Bicarbonate of soda: the humble powder that does it all

You've almost certainly spotted that familiar tub at the back of the cupboard and wondered what on earth to do with it. Ask your grandmother, though, and there's a good chance she kept it to hand for herself, her children, her home and even her garden. Bicarbonate of soda is the Swiss Army knife of the household cupboard: soothing, deodorising, cleaning and softening all at once.

One quick note before we go any further: we mean the white, odourless powder from the baking aisle, not to be confused with washing soda, which isn't meant for eating. And if you'd like to dig deeper, there are books full of good advice for, shall we say, optimal use. In the meantime, here's plenty to make everyday life easier, for next to nothing and without any fuss.

A quiet ally for mouth and teeth

Bicarbonate of soda is slightly abrasive, and that's exactly what makes it useful here. Mixed with water as a mouthwash, it can help freshen your breath now and then, at a fraction of the price of the supermarket versions. One teaspoon in a glass of water, a good rinse, and you're set for the day.

A word of warning, though: sprinkling a pinch on your toothbrush and scrubbing away isn't a move to repeat often. Over time, the abrasion can wear down enamel, and it's worth asking a dentist before considering any whitening. And if bad breath lingers anyway, speak to a health professional: the cause is often somewhere other than the bathroom cupboard.

A handful in the bath, really?

Hard water we know well: drying, irritating, rough on sensitive skin. Some people traditionally add a handful of bicarbonate of soda to bathwater, washing water or a final rinse, but a caveat: it's no substitute for a water softener, and its effect on hard water hasn't been proven. So keep the ritual for pleasure, not as a technical fix.

If your skin is very dry or prone to eczema, ask a health professional before trying it. Even gentle, bicarbonate of soda can sting broken skin, and that's not the moment for your own experiment. In practice, try it on healthy skin, or give it a miss.

Anti-odour weapon: body, shoes, fridge

Whether for your body, your shoes, fabrics or even the fridge, this is a formidable little weapon. Sprinkle it on your underarms or feet, slip some inside your shoes and leave it to work for a few hours before shaking the excess out outdoors.

At home, dilute it in your bucket of water to clean the fridge and other spots prone to smells, and the whole lot smells noticeably fresher. You can also leave an open bowl in the fridge, or a pinch at the bottom of the bin under a damp sponge. These are well-established household habits you may already have picked up without thinking. Pure common sense, and what a bargain for the home.

Feet, revived

Shut inside shoes most of the time, your feet carry you all day long, often knocked about by ill-fitting footwear. For prettier feet, nothing beats a small footbath with half a cup of bicarbonate of soda stirred in: by tradition, this gesture softens the skin. Follow with a gentle buff over the harder patches, using a natural pumice stone if you can, and your feet feel refreshed and free of their little tensions.

With a fungal infection or a lesion, though, don't play around: see a health professional before going any further.

Bicarbonate for an upset stomach?

Let's be blunt: bicarbonate of soda features in some antacid preparations, and the old family remedy can help now and then. But spooning it down as self-medication isn't advisable without medical advice. If the burning keeps coming back or settles in, see a health professional rather than adding another spoonful: a suffering stomach deserves a proper diagnosis, not a pile-up of home remedies. In practice, remember this: it can tide you over, but it's no substitute for an appointment.

A cleanser for your beauty tools

Brushes, powder puffs, makeup sponges: all this kit needs washing regularly, or it becomes a nest for bacteria. There are cleansers made for the job, of course, but they usually cost a fair bit. A bath of water with four tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda stirred into a litre can serve as a gentle cleanser, but it won't replace a proper product if you genuinely want to disinfect. Leave it to soak for a few hours or overnight, then rinse thoroughly and let it dry in the open air.

And there's so much more to discover

There are plenty more uses for bicarbonate of soda, in the garden, for health and even in cooking. To go further, you could look for Les merveilles du bicarbonate de soude by Marina Simoneau (Edimag), though do check availability at your bookshop or library first: this little French guide dates from another era and isn't always reprinted.

In practice, remember this: before trying a new use, do your homework, and for anything health-related, talk it through with a professional.

Budget

Bicarbonate of soda is one of those things you keep in the cupboard without thinking, and thank goodness, because it costs pennies. Expect around £1 to £5 for a 500 g tub in the supermarket or a household shop, and a little more at the chemist for sometimes finer grades. Larger packs (1 kg and up) work out cheapest to use, and the price difference comes down mostly to packaging and where you buy it, not to the powder itself.

As for how long it lasts, a tub will see you through months, given how tiny the everyday quantities are. Good news for your wallet, then, and for the planet: one tub replaces several cleaning and personal care products, saving just as many packages. Look for it loose or in a simple paper bag where you can, store it dry in a glass jar, and it will earn its keep for ages. Now that's a cupboard staple that truly deserves its place.