Baking soda has been around forever. Our moms and grandmas used baking soda in their freezers and refrigerators to absorb odors. But baking soda has many uses - uses that you may have never thought of. Here are several uses for baking soda that can help you save money and cut down on toxic chemicals in your home.

13. Baking soda will soothe insect bites and skin infections. Make a paste of baking soda and a few drops of water and place directly on bee stings, ant bites, mosquito bites, and other insect bites to soothe the area. For chicken pox and other lesions, add cup of baking soda to a warm bath and soak in the water.

12. Extinguish fires with baking soda. Keep a box of baking soda near your stove to put out fires. Hopefully it won't be needed, but if you ever have a cooking fire, you will be glad you had it nearby. Do not use flour to attempt to extinguish a fire, the flour is flammable and will spread the fire quickly.

11. Baking soda will increase the pH of your pool. When the pH of your pool drops, you can add baking soda to bring it back up. Baking soda is not harsh on the skin or eyes, so you can still swim after adding it.

10. Freshen your carpets with baking soda. If your carpet gets musty from smokers, pets, and other smelly activities, sprinkle baking soda all over, leave for half an hour, then vacuum. By using baking soda, you should no longer need to apply perfumy or chemical-laden carpet products to kill the carpet odor.

9. Use baking soda to strip hair product buildup. In the shower, make a paste of baking soda and water. How much baking soda you need depends on the length and thickness of your hair, but on average you will need a couple of tablespoons of baking soda. Work the baking soda mixture through your hair and leave in for about a minute. Rinse, then wash and condition your hair as usual. The baking soda works to strip product buildup, leaving you with shiny, healthy-looking locks.

8. Use baking soda as a boost to your laundry. By adding cup of baking soda to each load of laundry, you are giving your detergent a boost by neutralizing odor, brightening your white, and softening hard water. Some even claim that adding baking soda during the rinse cycle will keep clothes fresher, longer.

7. Use baking soda to freshen your pets' fur between baths. If Fluffy smells a bit funky, but you don't have enough time to give him a bath, sprinkle baking soda through his coat and brush it out. The baking soda will neutralize

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