Do you happen to know the magic powder, ‘baking soda’? ST is going to tell you about the various uses of baking soda that will help students who are living alone. ............................................................ Ed
Baking soda, often called ‘an all-purpose substance,’ has an excellent effect on cleaning and all-around sterilization. Now that there are more students living alone at the beginning of the new semester, I would like to introduce methods of using baking soda, a must-have item in every home.
1. Washing Fruits
Whether you want to get rid of residual pesticides or to safely eat unpeeled fruits, baking soda is the cleaning solution for you. Baking soda even has the ability to remove meteoric pesticides that cannot be removed with other cleaning solutions! To wash your fruit, simply dissolve 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 liter of water and soak your fruits/vegetables for 1 to 2 minutes. After taking them out, rinse in water several times before consuming.
2. Brushing Teeth and Using as Mouthwash
Baking soda can also be used to remove bad breath. There are two ways to do this: brushing teeth with it and using it as a mouthwash. Either squeeze toothpaste on your usual toothbrush, then sprinkle baking soda before brushing your teeth, or mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda in one paper cup of water, and gargle as you would do a conventional mouthwash. Brushing teeth or using as mouthwash in this way will refresh you, remove bad breath, and even whiten your teeth.
3. Deodorization
Baking soda can also be used to remove the unpleasant odor in shoes and blankets. Sprinkle a sufficient amount of baking soda in a shoe or blanket and let it sit for about a day (make sure to roll up the blanket for maximum exposure to the baking soda), then shake it off the next day and you’re done! It has the effect of removing not only the bad smell, but also potential mold, especially when it dried in the sun or in the cold wind of a hairdryer. You can also use baking soda for laundry. Adding a spoonful of baking soda with detergent bleaches white clothes and even removes detergent residues that can cause allergies.
4. Insect Repellent Solution
Applying baking soda and pouring hot water to sewers can clean them and prevent mosquitoes, fruit flies, and moth fly infestations. In addition, if sugar and baking soda are mixed at a 1:1 ratio and sprinkled onto a corner or placed in a cup near places that bugs can frequent, ants and cockroaches will consume the mixture and die soon after.
5. Removing Oil Stains
Next is wiping the grease off the sink or a frying pan with baking soda. Mix baking soda with a moderate amount of water to form a dough-like texture. (If it’s too watery when applied, it is difficult to handle!) Put the mixture on a
dishcloth, brush, or unused toothbrush and apply it on the area that you want to clean. Rinse with water and dry with a dishcloth or kitchen towel. It will be wiped clean without much effort.
Lee Tae-ran (ST Reporter)
leafpool@soongsil.ac.kr
