Baking soda isn't just for cookies. It's great for cleaning up spills, too. This common household item can be used for many DIY tasks. It is handy for cleaning your home, grooming pets, and caring for plants. Here are some fun and unexpected ways to use baking soda daily.

Sometimes, you get heartburn and realize you're out of medicine. But baking soda can help. Mix and drink 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 ounces of water. The taste may be unpleasant, but it will disappear the stomach acid. Be careful if you're on a salt-restricted diet, as baking soda contains sodium.

Swimmers know chlorine can damage hair. Make a simple mix. Put a tablespoon of baking soda in a spray bottle. Add water. Spray this on hair after swimming. Wash hair as usual. This stops hair from turning green. It also makes hair soft.

New clothing may have a chemical smell. This can be unpleasant, especially for babies' clothing. You can add baking soda to the first wash. This will remove unwanted chemicals from the fabric and make it softer.

Tired of using toxic chemicals to stop ants and cockroaches? Try this safer way. Mix 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup sugar. Spread the mix where you see the bugs. The mix gets inside the bugs. It reacts with the baking soda and kills them safely.

If your pet is a bit smelly, you can quickly clean them. Just spread some baking soda all over their fur and massage it in. Brush off the baking soda, and your pet will be clean and smell better.

Tip: Use an old shaker with spice to make it easy to apply the baking soda.

The lunch box can hold smells nobody wants to remember. For this, add three spoonfuls of baking soda and hot water. Shake the box a little with the lid loose. Let it soak for hours before rinsing.

Bye, strange smells!

Do you have old books that look like they've been in a dungeon? First, dust the pages with baking soda. Then, put the books in a paper bag and seal it. Leave the bag in a closed place for a few days. After that, shake out the books to remove the dust. The musty smell will be gone.

Are you trying to stop craving sweets? Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with 4 oz of warm water. Rinse your mouth. Spit it out - don't swallow! This can help you control your sweet tooth and resist sweets more easily.

You can do a cool party trick to impress your friends. Blow up a balloon without using your breath! First, pour 1/4 cup of vinegar into a bottle. Use a funnel to add two teaspoons of soda into a deflated balloon. Carefully place the balloon over the bottle's mouth. Then, dump the baking soda into the balloon. The balloon inflates due to a chemical reaction. Isn't science amazing?

If your pet gets sprayed by a skunk, don't panic. Mix 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and one teaspoon of dish soap. Rub the mixture into your pet's coat and sit for 5 minutes. Then, rinse it off. This works better than using tomato juice to remove the skunk smell.

Cats are adorable, but their litter boxes can be smelly. To fight odours, put baking soda as the first layer in the litter box before adding litter. This helps control smells so your cat doesn't suffer. This simple trick will make your cat happy and keep your home fresh.

Want to check if your garden soil is acidic? Here's an easy way to do it. Take some soil and split it into two cups. Pour half a cup of vinegar into one container. If it foams, your soil is alkaline. If not, add water with some baking soda to the other container. If there's fizzing, your soil is acidic. This quick test saves you a trip to the garden centre.

Baking soda cleans dirty stovetops very well. First, sprinkle baking soda on the stovetop. Let it sit for five minutes. Then, use a damp sponge to scrub off the dirt. After that, grab a fresh towel and gently rub the stovetop to make it shine.

Wanting your laundry to smell amazing? Add half a cup of baking soda to your wash. It can remove stains, soften fabrics, and make your clothes smell great. This is super helpful for sweaty workout clothes and sports towels.

Has the oil been spilt in your garage or driveway? Put baking soda on the stain. Brush it with a bristle brush. Rinse with hot water. The baking soda absorbs the oil. This makes your driveway look better.

To save money on face scrubs, paste with two teaspoons of baking soda and one teaspoon of water. Apply the paste to your face using circular motions, avoiding your eyes. Rinse it off and pat your face dry. Then, apply a moisturizer.

Smelly feet can be a problem. Before wearing socks, try sprinkling baking soda. This helps reduce smells and sweat, keeping your feet fresh all day. You can now take off your shoes without feeling embarrassed.

Goodbye to short smells! Make room for an open box of baking soda. The box will remove odours and keep the fridge fresh. Put in a new box every few months to keep it working well.

Forgot your dry shampoo? No problem. Just sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on your roots. Massage it in and then comb through your hair. The baking soda will absorb oil and make your hair feel fresher quickly. But be careful not to use too much, as it may make your hair feel dry.

Checking the pH level can be tricky if you have a fish tank. Slowly add a mix of 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 cup of dechlorinated water to the tank. Add one teaspoon per 5 gallons over several hours to stabilize the pH. But remember to take out the fish first!

You can make your silverware sparkle again. Make a paste with three parts baking soda and 1 part water. Gently rub the paste onto the silver, then rinse and dry it. Your guests will think you got the Silverware from a fancy restaurant.

Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Then vacuum it all up. The baking soda absorbs smelly things. This makes the room smell much fresher. This works great in areas where people gather or if you have pets.

Grout can get dirty quickly. Mix lemon juice and baking soda into a paste. Use a brush to put this paste on the grout lines. Let it sit, then scrub it off. If needed, you can also add bleach or detergent to the mix. But don't do this in a calm room.

Put baking soda in an old sock or bag with holes. Put this inside the drawer. This stops the drawer from smelling bad. Say goodbye to lousy drawer smells!

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply it to the rings on your wooden table. Work the paste in well. Then, polish it off with a clean cloth. Your table will look as good as new!