Baking soda alias “Sodium bicarbonate” has been in pantry use since more than a century. It has been in use for preparing cakes, dough, soaking beans, and for many other purposes.
Baking continues to be one of the best non-toxic cleaning ingredients for the household. It is generously used in life hacks, beauty hacks, and cleaning hacks. Baking soda is non-toxic unlike other cleaners in market and completely safe for health as well as for home cleaning.Baking soda has manifold usages, and has useful properties. It offers multiple advantages, and it is also easy on pocket. Hence it has become indispensible.
Here we have listed the important uses of baking soda for daily household cleaning.
01. To Get Rid of Odour
02. To Treat Clogged Sinks & Basins
03. To Clean Stubborn Stains from Kitchen & Appliances
04. To Knock Out Stains and Grouts of Bathroom Area
05. Outdoor Furniture Cleaning
06. Carpet Cleaning
07. Crayons Mark on Wall
08. Stains on Vinyl/Wood Flooring
09. Non-toxic Cockroach Killer
10. Polishing Silverware
11. Keeps Ants Away
12. A natural cleaner of fruits and vegetables
Household Cleaning Hacks with Baking Soda
01. To Get Rid of Odour
Baking soda is used for removing foul odour. The uniqueness behind the baking soda’s odor control is its absorption power. Unlike other odour removing agents, it absorbs the smell, and does not mask it for some time. Check here how you can use the absorption power of baking soda in your home cleaning.
To clean the Refrigerator:
Empty the fridge and wipe it with a soft dry cloth to remove dirt and food particles. Take away all the removable attachments out of the fridge. Take ½ cup of baking soda and mix equal quantity of vinegar to make a smooth paste of it. Take a clean absorbent rag and dip in warm water and wring out the extra water. Dab the cloth in the baking soda paste and clean the refrigerator thoroughly. Rub to clean the stubborn stains, and use toothbrush dipped in the prepared paste to clean the crevices where your hands cannot reach. Rinse the rag in warm water and clean the area to clear the baking soda residue. Your refrigerator will be sparkling clean. Repeat the process with the removable attachments. Use a soft dry rag to dry the interiors and the accessories.
For exteriors, mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 tbsp. dishwashing detergent and about 1 cup of white vinegar in the spray bottle and shake it well. Spray and clean with a damp rag. Final cleaning should be done by using squeezed cloth in warm water. Repeat the process fortnightly if you have heavy used else once in a month cleaning spree will be perfectly fine for your refrigerator.
Drawers & Storage Boxes:
Unpleasant odour often emanates from the lesser used drawers and storage boxes. Take few scoops of baking soda in a small clean cloth bag and stitch the opening. Place it in the drawers and storage boxes to ward off odour. The natural remedy is expelling for insects and ants.
Microwave Oven:
Add two spoonful of baking soda in a bowl of water and place it in the microwave. Set the time frame at three minutes and your oven will be free from foul smell. It will be easier for you to get rid of the stains. Wipe with a soft cloth till dry and bid goodbye to the nasty odor and stains.
Want to know how to get rid of kitchen odour?:
Trash Can:
Sprinkle baking soda in the trash can weekly to stay away from the foul smell. You should clean trash can every week by water and detergent besides sprinkling baking soda in it.
Shoe deodorizer:
If you want to keep your shoes fresh and odorless, you can sprinkle baking soda in them. This soda will soak all the bad smell and you will get to enjoy fresh odorless shoes. You can also keep small baking soda full packets, especially in rainy season.
02. To Treat Clogged Sink & Basins
The clogging of sink and basin’s drain is a common mayhem in our home. In spite of taking absolute care, many often, food and vegetable particles manage to slip inside and clog the sink pipe. Same goes for the bathroom and washbasin, and create a mess. Baking soda is your savior.
Let’s make the magic solution: take 1 cup of baking soda and 3/4th cup of vinegar, mix them well, and pour in the sink and basin drains, preferably at night, allow to sit the mix on the drain overnight. Leave for 15 minutes and run warm water via the drain. All the residues will get cleared, and you will be having clean drains with little effort. Repeat the process once a week instead of waiting for the drain to clog again.
Thinking about to have the kitchen sinks? Click below before buying.
03. To Clean Stubborn Stains from Kitchen & Appliances
A kitchen is never free from smoke. Hence it will never be free from stubborn stains. Some of the most stubborn stains are found on kitchen appliances and accessories. Some of the most stubborn stains are found in scorched cooking pots also, but baking soda can fight with all of them with assured victory.
Barbecue Grill:
stains on barbeque grill are usually quite stubborn, and it is difficult to clean these appliances. Baking soda will help you out here. Soak the grates in a mix of baking soda, vinegar, and water overnight and wash in the morning. All the stubborn stains will vanish. For faster cleaning, sprinkle baking soda and leave it for some time on the stains. Clean with a scotchbrite and rinse with warm water. Stains will vanish for sure.
Gas Stoves:
They are quite stain prone but these stains are completely manageable by using baking soda. Make a paste with vinegar and baking soda and coat it on the gas stove with the help of a flat brush. Leave the paste for half an hour and clean the stove with a damp rag dipped in warm water. You can use an old toothbrush to reach the crevices where your hands cannot reach. Wipe it dry, and enjoy the beauty of the sparkling clean stove.
Washbasin and Kitchen Slab:
stains can be washed off by baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda generously and rub. Leave for twenty minutes and wipe it off with warm water.
Dishwasher:
Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of your dishwasher and run a regular wash cycle. It will clean the dishwasher immaculately.
Kitchen Rags:
Soak kitchen rags in baking soda and warm water and leave for few hours and then wash with detergent. You will have clean, unstained clothes to use.
04. To Knock Out Stains and Grouts of Bathroom Area
Molds, bacteria, and fungus are more likely to develop in the bathroom area due to frequent use of toilet and lavatories. Further, infected bathroom area will result in infections. The cleaning power of baking soda will sort out the issue.
Toilet & Basin Cleaning:
Take 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of borax and 1 cup of vinegar. Pour the vinegar onto the toilet stains, sprinkle baking soda. Leave it for about 20 minutes, then scrub and flush. Repeat the same for washbasins.
If you want to get rid of the bathroom & toilet foul smell, here is the solution
Wall & Floor Tiles:
Mix baking soda with warm water and bleach to knock down the stubborn grout stains on the wall and floor tiles of the washroom. Wear gloves to do heavy-duty cleaning.
Shower Curtains:
It can get a new look by using baking soda. Mix baking soda in laundry detergent, and drops of any scented essential oil. Spray on them after taking it out from the rings. Leave for some time and scrub with towels to clean mildews, soap scums, and mold. Wash with plain water and let it dry.
Bathroom Accessories:
They can accumulate dirt and water stains and frequently get discolored. Scrub them with baking soda and water, and it will start sparkling. Repeat the process twice a month to keep it clean and shining.
05. Outdoor Furniture Cleaning
Baking Soda is a magic powder for wiping outdoor furniture, doors, and windows. Mix it in water and wipe clean the surfaces to free the areas from stains of water spots and other stubborn stains. Wipe with a damp cloth, and it will start glittering.
Apart from outdoor furniture cleaning, we have also given the tips for cleaning sofa upholstery.
06. Carpet Cleaning
It’s common to spill tea, coffee, etc. on the carpet. You can remove the stains with the help of baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda just after the spillage, and let it absorb the excess moisture and vacuum it up. Blot the stain with 1 cup of warm water mixed with 1 tbsp. of white vinegar, from the outside edges inward till the stain gets transferred to the cleaning cloth, and then apply the vacuum dry and then allow it to dry. Stains will vanish, giving the carpet a fresh look.
07. Crayons Mark on Wall
Amateur drawing on the wall is one of the common phenomena in households where toddlers reside. Don’t fret and fume, power of baking soda will help. Make a smooth paste of baking soda with water and smear on the marks. Take a moist rug and scrub gently on the stain and the colors will vanish.
08. Stains on Vinyl/Wood Flooring
Wipe off the stains from the vinyl/wooden flooring by using a paste made of equal parts of baking soda and water. Rub the paste on the vinyl flooring with the help of a soft cloth, wipe it off with damp microfiber and then finally clean it with a dry rag to remove the watermarks on the container.
09. Non-toxic Cockroach Killer
Cockroaches are pesky insects that often spoil the healthy arrangement of your kitchen. Not only these insects are herbinger of contaminated diseases, these insects are quite unsightly in terms of maintaining hygienic environment in your home. If you have pets in home, this natural cockroach killer is a great controlling remedy of their ill health due to cockroached in festation.
Make sweetened baking soda balls by mixing sugar syrup in baking soda. Place it in the corners of the kitchen and other infested area. It is deadly for the cockroaches.
10. Polishing Silverware
Silver accessories and utensils are quite demanding in terms of polish. Unless you polish these silver items at regular course, the sheen and shine of silver cannot be maintained. You can use baking soda and vinegar mix to polish silver utensils.
11. Keeps Ants Away
Mix equal parts of baking soda and salt and sprinkle at the resource points from where the ants usually come. The smell of the baking soda keeps the ants away.
12. A Natural Cleaner Of Fruits And Vegetables
You can soak fruits and vegetables into baking soda treated water for 20-25 minutes. This simple process helps in removing the trace of pesticides from these edible items. It is an easy and cost efficient process in kitchen to remove the residue of pesticides from veggies and fruits so that you can consumer them raw. Do not forget to clean them with water before use.
Few Bottom Lines from GharPedia
You are now sure of the magical characteristics of the baking soda. This white color powder looks simple but has highly useful features to be used for household cleaning. It works differently on different objects but gives you the same result, leaving the area sparkling clean. It is a cheap substitute for the cleaning sprays and powders available in the market. It is a natural agent, and is not toxic and harmful.
Baking soda keeps your home sparkling clean and it is completely hygienic. To maintain the household cleanliness, it is advisable to clean with baking soda periodically to maintain hygiene and sanitation at its best. You can even hire a cleaning professional that provides quality cleaning services like Cleanzen for seamless experiences.
Must Read:
Top 11 Forgetful Places to Clean in Home in Your Next Cleaning Spree!
15 House Cleaning Tips that can be Beneficial to Every Homeowner!
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Author Bio
Ila Verma – Ila Verma is a freelancer blogger with a vast experience in content writing, branding, fictional stories and poetry. She has collaborated with various brands as a content creator and is a certified content writer.
Coming from a small town, she has carved a niche of her own. Apart from writing, she is involved with an NGO Bhojan Bank, which provides one-time free meal to homeless people. She enjoys listening to music and is an avid traveller.
Prior to her writing career, she has worked with India Infoline, Kotak Sec. and ShareKhan.