Some of the many uses of Bi-Carb Soda

Bi-Carb Soda for Tooth Ache
Source:  Trove: The Bendigonian (Bendigo, Vic: 1914-1918)
Thursday 1 February 1917, page 5

Mum always had Bi-Carb Soda in the cupboard.......as did her mother before her...........and so do I now!

From the time I was young,  I always liked how things "fizzed" when you added Bi-Carb soda.  It intrigued me.  I always wanted the job of adding the liquid to the Bi-Carb Soda when it came to cooking!

I can remember being distracted watching TV and I forgot to turn the stove hot-plate down for Mum, while she was busy doing something.  The result being a burnt pot.  Mum was not happy!  In the warm pot, she added a little water, bi-carb and vinegar and boiled it for while to clean, before scrubbing the pot clean.

Currant Soda Cake?
Sounds Good! I think I will try this one!
Source: Trove
Wedderburn Express and Korongshire Advertiser
Friday 20 March 1914, page 4

In addition to being used in many of the family recipes, passed down through the generations, Bi-Carb Soda was also used for many other tasks around the home;

• In the fridge to reduce odours
• As a cleaning agent:  usually as a paste (and often used with vinegar)
• In hot water and used on a cotton ball as an eye soak to reduce styes.
• To aid indigestion
• To whiten teeth
• In the laundry with the clothes 
• As a soak for smelly kitchen cloths

My Grandmother, Eva Scott (nee Pilgrim) wrote in her journal "Dad died of a heart attack [1950].  We knew he'd had several, but he thought he had indigestion and used to take bi-carb soda."

There is always a box in the pantry
(and the fridge)

I recently received a book detailing over 500 uses for Baking Soda (in Australia, we normally call it Bi-Carb Soda).  I am astounded at the number of potential uses!

I don't mean to promote a brand but McKenzie's is the product that my Grandmother and Mother used and is the brand in our pantry today.  According to the packet,  the company was established in 1852 (the year after Victoria became a separate Australian colony).

The earliest record in Australia that I found about Bi-Carb soda was in 1836, when a jar (of unknown size) cost six shillings 1.  There were regular mentions of its import over the years.  In 1918, during World War 1, the maximum price of Bi-Carb Soda was fixed under the War Precautions (Price Regulation) Act 1916 at 4 pence per pound, for retail over the counter sales. The profit margin that importers and wholesales could derive was also restricted.2

In 1899, the following appeared in a newspaper:3

"SOME USES OF SODA

   Apart from the use of bi-carbonate of

soda as a relief for indigestion, both this 

form and the crude washing soda are

useful to the cook and the housekeeper.

   A burn caused by a hot iron will cease

to pain almost immediately if a piece of

soda, moistened with the tongue is put

on.  A scald or burn, if the skin is not

broken, can be cured by placing the burnt

part in strong soda water.

   Boil greasy tins in soda water once a

week, and use hot soda water for a greasy

sink.

   Put a piece of soda the size of a walnut

to a tablespoon of salt into a basin, and

pour on boiling water.  Allow dirty

sponges to stand in this for a short time,

when they will be quite clean and free

from grease.  Rinse in cold water.

Dissolve a cupful of soda in a gallon of

water, and leave a jar near the kitchen

sink.  Into this throw all pieces of soap

and remains of dry soap.  Dip

into the jar, and add to the water used

for washing and scrubbing very dirty

pans, earthenware, tinware, woodwork

(but not paint), and for washing kitchen

cloths and dusters.

   Common washing soda, dissolved in

water until the liquid will take up no

more, is said to be an excellent cure for

warts.  Moisten the warts with it, and let

them dry without wiping.

   A pinch of carbonate of soda put into

the teapot will increase the strength of

the tea.  This applies particularly to

places where the water is hard".

Do you have any unusual hints for Bi-Carb Soda?

Sources:
1 The Sydney Herald, Monday 11 January 1836, page 3
2 The Daily News, Perth, Saturday 6th April 1918, page 8
3 The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Vic) Thursday 3 August 1899, page 1 of supplement

This post was prompted by Sepia Saturday.  Click for more posts.