13 Best use of baking soda in house cleaning
Baking soda is an essential ingredient for grandma’s yummy chocolate chip cookies, but this wonder item is more than that. The thing is, you can use baking soda around your hose for a lot of purposes other than baking. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, and this chemical compound works well for cooking and cleaning because of how it reacts to acid. This is why baking soda is a component of a lot of recipes for homemade home cleaners. It can’t completely clean everything, but it can help make almost everything cleaner. If you want to learn more about ways on how to use baking soda and other homemade cleaners, check this out.
Start using baking soda in cleaning emergencies and deodorizing in your home! Here are some fantastic things your baking soda can do:
1. Scrub down your tiles
Anywhere there’s grout or tiling, and baking soda can be used for cleaning. To make a cleaner, mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste, and scrub the grout with it using a toothbrush. A mixture of baking soda, lemon juice, and waterworks too. It’s very satisfying to use, as you can see grout becoming white right away. But if your tiles or countertop is made of marble, it’s not applicable because it can be too abrasive for it. You can also use baking soda by just combining it with water to clean out stainless steel sinks, range hoods, and dingy metal faucets.
2. Unclog a drain
Remember your science experiment in grade school where you made DIY volcanoes and observed what happens when you pour vinegar to baking soda? Perhaps you were amused by the lava-like result, but do you know that this can help keep your drain efficient and fresh? Just pour a half cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain with a wet cloth to contain the “volcano” effect. Wait 15 minutes before pouring hot water (preferably boiling, but only if the pipes were made of metal). A mixture of baking soda and warm water can also work to unclog a drain.
3. Remove stains and brighten up a laundry
Both your white and colored linen will come out fresher and brighter out of the washing machine if you add a cup of baking soda to your load. When baking soda combines with liquid detergent, it can help balance the pH levels to make clothes cleaner.
Baking soda can also remove stains and odors in clothes. Well, it won’t get spots out of your laundry, but it can help kick-start the process, especially for stains like blood or red wine. Make a paste by mixing a few tablespoons of baking soda and water, rub it unto the stain and let it sit for an hour, then wash it. The whitening and cleaning property of baking soda can help restore the garment to its original state.
4. Eliminate mold and mildew
Mold and mildew are most often found in damp environments like the kitchen countertop or bathroom tiles and bathtub. Use a wet sponge and dip it in baking soda, then scrub down the mildew-infested surface. Rinse to reveal the now gleaming surface.
5. Remove grime from plastic food storage containers
Since baking soda can help dissolve stains and dirt, you can also use it to freshen your plastic food containers that still smell like yesterday’s lunch. Sprinkle baking soda to the plastic container and wipe it with a clean sponge. If there are tough stains and grease, soak it in a mixture of four tablespoons of baking soda and a quart of warm water. Avoid pouring in boiling water, as the plastic may melt.
6. Deep-clean your pots and pans
Sometimes, cleaning your pots and pans with dish soap is not enough to remove the oiliness and the odor. Try using mixing up your dish soap with a sprinkle of baking soda, scrub your pots and pans with a sponge, and then rinse it with hot water. You may soak it on the hot water and baking soda for a while to cleanse it better.
When you forgot you left the stove on, the food you were cooking may have turned into a blackened, baked-on mess that’s hard to remove. All you need to do is to scrape out as much food as you can then fill the pan with water. Pour in some baking soda and bring the water to a boil. Turn it off and let it sit there overnight, so you can clean it off in the morning.
7. Polish silverware
Are your silverwares getting cloudy? Make them looking shiny as new again with the help of baking soda. Just mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a cup of boiling water, then let your silverware soak on it for a minute, then wipe it dry.
8. Clean out your oven
Keep your oven looking and smelling brand new by using baking soda. It can remove tough stains, stuck-on grease, and residual odors from your baked goods. Spread a layer of baking soda at the bottom of your oven and see the particles of food dissolve. You may also mix it with water and put it in a sprayer and use it like you would use a cleaner. Then, rinse your oven thoroughly to remove residual dirt and grime.
9. Remove gunk out of your microwave
Your microwave oven is a handy kitchen gadget that you use every day, so it deserves some TLC. Is gunk stuck on the walls of your microwave? Put a cup of water (make sure the container is microwave-friendly) and a few tablespoons of baking soda. Microwave the cup on high for three minutes. Once done, use a damp sponge to wipe off loosened grime on the microwave’s walls.
10. Eliminate odors from your dishwasher
Your dishwasher removes dirt, grime, and food particles from your dishes, but do you clean it out? If an unpleasant smell comes out of your dishwasher every time you open it, it’s a big sign that it’s already dirt. Eliminate the stink using a baking soda wash. Pour a cup of baking soda to the bottom of the dishwasher and run it on the rinse cycle. Your dishwasher should smell fresher, but if the odor persists, sprinkle a few more baking soda at the bottom of the washer and let it sit there between loads.
11. Deodorize your fridge
Just keeping an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator can help absorb bad odors and maintain freshness. After keeping it for just an hour, you will already notice the difference. But if you want it to be more productive, try sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of your crisper drawer to keep your fresh goods fresh. It can also absorb strong food odors so it won’t linger and affect the taste of other foods. Baking soda can also be used to remove stains in your fridge, like those caused by spills. Just make a paste out of baking soda and water, scrub it with a clean cloth and see the stain removed.
12. Freshen up musty upholstery and mattress
Your couches and beds may get smelly over time. To keep it fresh, you can sprinkle baking soda, then let it sit for around 15 minutes and vacuum it up.
If your little one had a wee-wee accident in bed, the baking soda could help soak up the nasty liquid and deodorize the mattress. Sprinkle on liberally on the wet area and let it sit for two hours. Vacuum it after, then spritz it with a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar.
13. De-stink your pets’ sleeping area
The area where your pets sleep and stay can smell funky. Thanks to baking soda’s odor-absorbing powers, your cat’s litter box or your dog’s favorite spot can feel better again. Keep your pet away from it for a while, then sprinkle it on your pet’s bed as well as the floor around it. Let it sit for 15 minutes then vacuum the area. You can also sprinkle a thin layer on the bottom of the litter box or bed to help absorb odors.