Baking Soda Uses: Most Brilliant Ways to Fix Things With Baking Soda
Baking Soda Uses: Most Brilliant Ways to Fix Things With Baking Soda
Make fluffier omelets
For restaurant-quality "puffiness," add a scant one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda to every three eggs you beat. The omelet will be light and fluffy. You can also use this trick to make big fluffy curds when scrambling eggs. Don't add too much or your eggs will taste bland, and be careful not to oversalt since the soda adds a slightly salty taste.
Make a rainy day activity for kids
Avoid hearing another whiny, "I'm boooored." Boil 2 cups of baking soda with one cup cornstarch and 1¼ cups water until thickened. Remove from the heat and cool. It makes a fun, pliable modeling clay that's good for a day.
Make tomatoes taste sweeter
If last year's garden tomatoes tasted dull, the action this year to ensure your garden harvest is as good as it can be. Sprinkle baking soda lightly on the soil around the base of your tomato plants; the resulting bounty will taste sweeter.
Save a mildewed book
Found mildew around the edge of a childhood classic you adored? If it's a mild case, sprinkle baking soda lightly between the pages, then put the book in a paper bag and dust the outside with more baking soda. Let it sit for several days, then remove, shake out, and dust off the baking soda, and let the book get a shot of bright sunlight. It doesn't remove mildew marks, but if you store it in a dry place, no more mildew will grow.
The flaky scalp on infants known as cradle cap is harmless and will usually go away on its own, but most parents can't stand to look at it. Make a paste in your palm of a couple of tablespoons baking soda and a teaspoon of water. Rub gently on the affected area, being careful not to get near the eyes, then wipe off with a damp washcloth, using no soap or baby shampoo. Repeat for two to three days until the flakiness lessens. (If the baby's head is very red after this treatment, try rubbing in baby oil instead; the soda could be too abrasive).
Stop a mosquito bite in its tracks
For a fresh bite, rush inside and pour a tablespoon of baking soda in your palm. Wet it with a few drops of water to make a paste, then smear it on the bite area. Let it dry and flake off. Treating a mark this way as soon as possible will minimize the red welt and the itching should promptly subside. The same treatment works for bee stings, assuming you have carefully removed any sign of the stinger.