Baking Soda Volcano Science Experiment

Baking Soda

The baking soda volcano is a classic experiment that most adults remember from their childhood. But this science experiment being around for generations doesn’t lessen its wonder the first time a student sees the reaction, or decrease the fun and nostalgia for adults. Plus, you can add twists to the basic experiment to make it new and interesting all over again. For the basic baking soda volcano experiment you need the following materials: What You Need: Cardboard Plastic cup Plaster of Paris Paint for the volcano ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda ¼ cup vinegar Hand dish washing liquid Red food coloring To Make the Volcano: On a baking sheet (or other easily cleaned surface), shape cardboard into a broad cone shape using the cup to form a “crater” at the top of the volcano. Use plaster of Paris to cover the cone used to form the volcano (do not get plaster into the crater). Allow the volcano to dry completely. Paint or decorate the volcano as desired. To Make the Eruption: In a plastic cup, mix ¼ cup vinegar with a few drops of hand dishwashing liquid, a few drops of water and a few drops of red food coloring. Put 1 teaspoon of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda in a small, empty plastic cup. Place this cup inside the volcano crater. Quickly pour vinegar mixture into the ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda cup that’s inside the crater. Have your phone ready to video the reaction — the volcano’s, and your kids’! *Parental supervision recommended. Protect eyes as appropriate. Buy a box of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda today! 

5 Back to School Tips to Start the School Year Off Fresh Using Baking Soda

Baking Soda

Summer is starting to wind down — and that means it’s time to help get your family ready for Back to School. Give your home a fresh, clean start with the natural power of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. Here are 5 helpful Back to School tips! 1.Lunchboxes Kids’ lunchboxes see a variety of different snacks- some wet, some dry. Lunchboxes can get really messy and smelly over a period of time.  For an all-natural way to clean and deodorize them, sprinkle ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda on a damp sponge, then gently wipe the inside and outside of the lunchbox and rinse. (Repeat when necessary) 2.Sporting Equipment No one likes a smelly gym bag. Use an ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda solution (4 tablespoons ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda in 4 cups of warm water) to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment.  Alternatively sprinkle ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda into gym bags and sneakers to deodorize them and leave it there for an entire day. The next day empty out the excess baking soda left in the gym bag/sneakers and—abracadabra—the odors are gone! 3.Backpacks  Kids’ school bags can get a bit stinky from the last school year. If that’s the case, a simple deodorizing will do. The best way to get rid of odors in backpacks and lunch bags is simply to shake some baking soda into the bottom of them, then let them sit wide open for an entire day. The next day empty out the excess baking soda left in the back pack and voila! It’s now fresh and odor free. 4.School Uniforms  Give your laundry a boost! Add 1⁄2 cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder for you and your family. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, brighter!  5.Clean Fruits & Vegetables There’s nothing like a healthy fruit snack for a growing child, but you can’t just wash your fruits and veggies with just water. To remove dirt, wax, and residue from hard-skinned produce, shake ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda onto wet produce. Rub and rinse. For soft-skinned or leafy produce, sprinkle Baking Soda in a bowl of water. Add produce, agitate, and rinse. Buy a box of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda today! 

Quick tips to freshen up the bathroom

Baking Soda34 Comments

There are so many places to clean in your bathroom, but here are some baking soda cleaning hacks to help you tackle the entire room. Freshen Sinks and Bathtubs Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda on a damp sponge and scrub away the soap scum and grime from tubs, sinks, tiles and more. As a mild abrasive, baking soda can be used on fiberglass, porcelain, acrylic, ceramic, and cultured marble surfaces.  Cleaning the Toilet Bowl with Baking Soda and Vinegar Your toilet needs regular cleaning, but you don’t have to use harsh chemicals or lots of elbow grease to do the job. Hack your toilet cleaning with ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda and white vinegar to take care of the stains and buildup with minimal scrubbing. Follow these steps:  Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda into the toilet. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the bowl. It will immediately start to fizz and bubble. Close the lid of the toilet and let the solution work for 30 minutes. Lift the lid and scrub the bowl with a toilet brush. The process will be easy thanks to the baking soda and vinegar breaking apart the residue. Flush the toilet and you’re done! Clean the Bathroom Floor  Give tile floors in your bathroom a mop with ½ cup of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda in a bucket of warm water, then rinse. Buy a box of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda today!

Transform your home with these tips!

Baking Soda

How to Clean the Living Room or Family Room with Baking Soda At the heart of your home is the living room, the most visited room in the house both by guests and family members. Here are a few ways you can improve your living room! Remove Scuff Marks on Tile or Hardwood If you get scuff marks from shoes on your floors, lightly sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge to help buff out the streaks. Remove Odors from Carpet Freshen musty odors by sprinkling ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda on your carpet. Let it sit for a few minutes, then vacuum it up — you’ll smell the difference. If you get a spill on your carpet, soak up as much of the spill as possible, then clean the stain according to the carpet manufacturer’s directions. Once the area is completely dry, sprinkle ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda to cover it, let sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum. Even tough kid and pet messes are no match! Using Baking Soda to Clean in Utility Rooms or Mud Rooms If you’re a family that has a shoe rack or bins to deposit shoes, boots and skates, you know that the shoe area of your garage or mud room can possess the odor of feet-funk – and it hits your nose as soon as you enter your home. Keep a spill-proof, flow-through box of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda near the shoe corner, or a box inside each person’s shoe bin to help deodorize and keep the area fresh. You can deodorize your shoes as often as once per week if needed, but only deodorize leather shoes once per month as the baking soda can also absorb oils in the leather. Clean the Litter Box!  If you’re a cat parent, you know your litter box can sometimes get a little ripe. You can sprinkle ARM & HAMMER™ baking soda on top of your litter to help absorb odors and extend the time between changes. Or try ARM & HAMMER™ cat litter deodorizer powder for the deodorizing power of baking soda plus a mild fresh scent. Buy a box of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda today!

Baking Soda Kitchen hacks you won’t believe!

Baking Soda

Baking Soda Kitchen hacks you won’t believe! Your kitchen is the most used room in your home, and there are many surfaces and appliances to keep clean. Whether you’re doing maintenance or deep cleaning, you’ll find a trusted helper in baking soda. Deodorize the Sink Drain To keep drains fresh, regularly sprinkle a little baking soda in them while running hot water. For a deeper clean in the case of a slow-moving drain or mild clog, reach for the baking soda and white vinegar. Here’s how: Pour a (tea)pot of boiling hot water down your drain. Dump in about 1/2 cup of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda. Let that sit for 3-5 minutes. Then, pour a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup of hot water down the drain, on top of the baking soda. If you have a drain plug, cover the drain and let sit for 5-10 minutes. If you don’t have a drain plug, it’ll be fine. Flush again with a pot of boiling water. Deodorize a Trash Can Baking soda is a great trash can deodorizer. As garbage accumulates in the bag, add baking soda in layers to help absorb and neutralize odors. You can also wash and deodorize garbage cans with a solution of 1 cup baking soda and 1 gallon of water. Your smelly garbage is no match for the odor-eliminating power of ARM & HAMMER™ baking soda. Clean & Deodorize a Dishwasher with Baking Soda Here’s how to use baking soda and white vinegar to clean and deodorize your dishwasher with minimal effort: In an empty dishwasher, place a bowl or dishwasher-safe container containing about a cup of white vinegar face up on the top rack. Run the dishwasher on a hot, regular-length cycle. Next, liberally sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your machine. Run another short, hot water cycle. Your dishwasher will smell fresh and the residue from daily use will be in the past. Deodorize a Refrigerator/Freezer Using a Fridge-n-Freezer™ package of ARM & HAMMER™ to absorb odors in your refrigerator or freezer is one of the more commonly known baking soda household cleaning hacks. But did you know you can use a mixture of warm water and baking soda or a warm water/baking soda/white vinegar solution to clean your fridge or freezer shelves and drawers? It works great to help remove a surprise spill or the mysterious stains that appear over time. Clean your Oven Did you know you can help clean your oven and burner wells with baking soda?  The basic baking soda oven cleaner recipe for regularly cleaned or lightly soiled ovens is as follows: Ingredients: ½ cup ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda 3 tablespoons water Instructions In a small bowl, combine the ingredients to make a paste roughly the consistency of pancake batter. Remove the racks from the oven. Using a rubber spatula or a gloved hand, smear the paste over the dirty parts, whether metal or glass. Avoid the heating elements. Let the paste sit for 15-20 minutes. Wipe up the paste and loosened dirt and grease with wet paper towels. Wipe the oven’s interior with a wet paper towel, using water or a 3:1 mixture of water and distilled vinegar. Repeat if necessary for tougher stains, or try the heavy-duty method below.   Buy a box of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda today!

Bath bombs

Homemade DIY Baking Soda Bath Bombs are Fun and Easy

Baking Soda52 Comments

Adding a bath bomb to your bath can make it a truly luxurious experience. The fizzing can add relaxing, exfoliating, moisturizing, cleansing or therapeutic elements and create a delightful sensory experience. You can make DIY homemade bath bombs with a few simple ingredients from your kitchen. Why is Baking Soda Used in Bath Bombs? The main ingredient that powers a fizzy bath bomb is sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda. If you’ve ever seen an experiment where baking soda combines with vinegar to make a foamy reaction, that same principle is at work behind a bath fizzy. Bath bombs work by combining the higher pH alkali (baking soda) with a low pH dry acid (such as citric acid). When those two ingredients come in contact with water, they produce carbon dioxide, which you see in the form of air bubbles or fizz. Beyond baking soda and a dry acid, bath bombs typically contain a modulator, such as corn starch. The modulator prevents the two active ingredients from fizzing before the bath bomb is put in the tub and slows down the fizzing reaction so it lasts several minutes once it’s in the water. Bath bombs also tend to include food coloring and a binding agent that keeps the ingredients packed together in the molded shape. Often this is some type of oil, or other ingredient like witch hazel, isopropyl alcohol, or water. Many DIY bath bomb recipes also include essential oils and salts for added aromatherapy or to help sooth sore muscles or moisturize skin. Additionally, some recipes can include surprises inside the bath bomb like flower petals, biodegradable glitter, or toys that are just for fun and do not affect how a bath fizzy works. How Do You Make a Bath Bomb With Baking Soda? Here is one of our favorite baking soda bath bomb recipes, which makes 2-5 bath bombs, depending on the size mold you use. Ingredients: 4 tsp corn starch 8 tsp unsweetened powdered lemonade mix 1/3 cup ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda 1/3 cup mineral oil or baby oil Few drops of liquid food coloring Instructions: Combine all dry ingredients in a larger bowl. Whisk them together to ensure they are evenly mixed. In a separate small bowl, measure the mineral oil and add a few drops of your favorite food coloring. Do not mix colors to avoid making a muddy-looking mixture. If you want to make a multi-colored bath bomb, separate your ingredients into several bowls and add a different coloring to each. Slowly add the liquid mixture to the powdered mixture, a little at a time. Use a spoon or your fingers to combine ingredients until you have a texture that is similar to damp sand. Quickly get your preferred bath fizzy mold or a cupcake tin and very tightly pack the damp ingredients into the mold. If you do not have a mold, put on some kitchen or medical gloves so the ingredients don’t stick to your hands and shape the bath salts into balls, as if you were rolling meatballs. You want to do this right away, so the ingredients don’t begin to dry out before they are shaped. Lay your rolled bath bombs on a sheet of wax paper. Do not use aluminum foil as the metal will react with the ingredients. Leave molded bath bombs in their molds until dry. Let your bath bombs dry for a minimum of 24 hours. Drying for 48 hours is recommended for best results. Bath bombs must be completely dry before use or they won’t fizz and spread through the water. Turn your mold upside down and tap lightly if necessary to release the dry bath fizzy into your hand. Store your dry bath bombs out of reach of children and pets and wrapped in cellophane to prevent moisture. Do not store in a metal container. All About That Base … and That Acid How much baking soda you put in bath bombs depends on how large of a batch you are making, but the general rule is a 2-to-1 ratio of baking soda to powdered citric acid. Sometimes the word “acid” gives people pause but the ingredient is called an “acid” because of the compound’s low pH, not because it will eat through metal. The citric acid and baking soda in bath bombs neutralize each other and create the fun fizzing action. Food grade citric acid is commonly available online if you can’t find it in your local store (it’s often with the canning supplies). However, there are recipes for bath bombs that don’t require it, such as the one we listed above. Homemade Foaming Bath Bomb This basic bath bomb recipe adds Epsom salts to help sooth sore feet or muscles. You can modify this recipe by adding a foaming agent if you want your bath bomb to make lasting bubbles as well as fizz. 1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup powdered citric acid 1/2 cup Epsom salt 1/2 cup cornstarch Up to 3/4 tsp. water or witch hazel (usually found in the first aid aisles) 2 tsp essential oil (lavender, eucalyptus, rose are all popular for the bath) 2 tsp oil (jojoba, sweet almond, olive, mineral or baby oil) A few drops of food coloring A mold of your choice, such as regular or mini-muffin tins, candy pans, or round plastic molds specifically for bath bombs Follow the procedure listed above to mix ingredients and to press and dry your bath bombs. If you’re looking for a more bubbly bath experience, you can add an ingredient to your bath bomb recipe that creates foaming, instead of plain fizzing. This foaming agent is Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate a compound derived from coconut or palm oil and used to make soap, powdered bubble baths, and scrubs as well as bath bombs. It’s harder to find in your local stores, but you can purchase it easily online. To make a bath bomb that creates a luxurious sheet of foam on the top of the water and holds its fragrance longer, try…

anh laundry fresh

How to Get Laundry Extra Clean and Fresh with Baking Soda

Baking Soda, Laundry18 Comments

Sweaty gym clothes. Muddy kids’ clothes. Stale work clothes. With so many different fabrics, messes and odors to get clean, a hamper full of dirty laundry can give your detergent a good workout. No matter which detergent you choose, you can boost its cleaning and deodorizing power by adding ARM& HAMMER™ Baking Soda. How? Chemistry! When paired with your laundry detergent, ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda uses the power of pure sodium bicarbonate — a naturally occurring substance — to: Neutralize odors by balancing pH levels, and soften wash water, so you can use less detergent or bleach— and make it more effective. Here are 5 easy steps to whiter whites, cleaner clothes and a new level of freshness: Place your clothes in the washer. Add ½ cup of baking soda to your washer. Add detergent, like ARM & HAMMER™Plus OxiClean™ Odor Blasters. Run the wash cycle. Add another ½ cup of baking soda in the rinse cycle.

anh brushing baking soda

5 Reasons Why Brushing with Baking Soda is Better

Baking Soda, Health & Beauty14 Comments

For generations, baking soda has been the go-to for families’ everyday tasks — from cooking to cleaning to deodorizing. Another longtime trusted use for baking soda? Oral care! But you don’t have to open one of the orange boxes like Grandma did to get those benefits. ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes harness the natural power of baking soda and work differently to give you a better way to brush in 5 unique ways. 1. Remove Up To 5X More Plaque Talk about a plaque attack! The baking soda in ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes dissolves quickly into an active foam, then penetrates deep between teeth and along the gum line. In fact, “the baking soda difference” is clinically proven to make a difference — removing up to 5 times more plaque in hard-to-reach places compared to non-baking soda toothpastes. 2. Neutralize Plaque Acids More Effectively Without proper care, plaque acids can weaken and erode your enamel. No other ingredient neutralizes those harmful plaque acids better than baking soda — and ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes are powered by the most effective levels of baking soda*. 3. Whiten Teeth More Gently A whiter smile is on just about everybody’s wishlist, but sacrificing healthy enamel to get one isn’t a fair tradeoff. ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes gently lift and remove surface stains to whiten your teeth without harming your enamel and are less abrasive than the leading whitening toothpastes. Tip: For even more whitening power, try Advance White™ Extreme Whitening Toothpaste with special Stain Defense™ technology that removes stains and prevents new ones from setting in. 4. Protect Enamel with Less Abrasivity Once your enamel is gone, it’s gone. But did you know your toothpaste can actually make a difference in protecting it? Here’s why: All toothpastes use different kinds of abrasives to remove plaque. Over time, some of these abrasives can scratch your enamel, making your teeth more vulnerable to acid erosion. Baking soda is a much less abrasive way to remove plaque (remember, our toothpastes remove up to 5X more plaque in hard to reach places!) than brushing with non-baking soda toothpastes — for a safer way to prevent enamel damage. 5. Guarantee Your Satisfaction, 100% With so many proven benefits — from more plaque removal to a gentler way to whiten — ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes give you a better way to brush with baking soda. Can a toothpaste change your life? Yes! By using a baking soda-powered toothpaste from ARM & HAMMER™, you can get stronger, healthier teeth and gums for years to come!

anh cleaning tips

5 Fresh Cleaning Tips for Everything in Every Room

Baking Soda, Cleaning, Deodorizing2 Comments

From bathrooms to kitchens, carpet odors to stale closets, ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda uses the natural power of sodium bicarbonate to safely clean, freshen and deodorize your whole house. Whether you sprinkle it, scoop it, soak it or stash a box of it somewhere, here are 6 ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda cleaning tips to help you get the job done. 1. Break Down Carpet Odors A big spill can leave a big smell. First, soak up as much of the spill as possible, then clean the stain according to the carpet manufacturer’s directions. Once the area is completely dry, sprinkle ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda to cover it and let sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum. Even tough kid and pet messes are no match! TIP: Check for color-fastness first before applying ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda. 2. Freshen Up Your ‘Fridge Spilled milk. Three-day-old salmon. Leftover Chinese takeout. Keeping your fridge smelling fresh is a tough job — and that can leave your food tasting less tasty. TIP: Place a fresh, open box of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda inside, or an ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda Fridge-n-Freezer Odor Absorber Box. Sodium bicarbonate absorbs lingering odors and stops flavor transfer, which helps to keep foods tasting fresher, longer. 3. Deodorize Your Garbage Can If a food has an odor when it’s fresh, imagine how it will be after sitting in the trash at room temperature. TIP: Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda between layers of garbage as it accumulates to absorb and neutralize odors. Also, regularly wash out and deodorize garbage cans with a solution of 1 cup ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda per 1 gallon of water. 4. Beautify the Bathroom It’s the most personal space in your home — and the place that needs the most help staying clean. TIP: Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual, then rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. It’s a simple, yet chemical-free way to get your whole bathroom sparkling clean and smelling fresh, for just pennies. 5. Give Your Closet a Refresh Between old boots, wool sweaters and silk ties or scarves, odors can get trapped in your closet, leaving it smelling stale. TIP: Place a box of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda Fresh-n-Natural Odor Absorber Box on the shelf inside. It will keep your closets smelling fresh.