If you have a box of baking soda lying unused from the past few months, there is a chance that it is expired. Baking soda does not have a fixed shelf life but it should be replaced in 6 -12 months to ensure that it does not lose its strength.
However, if you feel that the baking soda lying around in your kitchen has surpassed this duration, then perform a baking soda test to judge its potency using the following method:-
- Combine ¼ tsp of baking soda with approximately 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar.
- If bubbles appear, then it is still active else purchase another one to use in your recipes.
However, you can still use the expired baking soda in a series of ways.
Here are 21 ways to use expired baking soda :
1. Bathroom Cleaner
Form a paste using liquid soap and baking soda. This paste can be used to clean the sink, slabs, and bathtubs. This is sure to give you spotless washrooms and will eliminate the need for buying chemical-laden cleaners.
2. Kitchen Cleaning
Expired baking soda can be used for cleaning pots, glass, cookware, and pans. It can also clean stainless steel cutlery and cookware.
PhotoCredit: Your Best Digs
3. Natural Oven Cleaner:
Mix baking soda with water and put it on the walls and door of the oven. Set the oven to 200 degrees and then switch on for 10 minutes. Switch off the oven and the mixture rest for a few minutes.
4. Itch Relief
If you have been bitten by insects, affected by poison ivy or stings, apply a thick paste of expired baking soda mixed with water and wash it after the mixture has dried. This will give you relief from itching.
5.Deodorize Cutting Boards
If your cutting board smell of fish, garlic or any other pungent food substance then dust it with some baking soda. Thoroughly scrub and rinse the board.
Read more: How to Clean a Greasy Stove Top
6. Make Your Drain Smell Fresh and Clean
Add baking soda to your drain and see it break all the gunk and clean and freshen your drain.
7. Toilet Cleaner
Take a cup of baking soda and add to the toilet. Flush out the baking soda to leave the toilet clean and smelling fresh.
8. Gently exfoliate with expired baking soda
If you’ve got a baking soda that has stopped working, use it on your body to slough away dead skin. Mix three measures of baking soda to one measure water. Scrub it on your skin and gently clean. Do patch tests before you use the baking soda on your body.
9. Polish Silver Flatware
Mix three parts of baking soda with 1 part of water and rub it to silverware. Spread the paste on the silverware with a soft cloth and then rinse it. It will reflect a shine.
10. Relieve Diaper Rash
Add two tablespoon baking soda in your baby’s bath. This will help with your baby’s Rashes.
11. Pamper your Feet
Add baking soda to water to help you make your feet soft. Mix 3 tablespoon of this substance to warm water and soak your feet in them.
12.Expired baking soda eliminates Odours
Remove onion, garlic or any other pungent odor from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda and water.
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13. Keep Coat closet fresh
Place an open box of baking soda on your coat closet. This will keep odors away and keep fabrics fresh.
14. Wipe of Crayons from Walls
Take some baking soda on a wet cloth and rub it over crayon stains on the walls. Take a dry cloth and wipe off the excess.
15.Tomatoes taste better
If you have tomatoes growing in your yard, add baking soda to it around the plants. This will make your tomatoes taste sweeter.
16. Clean Boiled Chicken
If you boil whole chicken then add a teaspoon of baking soda to this. The feathers will come out automatically and the excessive blood is drained out.
17. Remove Fishy Smell
If you wish to remove the fishy smell from the fish’s pieces, then soak raw fish in baking soda for an hour in the refrigerator.
18. Clean Brushes and Combs
Baking Soda is great to absorb oils, residue, and build-ups from combs and brushes. Dissolve water and baking soda and soak the combs and brushes.
19. Make Your Laundry Detergent Better
Add expired baking soda to your laundry soap to make your clothes smell fresh and look bright. Mix half cup expired baking soda with 1 cup detergent to wash your clothes.
20. Use Expired Soda for Fresh Flowers
Add a spoon of soda to the water in the vase. It helps in keeping flowers fresh for a longer period of time.
21. Get Rid of Ants
Mix equal parts of baking soda and salt. Sprinkle the mixture on ants to keep them away!
The question that remains is does baking soda go bad?
The answer to this question is yes. Although the ingredient may lose its potency, it doesn’t necessarily have to be thrown away. It can be still used in a series of ways listed above.
If you have any other tried uses of old soda do share with us in comments below.