An Empty Parmesan Can Is The Perfect Container For This Common Household Ingredient

Some food items come in reusable containers that make it almost a sin to toss them out when the food has been used up. A parmesan cheese can is a good example. It can help store other household ingredients efficiently and enable you to use them with great ease. This is particularly true with powdered ingredients that come in less than convenient packaging, such as baking soda.

A small box of baking soda usually has a hard-to-open perforated area on the side that you are supposed to push in and then pour out as needed. However, it doesn't have any simple way to store it for future use around the house. You can either tape the cardboard tab back down when you are done using it or leave it open, which won't keep it at peak freshness and also risks spills. Another option that we like best is to move it to a different container to preserve it — in this case, an empty parmesan cheese can. It not only keeps it fresh, but makes it easy to either sprinkle or pour the baking soda when you need it.

The first thing to do is clean the empty parmesan can and allow it to thoroughly dry. It may be helpful to relabel it as well, so there is no confusion or mishaps in the future. In terms of simple storage, baking soda added to an empty parmesan container can offer two different methods of use: You can open one side of the lid to reveal the small cutout holes perfect for sprinkling, or you can open the larger side to pour a large amount out at once or insert a spoon for accurate measuring. When cleaning, you can sprinkle baking soda on surfaces, such as sinks and countertops, before scrubbing with a sponge or cloth. You can also use baking soda in the laundry or as an odor reducer on rugs and carpets. 

One great cleaning hack as shown by @stephanieboothhome on TikTok is to add essential oils to the baking soda. Eucalyptus and tea tree oil not only smell good but have antibacterial properties, while lavender has antimicrobial properties. The longer the oils mix with the baking soda inside the parmesan container, the stronger the aroma. Then, you can clean your kitchen or bathroom with a baking soda mixture that leaves a pleasant-smelling scent behind, or sprinkle it on your carpets before vacuuming.