More than a mere odour eater

Everyone knows that leaving an open box of baking soda in the fridge will absorb odors; it also cleans toilet bowls and sinks and it will even help bread rise. But not many people are aware that sodium-bicarbonate can also be used to treat mosquito bites and smelly armpits.

Not only is baking soda cheap, it's environmentally friendly and it comes in a recyclable box. So, here,are a handful of the more unexpected uses for this miracle ingredient:

UNDERARM DEODORANT

I'm not going to make any outlandish claim that using brand-name antiperspirants will give you Alzheimer's, but if you want to prevent excess sweating and body odor the natural way dab a powder puff or cotton ball into some baking soda, pat it under your arms after a shower. and presto: an easy, cheap, eco-friendly solution.

ITCH RELIEF

According to the authors of Resourceful & Ingenious Uses of Baking Soda, quell annoying itches by mixing baking soda and water into a thick paste and spreading it on to insect bites or hives.

NON-STICK COATING FOR ORGANIC WASTE BINS

Whether you use plastic or biodegradable bags in your kitchen compost pail, chances are the whole unit gets moist and smelly. Sprinkle some baking soda in the pail each time you change the bag and prevent moisture forming in the first place.

TREATMENT FOR INDIGESTION

Some believe that by sprinkling a bit of Arm & Hammer on stuff such as baked beans, falafel and other gas-inducing victuals, you can alleviate bloating afterward.

WATER PURIFIER AND NASAL-CLEARING SOLUTION

Add a bit of baking soda to your humidifier and you'll not only prevent mould and calcium residue from building up on the filter, you'll purify the air and potentially help nasal passages stay clear.

DRAIN UNCLOGGER

Everyone knows what happens when baking soda and vinegar get together: a volcanic reaction. So combine these two ingredients and pour them down the drain when you need to unblock it. Fish prefer this to Drano.

HOMEMADE CLAY

Use two cups of baking soda, one cup of cornstarch, a cup of warm water and the food colouring of your choice to make a clay for the little ones to play with and also, technically, eat (not that you should encourage that).

ALL-NATURAL TOOTHPASTE

Try mixing baking soda with a bit of water, a natural sweetener such as stevia and wintergreen or peppermint oil for taste. Keep it in a tin or old toothpaste tube and brush away.