Texas Living

5 Uses for Baking Soda This Summer

By Lisa Martin 5.11.15

Cheap, all-natural, and oh-so effective: Humble baking soda earns its MVP status not merely for household cleaning but also in terms of personal care. Keep a fresh box on hand for the following uses this summer:

Picnic Rx

You’ve hauled lunch out to the bay, lake, or park and let your picnic chest sit all day in the sun. Back at home, sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe your chest or tote thoroughly then let it dry overnight.

Lounge Lesson

Was your outdoor furniture looking a little grungy when you pulled it out of storage for the summer season? The cleaning gurus at Arm & Hammerâ recommend wiping down hard surfaces with a mixture of baking soda and water. Deodorize the cushions with a light sprinkle of the stuff then vacuum it up.

More Patio Prep

Refresh your grill by scouring it with a baking soda and water mix. Clean pool toys with a concoction of 1/4-cup baking soda in a quart of warm water. Wipe down or submerge the toys then rinse.

Bite Back

For ant bites, bee stings, or wasps stings, turn to baking soda to relive the burn. Mix baking soda with a little vinegar and rub the paste on the sting. The mixture will fizz and the pain will vanish almost instantly.

Soothe Sunburns

Sink into a tub of lukewarm bathwater with 1/2-cup of baking soda added for all-natural burn relief. Don’t towel off the excess baking soda but rather leave it there for longer lasting relief.