Baking soda has so many uses, and we all need a few extra tips on how to use it. If you have a box of sodium bicarbonate at home, now is the perfect time to use it.

You can used for almost everything. It keeps your house clean. It also keeps your body in perfect shape. Baking soda is a nahcolite, and you can use it to clean, soothe and deodorize. In the past baking soda was only used as a raising agent.

Ancient Egyptians used natron as a cleaning agent. But, this product was first presented to the world in the mid-19th century. By 1860, baking soda was listed in recipes. In the 1920s, its list of uses was rather long. It was labeled as “a proven medical agent.”

When it comes to your garden, baking soda is a safe alternative to chemical-packed pesticides.

1. Pesticides

People in North America use 136 million pounds of pesticides each year. Homeowners use three times more pesticide than farmers. Truth is, households do more damage to waters and wildlife than farmers.

Baking soda can help you get rid of aphids and spider mites. It’s not toxic, and our planet will thank you.

All you have to do is combine a teaspoon of baking soda, one-third cup of olive oil and a cup of water. Spray affected plants. This spray can also help you treat fungal diseases. It can help you get rid of the black spot on your roses. It’s also efficient for vines and grapes.

If you are treating insect infestations, make a spray using a tablespoon of olive il, two tablespoons of baking soda, a few drops of liquid Ivory soap and a gallon of water. Spray affected areas once a day for three straight days.

To get rid of ants, use baking soda, confectioners sugar and vinegar. Combine equal amounts of the first two and add a tablespoon of water to dampen the mixture. Sprinkle this over the ant hill, and add a tablespoon of vinegar to get rid of the remaining ants. Don’t use regular sugar because ants will separate the grains.

2. Test the pH value

What’s the pH value of your soil?

“If you live in an area with alkaline soil — which has a pH above 7.0, you have two options,” and article in The San Francisco Chronicle reads. “You can either take measures to lower the pH, or you can choose plants well-suited to growing in alkaline conditions. If you take the latter path, you have a wide variety of plants to choose from.”

Roots absorb nitrogen and iron when they are dissolved in water. if the soil is too acidic or alkaline, the nutrients won’t dissolve easily. In other words, the plants won’t use the minerals.

Baking soda and vinegar can help you test the pH value of the soil in your garden. Here’s what you should do:

Fill two small containers with soil from different parts of the garden. Add the vinegar to one of the samples. If the soil bubbles, it’s alkaline. Add baking soda and water to the other sample. If it bubbles, the pH level is acidic.

3. Clean garden, birth baths and clay pots

Sprinkle baking soda on the area and scrub using a damp cloth. It actually works as a mild abrasive. Rinse well with water.

4. Blooms

Hydrangeas, begonias, and geraniums thrive well in alkaline soil. Dissolve baking soda in some water, and us the solution on your plants to encourage the bloom. Use the some solution to cut flowers.

5. Slugs

All you have to do is sprinkle baking soda on the slugs. You can also sprinkle some of the white powder around your plants to keep slugs away. Don’t use baking soda directly on your plants.

6. Sweet tomatoes

Use baking soda to lower the acidity of the soil. It will also make your tomatoes sweeter.

7. Rejuvenate plants

Baking soda will bring your plants bright and fresh. Add a teaspoon of baking soda and Epsom salt each to a gallon of water. You should also add a half teaspoon of ammonia. Stir well, and use a quart of the solution to each of your plants. This will also work as a fertilizer for your plants. A gallon of the solution is enough for four bushes.

8. Crabgrass and weeds

Sprinkle baking soda in your yard to get rid of weeds. This will destroy small weeds and stop them from reemerging again. Add a thick layer of the baking powder and spray water.

9. Cabbage worms

Cabbage worms are nasty and stubborn. They can destroy an entire crop. Combine equal parts of baking soda and flour, and sprinkle this on your kale, broccoli and cabbage. Repeat if necessary.

10. Smelly compost

Add some baking powder to your compost to “kill” the bad odor and neutralize acids. Be careful not to use too much because it will slow down the composting process.

11. Prevent mildewing on leaves

Spray a solution of baking soda to prevent mildew. Add a few drops of liquid soap to a quart of water. Spray this on your rose bushes, flowers, fruit trees and vegetables.

12. Walkways

Add two tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water. And wash any affected surface. Add baking soda and scrub if the stains are too stubborn. Don’t use baking soda on your flowers and lawns.

13. Dirty hands

Long days in your garden may be good for your body and mind, but your hands will be super dirty. Wet your hands, and add baking soda. Scrub well. Rinse and add your favorite hand cream. If you have dark spots, make some baking soda paste and leave it on your hands for 5 minutes. Scrub and rinse.

Sources:
www.healthline.com
www.naturallivingideas.com