7 unexpected baking soda tricks to make life easier - lifehacker

Some things happen only once in a lifetime: take at least the first love, the last call, or the purchase of a pack of soda. Seriously, baking soda is a versatile assistant that will help out both in the kitchen and during cleaning. Bookmark: These non-obvious and interesting tips will come in handy more than once.

1. Return shine to darkened jewelry

If your favorite ring or chain has lost its former appearance, do not waste money on special cleaning liquids for jewelry. You probably have water, baking soda, salt, foil and dish soap at home. This set is enough to make a homemade mixturethat will make your jewelry shine.

Heat a glass of water in the microwave - just a couple of minutes is enough, and then put a piece of foil in the water and a tablespoon of baking soda, salt and dishwashing liquid. Dip the jewelry in a glass for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly in cold water. Done, now they are as good as new!

2. Extend the life of cut flowers

To make the bouquet happy for a long time, and not as usual, you can look at the flower shop for a fertilizing agent. Or see if there's a bag of baking soda in your kitchen cupboard (spoiler: yes). Pour water into the vase and

By the way, it will turn out to be more profitable. A sachet of a special product is usually designed for 1.5 liters of liquid - you will have to buy it every time you want to change the water in the vase. Soda is cheaper and always at hand.

3. Wash stained sneakers

Sometimes even special cleaning agents and wet wipes cannot wipe dirt off the white soles. Both acetone and chlorine-based household chemicals are used, but there is an easier and safer way to return the shoe to its original whiteness. Nothing complicated, follow the instructions.

To two parts of baking soda, add one part of water and hydrogen peroxide. Stir and apply to dirty areas with the hard side of a dishwashing sponge. Rub it well - voila, the shoes are as good as new.

4. Clear baby toys

Sometimes it is not easy for toy hares and bears: their children either put them in the sandbox or bathe them in a puddle. There are two options for solving the problem: wash your plush friends after each walk (but not the fact that they will have time to dry before the next exit) or call for help with soda. She is in no time cope with light dirt.

Take a bag, put a toy in there and add two tablespoons of baking soda. Tie the bag tightly, shake it and leave it alone for half an hour. The toy will be clean, you just have to shake off the excess soda. In this way, you can also clean products that are strictly prohibited from bathing, for example, musical ones or those that have cardboard parts.

5. Save old books

Some people find a special charm in the smell of old books - it was for such connoisseurs that they came up with a perfume with the scent of dusty volumes (rather peculiar, what really). But if something musty pulls from the pages and binding of the book, this is a sure sign that it is time to save her before she is completely damp.

To counteract the characteristic smell, put the books in a bag, add a couple of teaspoons of baking soda and shake well. Leave them in the bag for a few days, and when you take them out, the unpleasant amber will disappear. Just remember to shake off any remaining powder.

6. Get rid of itching after mosquito bites

Everything good in life comes at a price. So gatherings in nature risk turning into a collision with mosquitoes, and you will have itchy red spots as a keepsake. If you forgot to buy a repellent before the trip, then at least on the way home, grab a pack of soda from the store. Mix it with water to make a gruel, and apply where it itches. And do not comb the bites, it will only get worse.

7. Bake fluffy buns

The dinner issue has been resolved: we are preparing Italian buns with mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes.

Ingredients:

• 20 g butter;
• 15 g dried thyme;
• 10 g brown sugar;
• 200 ml of cream, 30–33% fat;
• 240 g flour;
• 5 g of soda;
• 1.5 teaspoons of salt;
• 150 g mozzarella;
• 100 g sun-dried tomatoes.

Combine softened butter, thyme, brown sugar, and room temperature cream in a small bowl. Pour half a glass out of the total amount of flour to roll out the dough. Toss the remaining flour in a large bowl with baking soda and salt, add the spicy butter and knead the dough.

Sprinkle flour on the board and dust it with a rolling pin and hands. Flatten the dough with your hands, and then roll it out to a thickness of 5-7 millimeters. Cut out round cakes from the dough - this is conveniently done using a bowl about 10 centimeters in diameter.

Cut each cake on three sides, not reaching the center. Place a slice of cheese and some sun-dried tomatoes in the middle. Wrap the filling with the dough “petals” one by one so that the cake looks like an open tulip. Transfer the buns to a baking sheet covered with baking paper and place in the oven at 190 ° C for 20-25 minutes.

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