How To Clean Your Armpits With Baking Soda

It's that time of the year! You are ready to fly out on your much-awaited beach vacay and are busy packing all those amazing sleeveless dresses you want to flaunt. And then, you notice your dark underarms.

The mere sight of those unflattering armpits is enough to give you an anxiety attack! How do you get your underarms sundress-ready at the last moment? Well, baking soda can help you out. Wondering how? Scroll down and find out!

How Does Baking Soda Whiten Underarms?

How Does Baking Soda Whiten Underarms

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Well, there is no scientific proof claiming that baking soda can brighten your underarms. However, as it is an alkaline substance, baking soda does not disturb your skin's pH levels. Instead, it soothes your skin. Baking soda is often used as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells from the surface. This is the reason it has a brightening effect.

But how do you use it? We will look at that in the following section. Scroll down.

How To Use Baking Soda For Underarm Whitening?

These DIY recipes work as excellent scrubs for your underarms and will help exfoliate the dead skin in your armpits.

1. DIY Baking Soda And Water Scrub

DIY Baking Soda And Water Scrub

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You Will Need

2 tablespoons of baking soda
1 tablespoon of water
1 bowl

Method

Mix both the ingredients in the bowl.
Adjust the quantity of water as per the desired consistency (it shouldn't be too runny).
Apply the mixture to your armpits and massage for a minute.
Leave it on for 25-30 minutes.
Wash off with lukewarm water.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

2. Baking Soda, Gram Flour, And Curd

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of gram flour
1 tablespoon of curd (adjust the quantity as per desired consistency)

Method

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl to get a thick paste.
Apply the paste to your armpits and massage for a minute.
Let it dry for at least 20 minutes.
Wash off with lukewarm water.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

3. Baking Soda And Avocado

Baking Soda And Avocado

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You Will Need

2 tablespoons of baking soda
1 tablespoon of mashed avocado
½ tablespoon of lemon juice (diluted with water)

Method

Mix all the ingredients well. If the consistency is too thick, add a few drops of rose water. Make a fine paste.
Gently cover the armpits with the mixture and massage.
Leave it on for 20 minutes.
Wash off with lukewarm water.

How Often?

2 times a week.

4. Baking Soda And Cornstarch

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
1 teaspoon of cucumber juice (adjust the quantity)

Method

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl to make a thick paste.
Apply the paste to the armpits. Let it dry.
Wash off with cold water.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

5. Baking Soda And Coconut Oil

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
Coconut oil (enough to make a thick paste)

Method

Mix the ingredients in a bowl.
Apply the mixture to your armpits and scrub gently in a circular motion.
Leave it on for 15 minutes or until it dries.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

6. Baking Soda And Milk Scrub

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
Milk (enough to make a paste)

Method

Mix baking soda and milk in a bowl.
Apply the paste to your armpits.
Scrub gently for a minute and let it dry.
Wash with lukewarm water.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

7. Baking Soda And Lemon Juice

Baking Soda And Lemon Juice

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
Juice of half a lemon (dilute it with water)

Method

Combine both the ingredients in a bowl to obtain a paste.
Apply the paste to your armpits and massage for a minute.
Let it dry for 20 minutes.
Wash off with cold water.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

8. Baking Soda And Glycerin

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of glycerin

Method

Mix the two ingredients in a bowl until you get a thick paste.
Apply the paste to your armpits.
Leave it on for 15 minutes and then wash off.

How Often?

3-4 times a week.

9. Baking Soda And Cucumber

Baking Soda And Cucumber

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed cucumber juice

Method

Mix both the ingredients. You may also add a few drops of olive oil and lemon juice (optional).
Combine well and apply to your armpits.
Leave it on for 15 minutes.
Wash off with lukewarm water.

How Often?

3 times a week.

10. Baking Soda And Honey Scrub

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon of honey

Method

Combine honey and baking soda in a bowl.
Add a few drops of rose water if the consistency is too thick.
Spread the mixture over your armpits.
Massage for a minute and leave it to dry for 20 minutes.
Wash with lukewarm water.

How Often?

Once daily.

11. Baking Soda And Apple Cider Vinegar

Baking Soda And Apple Cider Vinegar

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
Apple cider vinegar (as per the desired consistency)

Method

Combine the two ingredients in a bowl.
Make a thick paste and massage it in your armpits for a minute.
Leave it to dry for 15-20 minutes.
Wash with cold water.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

12. Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide

You Will Need

¼ cup of baking soda
⅛ cup of hydrogen peroxide
Juice of a half a lemon (diluted)

Method

Combine the ingredients and whisk them into a thick paste.
Spread the mixture over your underarms and let it dry for 15 minutes.
Use a wet washcloth to wipe your underarm clean.
You may wash it with water later.

How Often?

2-3 days a week.

13. Baking Soda And Tomato

Baking Soda And Tomato

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed tomato juice

Method

Mix baking soda and tomato juice in a bowl.
Massage the mixture over your armpits.
Leave it for 20-30 minutes.
Wash with cold water.

How Often?

2-3 times a week.

Baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) seems to be an ideal ingredient for brightening your underarms. However, this doesn't mean you should start rubbing it on your skin right away. You should know the potential risks before using it.

Risks Of Using Baking Soda On Your Skin

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Baking soda is abrasive. It is alkaline (any substance that has a pH higher than 7 is alkaline, and anything below that is acidic). It might change and disrupt the pH balance of your underarms and damage the skin barrier. When the skin's acid mantle doesn't function properly, the composition of the bacterial flora on your skin surface also changes along with the enzyme activity.

Hence, using baking soda may cause:

Dryness
Skin irritation
Rashes

Luckily, you can easily restore the pH of your underarms. All you need to do is mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water and use it as a toner for your underarms.

Be careful about using baking soda if you have sensitive skin. Always do a patch test before using baking soda on any part of your body. Baking soda is a physical exfoliator. Using it a few times a week (followed by proper skin care) works wonders. Excessive exfoliation (using it day and night) with baking soda may dehydrate your skin – hence we do not recommend that.

Try these natural remedies today and get rid of those dark and unflattering underarms. Do you know any other tricks to lighten dark underarms? If yes, share with us in the comments section below.