Many people think that baking soda is just a kitchen staple that is best suited for baking. But they don’t realize that this versatile powerhouse has the capability of doing much more than just producing delicious desserts. The use of baking soda dates back to hundreds of years where it was used in the creation of body care products, cosmetics and cleansers. About a few decades ago, our grandmothers used it as an effective treatment for dandruff as well. Baking soda is an inexpensive and versatile kitchen item and there are a number of ways it can be used for entire body care. Here’s a look at some of the home remedies and uses of baking soda for body care, beauty and health.
Facial wash
Baking soda has great benefits for the skin. Combining two teaspoons of baking soda with one teaspoon of warm water can help you create a paste that you can gently massage on your face and rinse off to get smooth and flawless skin.
Exfoliator
Baking soda is grainy and it can be used as an effective exfoliator to get rid of dead skin cells. You can either mix a teaspoon of baking soda to your cleanser and use it as a scrub or you can combine a teaspoon of baking soda with two teaspoons of oat flour and water for deep cleansing.
Teeth Whitening
Your regular toothpaste contains a range of artificial ingredients in addition to dyes which can damage the enamel on your teeth over time. But baking soda is one ingredient that can whiten and clean teeth while protecting the enamel on the teeth. You can make a simple paste by combining one teaspoon of baking soda with two drops of peppermint oil and water. Using this paste to brush daily will give you clean and white teeth and it will also prevent bad breath.
Hair Health
Everyone wants shiny and healthy hair, but the type of hair care and styling products that are available on the market today tend to do more harm than good. To keep your hair free from the build up that is caused by styling products, you can wash your hair with baking soda. To use baking soda, simply mix it with your regular shampoo and wash as usual. To remove excess chlorine build up from your hair, rinse your hair with a mixture of baking soda and water.
Foot Soak
You can also use baking soda and water and give your feet a relaxing soak. This will not only help you get clean feet, but it will also soften the skin. To use this home remedy, mix half cup baking soda in a basin of water and soak your feet for about 30 minutes. Remove your feet, pat dry and apply some moisturizing cream for smooth feet.
Sunburn Relief
If you have just spent too long in the sun, you can prevent further damage by using baking soda and water. Prepare a lukewarm bath by adding about half cup of baking soda to warm water. This is one of the best ways to relieve burning, itchy and irritated skin and it is also a great substitute for aloe vera.
