Other Uses for Baking Soda in the Kitchen
Baking soda does so many things in the kitchen that you might be surprised about the kinds of duties it can perform. Let's look at coffee and tea stains.To clean teapots and stovetop percolators, fill with water, add 2 or 3 tablespoons of baking soda, and boil for 10 to 15 minutes. After the pot is cool, scrub and rinse it thoroughly.
Dip a damp sponge in baking soda and rub coffee cup and teacup stains away. Stubborn stains may also require a little salt.
To remove rust stains and mineral deposits from teapots, fill the pot with water, and add
2 tablespoons baking soda and the juice of half a lemon. Boil the solution gently for 15 minutes, and rinse the pot.
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To prevent clogs, periodically pour 1/2 cup baking soda down your kitchen sink, followed by hot water. You can use the old box of baking soda from your refrigerator when you replace it.
Baking soda and vinegar will foam your drain clean and help prevent clogs. Use 1/2 cup baking soda, followed by 1 cup vinegar. When the foam subsides, rinse the drain with hot water.
Refrigerators and Freezers
An open box of baking soda in the refrigerator absorbs odors for up to three months. The same is true of freezers. To remove any unpleasant taste in ice cubes from an automatic ice cube maker, clean removable parts of the unit with baking soda and water.
Rub a wooden cutting board with a baking-soda paste to remove odors. Reduce garbage-can smells by sprinkling baking soda in each time you add garbage. Periodically wash out and deodorize the garbage cans with a solution of 1 cup baking soda per 1 gallon water.
Other Handy Tricks
Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge, and scrub your fruits and vegetables to remove dirt, wax, or pesticide residue. Rinse the food well.
Clean the oil out of a salad dressing cruet by shaking baking soda inside, then rinsing it clean with warm water.
Putting Out Fires
Keep a box of baking soda within reach of the stove, but far enough away to be out of range of a fire. Pour baking soda directly on the flames to extinguish the fire.
Do not use baking soda to extinguish a fire in a deep fat fryer because the fat may splatter.
Do not use baking soda on any fire involving combustibles, such as wood or paper. Do not hesitate to call 911 if you think the fire is out of hand.
When the fire is extinguished, allow pots and their contents to cool before removing and cleaning.
As you've seen, baking soda has lots of uses in the kitchen. Try it and you'll be surprised.
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