Why Baking Soda Is The Unlikely Staple You Should Take On Your Outdoor Adventure

One of the more appealing aspects to spending time outdoors is the opportunity to spot wild animals. In fact, wildlife-related travel is one of the fastest growing types of tourism. Whether visiting a national park to view bears, going on a birding excursion, or just hoping to get a glimpse of various critters while hiking or camping, baking soda may be able to aid you in seeing more wildlife. 

While many outdoor enthusiasts know they can use household essentials to deter bears and other animals from entering campsites, the scents of these items carried from homes are often all it takes to keep animals from entering your field of view. Deer and other wildlife are known to be wary of human odors, as well as food-related scents, smoke, and chemical substances. Removing those odors is key to increasing the amount of creatures you see. That is why baking soda is the unlikely staple you should take on your outdoor adventures.

Oftentimes, even clean clothes have human-related scents. This is because the vast majority of laundry detergents are scented. Baking soda is a proven way to get rid of not just natural human odor, but also the scents left by detergents, soaps, colognes, and perfumes. It is also effective at getting rid of smells from food, smoke, and gasoline. According to Southern Living magazine, baking soda is so effective because it breaks up the particles that cause odors to adhere to clothing particles.

The best way to prepare clothing for a trip afield is to dissolve a cup of baking soda in a bucket of water and allow the clothes to soak. While the clothes are soaking, run an empty load in your machine utilizing washer cleaning tablets or baking soda to get rid of scents from previous loads. Next, add ½ to 1 cup of baking soda to your machine along with your clothing. If you use detergent, be sure to use odor-free or odor-neutralizing. Once the clothes are washed, air dry them outside away from other human odors such as pesticides or smoke. Store them in an airtight bag until they are ready to be used. Some suggest not changing into these clothes until you arrive at your destination.

Bringing baking soda with you for overnight excursions allows you to wash clothes in the field to remove the scent of campfire smoke or food that are incurred during the trip. It can also be used as a scent-free, odor eliminating substitute for toiletry items such as toothpaste, hand soap, and even deodorant.