When it comes to shampoo, try DIY-ing from time to time—or when you’re in a pinch. Baking soda, when mixed with plenty of water (think 1 tablespoon of baking soda per one cup of water), gives store-bought shampoo a run for its money. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t get tons of suds—it’s still working its magic.

Dry shampoo is basically a godsend, so running out of the stuff can make for the worst kind of morning. Luckily baking soda’s a great alternative—just work it into your roots to help soak up some oil, stat. A word to the wise: Brush thoroughly to avoid the telltale white residue.

This may be your cue to ditch your deodorant—baking soda can keep your pits so fresh and so clean. Use a makeup brush to smooth it under your arms, and consider adding a drop or two of an essential oil to the mix for a pleasantly fragrant formula that you can tailor to your preferences. You can also mix it with coconut oil and shea butter for a deodorant that resembles the kind you usually find in the store.

Breakouts got you down? All you need is a baking soda paste—mix one teaspoon baking soda with one teaspoon water. Dab it onto trouble areas, and in a few days you should be breakout free thanks to baking soda being both an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.

Slipping into a warm bath is relaxing enough on its own. Add baking soda to easily rinse away any oil and sweat on your skin. Bonus: It’ll also help soothe sunburns and itchiness (including bug bites). Go on, take the time to treat yourself!

Baking soda can leave your hair brush looking just as good as the day you bought it. Once you remove the strands of hair, make a paste with a cup of water and a teaspoon each of baking soda and shampoo. Dab the paste onto an unused toothbrush and start scrubbing those bristles to clean and disinfect.

Baking soda can do your mouth a whole lot of good—health experts believe it may help treat gingivitis. Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to whip up a paste that you’ll work into your gums. Leave it on for a couple of minutes, then rinse it off.

This one’s geared mostly toward moms-to-be experiencing morning sickness—though it could come in handy if you’ve got a stomach bug. Not only is throwing up unpleasant (to say the least), but it could actually damage your teeth if you’re not careful. Dental health experts suggest a pretty simple solution: Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of water and rinse your mouth out before you brush your pearly whites. The baking soda rinse will neutralize the acid in your mouth after vomiting.

Say sayonara to rashes after using a razor. To soothe irritation, add one tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water, apply to the affected area, then let it dry before washing it off.

There’s no need to buy Tums or Alka-Seltzer when you have a box of baking soda at home. The next time you feel the first signs of heartburn, mix a half teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water. The drink should reduce acid buildup and soothe your stomach.

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SOURCE: Greatist.com