Baking soda and lemon juice are two common household ingredients that have been used for centuries in various cultures for both culinary and health purposes. Individually, these two ingredients boast impressive benefits, but when combined, they create a powerful reaction. Lemon juice and baking soda combinations have become a popular home remedy. Some people claim that baking soda and lemon juice can improve the skin, treat heartburn, and whiten teeth. Still, others insist that combining the two is dangerous for both your teeth and skin. This article dives into the science behind this mixture, explores its potential health benefits, and explains how you can use it effectively in your daily routine. Several scientific studies have examined the health benefits of baking soda and lemon juice separately, but there is not much research to support the combined effects of these two ingredients.
Understanding the Chemical Reaction
When you mix baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) with lemon juice (which contains citric acid), a chemical reaction occurs. The acid in the lemon juice reacts with the alkaline properties of the baking soda, resulting in the production of carbon dioxide gas.
Chemical Reaction: The combination of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate creates carbon dioxide (CO2), which is released as bubbles.
What It Means for You: The fizzing reaction is harmless and actually plays a role in some of the uses of this combination. While the fizzy reaction is fun to watch, it’s the health benefits of this combination that people are most interested in.
Potential Health Benefits
While the fizzy reaction is fun to watch, it’s the health benefits of this combination that people are most interested in.
Read also: The Ultimate Keto Lemon Chicken Guide
Digestive Aid
Both baking soda and lemon juice are often used to help with digestion. The combination can help balance stomach acid, alleviate indigestion, and reduce symptoms of acid reflux.
Despite being acidic in nature, lemon juice is considered alkaline-forming in the body.
How to Use: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda with the juice of half a lemon in a glass of water.
Immune System Boost
Lemon juice is packed with vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps to boost your immune system.
How to Use: Mix the juice of one lemon with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water.
Read also: Lemon Olive Oil Cake (Keto)
Skin Care
The combination of baking soda and lemon juice is often touted as a natural remedy for skin issues like acne, blemishes, and dark spots.
How to Use: Create a paste by mixing 1 teaspoon of baking soda with fresh lemon juice and apply it to your face in a gentle circular motion. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Detoxification
The lemon juice and baking soda mixture is often used as a natural detox.
How to Use: Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of warm lemon water (made with the juice of half a lemon).
Other Uses of Baking Soda
Baking soda is a handy all-purpose item due to its wide variety of uses, from cleaning countertops to supporting oral care. Here’s a comprehensive list of household uses.
Read also: Comprehensive Guide: Lemon Aromatherapy
Oral Hygiene
Mouthwash
Mouthwash is a great addition to your oral hygiene routine. It reaches the corners of your mouth and crevices of your teeth, gums, and tongue that you might miss during brushing. Baking soda may be used as a replacement for mouthwash because it could help freshen your breath and even exert antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Although a 2017 study found that baking soda mouthwash didn’t significantly lower oral bacteria levels, it increased the pH levels of saliva, which is important for inhibiting bacterial growth.
To make your own baking soda mouthwash, add 1/2 teaspoon (2 grams [g]) of baking soda to half a glass (120 mL) of warm water, then swish as usual.
Teeth Whitener
Baking soda has mild abrasive properties that can break the bonds of molecules that stain your teeth. It also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which may help fight harmful bacteria.
Deodorizing
Deodorant
Surprisingly, human sweat is odorless. Sweat only gains odor after bacteria break it down in your armpits. These bacteria convert your sweat into acidic waste products, which give sweat its smell. Baking soda is a common ingredient in deodorants because it helps absorb odors. It’s sometimes also used as a natural deodorant to eliminate the smell of sweat by making its odors less acidic, though there’s limited research on whether this strategy works.
Try patting baking soda onto your armpits or mixing it with a bit of coconut oil, shea butter, or cornstarch to create homemade deodorant.
Fridge Odor Neutralizer
Baking soda may help freshen a smelly fridge by neutralizing foul odors. Although it doesn’t absorb or mask smells, research from 2015 suggests that it eliminates odor particles, which helps manage any smells. To try this trick, fill a cup with baking soda and place it in the back of your fridge.
Air Freshener
Not all commercial air fresheners eliminate foul odors. Some simply release fragrance molecules that mask other smells. In addition, not all air fresheners provide an ingredient list, which may be problematic if you’re sensitive to chemicals that may be found in air fresheners.
To create an air freshener with baking soda, you need:
- a small jar
- 1/3 cup (74 g) of baking soda
- 10 to 15 drops of your favorite essential oils
- a piece of cloth or paper
- a string or ribbon
Add the baking soda and essential oils to the jar. Cover it with the cloth or paper, then secure it in place with the string and put it in your living room, bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen. When the scent starts to fade, give the jar a shake.
Garbage Odor Eliminator
Full trash bags often have a putrid odor because they contain decaying waste. If it’s particularly foul, this smell can spread to your kitchen and other areas of your home. Baking soda can help eliminate garbage smells by neutralizing acidic odor molecules.
A 2015 study found that spreading baking soda at the bottom of waste bins may reduce garbage odor by 70%.
Shoe Deodorizer
Baking soda may help freshen up smelly shoes by counteracting foul-smelling odors.
Pour 2 tablespoons (9 g) of baking soda into 2 cheesecloths or thin pieces of fabric. Secure the cloths with a rubber band or string and place one in each shoe. Remove the baking soda bags when you want to wear your shoes.
Cleaning
Whitening Agent for Laundry
Baking soda is an inexpensive way to whiten and clean your laundry. That’s because it’s an alkali - a soluble salt - that can help remove dirt and stains. An alkali like baking soda works by interacting with acids in stains when dissolved in water.
To try it out, add 1/2 cup (110 g) of baking soda to your regular amount of laundry detergent. It also helps soften the water, so you may need less detergent than usual.
Kitchen Cleaner
The versatility of baking soda makes it a great kitchen cleaner. Mixing it with an acid like lemon juice or vinegar may also help control the growth of harmful microorganisms, including mold or bacteria.
You can make a paste by mixing baking soda with an equal amount of lemon juice and a bit of water. Apply the paste to the desired surface with a sponge or cloth and scrub thoroughly.
Here are a few kitchen appliances, items, and surfaces that you can clean with baking soda:
- ovens
- stained coffee cups
- stained marble
- grease stains
- kitchen tiles
- clogged drains
- tarnished silver
- microwaves
- countertops
Carpet Stain Remover
A combination of baking soda and vinegar may help remove carpet stains.
Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a compound called carbonic acid, which is a common ingredient in cleaning products. This reaction creates a lot of fizzing, which may help break down tough stains.
Here’s how you can eliminate carpet stains with just baking soda and vinegar:
- Cover the carpet stain with a thin layer of baking soda.
- Fill an empty spray bottle with a 1-to-1 mixture of vinegar and water and spray it over the stained area.
- Wait up to 1 hour or until the surface dries.
- Scrub the baking soda loose with a brush and vacuum the residue.
The stain should now be completely removed. If there’s some baking soda residue left on the carpet, wipe it up with a damp towel.
Multipurpose Bathroom Cleaner
While numerous commercial bathroom cleaners exist, many people prefer more natural, cost-effective cleaning options. Baking soda is a common cleaning agent that may help disinfect many bathroom surfaces. That said, it may be less effective than commercial cleaners.
Here are a few surfaces you can clean with baking soda:
- bathroom tiles
- toilets
- showers
- bathtubs
- bathroom sinks
Make a paste using baking soda and a bit of water. Using a sponge or a cloth, rub the mixture thoroughly onto the surface you wish to clean, then wipe down the surface 15 to 20 minutes later with a damp cloth.
Silverware Polisher
Baking soda is a handy alternative to commercial silver polishers. You’ll just need a few extra ingredients:
- an aluminum baking pan or a baking dish lined with aluminum foil
- 1 cup (240 mL) of boiling water
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) of baking soda
- 1/2 cup (120 mL) of white vinegar
Add the baking soda to the aluminum baking pan and slowly pour in the vinegar. Next, pour in the boiling water, then place the silver in the baking pan.
The tarnish should begin to disappear almost immediately. You can remove most silverware from the pan within 30 seconds, but heavily tarnished silverware may need to sit in the mixture for up to 1 minute.
In this mixture, silver undergoes a chemical reaction with the aluminum pan and baking soda. It transfers the tarnish from the silverware onto the aluminum pan and may create pale, yellow residue at the bottom of the pan.
Scorched Pot Cleaner
It’s easy to accidentally scorch the bottom of a pot while cooking. These can be a nightmare to clean, but you can save a scorched pot with baking soda and water.
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the bottom of the pot, and add enough water to cover the burnt areas. Bring the mixture to a boil and empty the pan as usual.
If stains or burnt food particles remain, grab a scouring pad, add a small amount of washing liquid, and gently remove them.
Other Uses
Pesticide Remover for Fruits and Veggies
Many people are concerned about pesticide residue on foods. Pesticides are used to protect crops from insects, germs, rodents, and weeds, but many have harmful effects on human health.
Peeling fruit is the best way to remove pesticides. However, it also means you don’t get all of the important nutrients, such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals, found in the skins of many fruits.
Some research suggests that a baking soda wash is the most effective way to remove pesticides from fruits and veggies without peeling them.