com/sleephealthnrg) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sleephealthenergy/).

How do you use baking soda in your home?

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