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Find out why this powerhouse of a product is one of the most versatile and effective tools in your household arsenal

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  Surprising uses for household products

  Save money with this easy guide to cleaning your home using items you already own  
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1. Skip produce washes—just put some baking soda on a damp sponge, scrub and rinse.
2. Soak hair brushes and combs in a mixture of 1 teaspoon baking soda and a small amount of warm water. Rinse and dry.
3. Before you store your patio furniture for the season, scatter baking soda under chair cushions.
4. Keep your grill clean all summer long by putting some baking soda on a damp brush, scrubbing the grate, then rinsing.
5. Freshen rugs by sprinkling baking soda on carpet, wait at least 15 minutes (preferably let sit overnight), then vacuum up.
6. Add 1 cup of baking soda to your next load of laundry (along with your regular liquid detergent) to get clothes cleaner and brighter.
7. Remove baked-on residue by shaking a generous amount of baking soda on pots and pans. Then add hot water and dish detergent, let sit for 15 minutes and wash as usual.
8. Deodorize a funky-smelling hamper. Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the hamper (or over dirty clothes) to keep items fresher until laundry day.
9. To brighten a dull floor finish, dissolve ½ cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water. Mop and rinse for a shiny floor.
10. Make your own bathroom scrub by mixing ¼ cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add vinegar to give it a thick, creamy texture.
11. To put out a grease fire, scatter baking soda over it by the handful to extinguish flames.
12. Clean the dishwasher and coffeemaker by running an empty cycle with baking soda.
13. Add ½ cup baking soda to your bath for an at-home spa treatment.
14. To shine tarnished silver, combine three parts baking soda with one part water. Rub onto silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
15. Sprinkle baking soda in the kitty box, then add litter on top to keep smells to a minimum. Or make a DIY litter, mixing a small box of baking soda with 3 inches of sandy clay.
16. Use baking soda to brush your pets’ teeth.
17. For instant relief from bug bites, sunburn and poison ivy, mix baking soda with a little water and apply it directly to the sore.
18. Pour in 1 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup hot vinegar to quickly unclog the kitchen drain.
19. Fight dandruff by tabling the shampoo for a few weeks and massaging your wet scalp with a handful of baking soda instead.
20. Gargle with baking soda, or use it as mouthwash.
21. Soak toothbrushes in a mixture of ¼ cup baking soda and ¼ cup water; let brushes stand overnight for a thorough cleaning.
22. Make a fluffier omelet by adding ½ teaspoon baking soda for every three eggs.
23. Use a pinch in a gallon of freshly-brewed iced tea, to take out the bitterness and prevent cloudiness.
24. Scatter baking soda on icy sidewalks―it’s not as corrosive as salt.
25. Discourage weeds by sprinkling baking soda into the cracks on your driveway and walkways.
26. Surround Fido’s food bowls with baking soda to keep pests away.
27. Mix a little baking soda into your conditioner and lather on your hair to keep it healthy and resistant to split ends.
28. Have heartburn? Create an antacid by mixing ½ teaspoon of baking soda with ½ cup of water.
29. To clean a toilet, add ¼ cup baking soda to the bowl, swirl, then scrub.
30. Exfoliate your skin with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Apply gently with your fingertips in a circular motion, then rinse
31. To deodorize a drain, pour about ½ cup baking soda down the drain, followed by ½ cup vinegar. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clean residue. NOTE: Use this method only if your pipes are metal. And never mix with other cleaning solutions. Don't try this if you've recently used a commercial drain product.