Food as Non Food: Baking Soda

Okay, so it's not really a food, but you know what I mean. Baking Soda is usually kept in the kitchen, but this past week I've found two great uses for it:

-removing sweat stains. It's AMAZING! You just mix the baking soda with enough water to make a fairly watery paste, then use your fingers or a toothbrush to scrub it into a wet piece of clothing. Let the whole thing sit for awhile to let the baking soda work its magic. Websites say half an hour, but I let them sit most of the afternoon before throwing the clothes in the laundry machine. I managed to get out sweat stains I'd thought were so hopeless I was going to throw away otherwise fine shirts. I'd tried a lot of commercial products (Oxy, Spray n' Wash), but the baking soda did the trick.

-stopping itchy bug bites. Again, make a paste with water. Just smear it on your bug bites. I found that plain yogurt works too. I think that anything more basic than the bug venom stops the inflammation and itchiness. I hear if you put it on early enough and before you scratch, the bite disappears within a few hours.

-exfoliating. I mix half a teaspoon with my facial cleanser twice a week, and it makes my face and chest skin feel incredibly smooth without drying it out.

-burns. I haven't tried this yet, but read that a baking soda and water paste lightly covered in gauze will stop burning and prevent scarring.

So there you have it, a few more uses for something that you have to buy a big box of, but which usually turns hard and crusty or picks up funky odors before you can use it all up.