Baking soda is a common household item used for baking and for cleaning, but can it get rid of body odor too? Research done in an England study shows that approximately 98% of people have underarm odor, leaving a mere 2% without any at all. Think about that for a minute – nearly all of the world’s population has underarm odor — but what about foot odor, scalp odor, odor in the creases of the breasts, inner thigh odor, and any other body odors I’ve forgotten?
I guess we’re a stinky bunch.
Having said that, what can we do about it?
Photo credit to Michael Francis McCarthy on Flickr
Can Baking Soda Get Rid of Body Odor?
Baking soda helps get rid of external body odor by killing the bacteria that grows in areas like underarms, breast creases, and the inner thighs. While in the shower or bath, massage a baking soda paste onto desired areas (paste recipe below). Let set for 2 or 3 minutes, then wash the area as usual.
The baking soda paste will help kill the bacteria that causes the body odor, leaving the area smelling fresher longer. If you discover body odor creeping back up during the day, try adding some extra baking soda. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
After using the baking soda paste, wash and dry the area. Then, add a small amount of dry baking soda to the area, like you would a baby powder, for added freshness during the day.
How to Make Baking Soda Paste
Mix together 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water using a spoon. Mush the mixture around in the bowl until it forms a paste.
That’s it!
Note: If baking soda gets into cuts or scrapes, it burns. Try to avoid areas that have been newly shaved or have abrasions.
More Uses for Baking Soda
Here are some more uses for baking soda. There are so many uses that, the next time you’re at the store, you should pick up a big box.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0zn0Hsfnpo[/youtube]
How do you use baking soda?
Sources:
“Two Percent Of People Have Armpits That Never Smell”, Medical News Today.com
