Best known for its use as a leavening agent in baked goods, baking soda is useful for a host of other applications that go far beyond refreshing the refrigerator and freezer. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a naturally occurring substance derived from soda ash that regulates pH balance, thereby keeping substances from being either too acidic or too alkaline. Baking soda reacts with the acidic ingredients in batter to give off carbon dioxide, which causes the batter or dough to rise. When there are no acidic ingredients present, baking soda will not react and it is necessary to use baking soda powder, which contains its own acidic reactant.
Baking soda can be used to clean everything from toilet bowls to tarnished silver. Use to deodorize shoes, carpets, and closets. Clean coffee pots, scrub crayon from the walls, and brush teeth with it. A paste made from baking soda will soothe bee stings, insect bites, and poison oak.
Children can be entertained with a homemade volcano made from apple-cider vinegar and a few tablespoons of baking soda-throw in some food coloring for real excitement and watch it all erupt!
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