Tenderize meat

You can make a cheap, tough cut of meat as tender as an expensive one by mixing a tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of water. Make as much as you need to barely cover the meat, pour it over and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, rinse the meat thoroughly and then cook.

Cheap substitute for clarifying shampoo

Instead of buying clarifying shampoo (used to remove buildup so you can continue using your favorite shampoo), use a table spoon of baking soda dissolved in a cup of water. Work it well into your hair and scalp, rinse, then use half water and half vinegar as a final rinse. This will remove shampoo residue and leave your hair very soft.

Clean teeth

Run out of toothpaste? Use baking soda, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and salt, or plain hand soap - it doesn't taste as bad as you think, and it will clean your teeth.

Squeaky clean face

Baking soda, again. Make a lather or use your favorite face cleansing cream, then add a half teaspoon of baking soda and mix it in well. Clean your face with this and rinse well. Your skin will be super clean, but won't feel dry like some exfoliators make it.

Clean drip pans

Drip pans on your stove looking nasty? If they're really bad, dissolve a quarter cup of baking soda in a half gallon of water in a pan. Put the drip pans in the solution and boil for 3 or 4 minutes. Leave them in it until it's cool, then scrub with additional baking soda if needed.

Homemade plaster

If you need just a little plaster to fill nail holes or a small crack in a wall, toothpaste has often been offered as a solution. However, toothpaste shrinks over time. Instead, mix baking soda into white glue until it's the consistency of plaster and use that.

Milk gone bad

If it's just a little off, put a pinch of baking soda in it and stir. No need to throw it out. If you have milk that you can't use up, put it in the freezer until you need it.

Double duty for baking soda

Make a box of baking soda do double duty by using it first to deodorize the refrigerator, under sink or wherever you need it, then use it to clean and polish.

Cheap sting cure

When the bee stings, when the mosquito bites... when the jellyfish stings or the unknown bug gets to you, what do you reach for? Calamine lotion? Hydrocortisone cream? There's a cheaper solution and it's called baking soda. Make a paste of it with a little water and apply on stings and stinging, itching bites.