9 Ways to Use Baking Soda Around the House

If you're like me, you buy a big package of baking soda when it's on sale and end up with a lot of it left over after it expires. But even if it's no longer fresh enough to bake with, your money isn't wasted. I've found 9 clever ways to use expired baking soda around the house, from recipes for playdough to insect repellent.

1. Clean your vegetables

You can't be too careful when it comes to food handling and preparation. Wash fruits and vegetables in a pot of cold water with 2 to 3 tablespoons (30-45 ml) of baking soda; this will remove some of the impurities that tap water leaves behind. Or, put a small amount of baking soda on a wet sponge or vegetable brush and scrub your fruits and vegetables. Rinse everything thoroughly before serving.

2. Vacuum up fish odors
Eliminate fish odors from store-bought fish fillets and fish steaks by soaking the raw fish for about an hour (in the refrigerator) in 4 cups (1 L) of water with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of baking soda. Rinse the fish well and pat dry before cooking.

3. Reduce acids in recipes
If you or someone in your family is sensitive to the high acidity of tomato sauces or coffee, you can reduce the overall acidity by adding a pinch of baking soda when cooking (or in the case of coffee, before brewing). A little baking soda can also offset the taste of vinegar if you've poured a little too much of it into your cup. Be careful not to overdo it, though - if you add too much, the vinegar-baking soda combination will start to foam.

4. Bake better beans
Love baked beans, but not their aftermath? Adding a pinch of baking soda to baked beans during cooking will significantly reduce their gassiness.

5. Tenderize meat
If you have a tough piece of meat in your hands, you can tenderize it with baking soda. Let it sit (in the refrigerator, of course) for 3 to 5 hours, then rinse well before cooking.

6. Use as a yeast substitute
If you need a substitute for yeast and have some powdered vitamin C (or citric acid) and baking soda on hand, you can use a mixture of the two instead. Just mix equal parts of the amount of yeast you need. Also, if you use the mixture, the dough won't need to rise before baking.

7. Clean your hands of food odors
Chopping garlic or cleaning fish can leave your fingers "smelling" long after you're done. Rid your hands of unpleasant food odors by simply wetting them and rubbing vigorously with about 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of baking soda instead of soap. The odor should wash off with the baking soda.

8. Clean a cutting board
Keep your wooden or plastic cutting board clean by occasionally scrubbing it with a paste of 1 tablespoon (15 ml) each of baking soda, salt, and water. Rinse it thoroughly with hot water and let it air dry.

9. Unclog a clogged drain
To clean a clogged drain, put 1 cup (250 g) of baking soda and 1 cup (250 ml) of hot vinegar in it (microwave for 1 minute). Let it sit for a few minutes and add 4 cups (1 l) of boiling water. Repeat the process as needed. If your drain is clogged with grease, use 1/2 cup (125 g) each of baking soda and salt, followed by 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water. Let the mixture sit overnight. In the morning, rinse with hot tap water.