How to Use Baking Soda - 18 Ways to Clean Your House

Sodium bicarbonate, more commonly referred to as baking soda, is a naturally-derived product that can be used in a million (or 18) different ways around the house. Most of us are used to buying all sorts of household cleaners specially made for different rooms and furniture around the house, but baking soda alone is fit for different household chores. Read on for more!

How to Use Baking Soda to Clean Around the House

Different Ways of Cleaning Your Kitchen with Sodium Bicarbonate

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1- Clean and degrease surfaces with a homemade scouring cream

To clean surfaces like kitchen countertops, sprinkle baking soda onto visible gunk and stubborn stains. Then, spray with water using a garden variety spray bottle.

For stains on vertical surfaces, make a homemade paste by mixing baking soda and water. Let it sit overnight before scrubbing the area clean with either a damp sponge or rag.

2- Eliminate odours in refrigerators with a natural air freshener

Baking soda is a natural and effective product that’s often used to eliminate odours in refrigerators.

Place an open container of baking soda in your refrigerator. Baking soda absorbs smelly odours after about three days. You can also mix 3 to 6 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl, place it on a shelf in your refrigerator, and allow the powder to absorb foul smells.

However, replace the baking soda every month to ensure optimal results.

3- Dishwasher freshening agent

Both affordable and natural, baking soda is a product that can be used as a dishwasher freshening agent.

• To clean your dishwasher, start by emptying it and cleaning around the drain and filter with a damp sponge.

• Pour about 250 ml of household vinegar into a dishwasher-safe container and place it on the bottom rack. Then, pour 100 g of baking soda into another container, placing it on the dishwasher’s top rack.

• Start a regular wash cycle, and there you have it! Vinegar is a natural antibacterial product. And as for baking soda, it helps dissolve limescale buildup.

• Once the cycle completed, avoid opening your dishwasher for about 20 minutes. Then, prop the door open to release some of the steam, allowing the inside of the dishwasher to dry.

Lastly, wipe dry all surfaces inside the dishwasher with a damp rag or sponge. That’s it! Your dishwasher should look as good as new.

4- Homemade baking soda recipe to clean oven

Baking soda is super effective for cleaning the inside and outside of your oven. Here’s how to go about it:

• Start by removing the oven racks and cleaning them. Next, prepare a paste by mixing 3 tablespoons of water with half a cup of baking soda in a small container.

• Mix the ingredients until you obtain a paste that's smooth and easy to apply. Spread the paste inside the oven using your hands or a clean spatula. Coat the inside of the oven with said paste, carefully avoiding the broil and bake elements.

• Let the paste sit on the sides, top, and bottom of the oven overnight. The next day, wipe the inside of the oven with a damp rag to remove the dirt-incrusted paste and other gunk. When the oven is wiped completely clean, if you still spot some baked-on grease or other, spray household vinegar on the gunk and wipe with a damp rag.

5- Kitchenware maintenance hack

Kitchen utensils, chrome surfaces, cooktops, cutting boards, and countertops can be cleaned with baking soda.

• To clean kitchenware, get some big containers and pour in 1 litre of hot water. Then, dilute 1 tablespoon of baking soda in the water.

• Next, drop in a sponge and let it sit in the mixture for four hours. Rinse it with clean water and wring it out.

• To clean glass-ceramic cooktops, pour 2 teaspoons of baking soda onto a soft sponge, dampen it a bit, and lightly scrub the surface.

• Rinse everything with water and wipe dry with a clean microfibre cloth.

• To clean cutting boards, sprinkle a bit of baking soda overtop, let it sit for a few minutes and scrub with a damp sponge. Lastly, wipe the cutting boards dry.

6- Eliminate trash can odours using baking soda and vinegar

Here’s a quick and easy way to eliminate the smell coming from your trash cans:

• Sprinkle the bottom of the trash bin with baking soda. The baking soda will absorb smells and moisture that are likely to build up.

• If the smells have already permeated the trash can, proceed as such: Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Add hot water.

• Pour this mixture into the trash can and let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with hot water.

Baking Soda Bathroom Maintenance Hacks

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7- Tile cleaning

Baking soda is a very useful ingredient for bathroom maintenance practices. To clean floor tiles, mix ½ a cup of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Spray the solution over the tiles and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, lightly scrub the tiles with a damp sponge and rinse with clean water.

If you’re dealing with tough stains, sprinkle baking soda directly onto the stain, spray the above-mentioned solution onto the baking soda, and let it sit for about 5 minutes.

Next, lightly scrub with a damp sponge and rinse with clean water. Your tiles should be sparkling clean in no time.

8- Eliminate mould and soap residue

You can easily use baking soda in the bathroom to eliminate both mould and soap residue.

To get rid of mould, mix baking soda and hot water to end up with a sort of homemade paste.

Using a rag or sponge, clean the moisture build-up on the bathroom walls and ceiling. Clean all surfaces with a damp rag and then wipe them dry.

To eliminate soap residue, mix 1 cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and 1–2 cups of water until the mixture forms a thick paste.

With a soft-bristled brush, apply the solution to the soap residue. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub the soap residue, which should come out relatively easily. Rinse the now clean area with hot water and wipe dry.

9- Whiten dirty grout by mixing baking soda and vinegar

Use baking soda to whiten the tile grout in your bathroom. Make a cleaning paste using baking soda and water.

Next, apply said paste over the darkened floor grout and scrub using a hard-bristle scrubbing brush. Let the paste sit for 15 minutes and rinse with clean water. You can also mix baking soda with white vinegar for a thicker paste.

Apply said paste over the grout and let sit for a day, then rinse with clean water.

Use Baking Soda in the Laundry Room

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10- Clothing and footwear freshener

Use baking soda to eliminate smelly odours from clothing and footwear.

To eliminate odours from footwear, sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda in each shoe, moving it around to ensure the baking soda coats the entire sole. 

Let the baking soda sit inside the shoe for a few hours or overnight. Then, remove the baking soda by shaking the shoes upside down over the trash or sink.

To eliminate strong odours in clothing, pour ½ a cup of baking soda directly into the washing machine with traditional laundry detergent. Start a regular wash cycle, and add another ½ cup of baking soda during the rinse cycle.

11- Washing machine maintenance

Baking soda can also be especially useful to deep clean your washing machine.

To do so, add 4 tablespoons of baking soda directly into the washer and start a hot water wash cycle. Not unlike cleaning a dishwasher, baking soda helps eliminate odours and prevent limescale build-up inside the appliance.

To deep-clean a washing machine, pour half a cup of baking soda directly into the drum and start a cycle. Repeat this trick 2–3 times a year to keep the inside of your washer fresh and clean.

12- Refresh your laundry baskets

The odour elimination quality of baking soda makes it an excellent option for refreshing laundry bins.

Sprinkle baking soda into your laundry basket as you’re adding soiled clothing. The layered baking soda between the clothes will help eliminate smells. 

When starting a load, you can also add a small amount of baking soda to your washer to boost odour elimination.

Ways to Sanitize and Eliminate Odours in Drain Pipes and Air Ducts

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13- Unclog drain pipes and sinks

To unclog a drain pipe with baking soda, start by using 200 g of sodium bicarbonate, 20 ml of white vinegar, 200 g of salt, and 1 litre of boiling water. Give the following method a try before hiring a plumber to unclog your drain pipe:

• Pour baking soda, white vinegar, and salt into a container.

• Mix ingredients.

• Pour the mixture down your clogged drain pipe. Let it sit for 30–40 minutes, or longer if you think it necessary. 

• Flush with boiling water. 

14- Air and ventilation duct maintenance

Use a baking soda-based solution with vinegar to eliminate smelly odours inside air and ventilation ducts.

• Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in a container.

• Pour the solution inside the air and ventilation duct. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with hot water.

However, if you’re experiencing more serious problems, such as mould or obstructions, we recommend hiring a professional HVAC maintenance service provider.

For Bedroom, Living Room, and Outdoor Use

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15- Rug, mat, and carpet cleaning

Use baking soda to clean your rugs. Said product can eliminate stains, brighten faded colours, and eliminate odours. Start by testing out the product on a concealed part of the carpeting to be sure the material can be cleaned with baking soda.

To deep clean carpeting, sprinkle 2 teaspoons of baking soda every square metre. Let the product sit for roughly 4 hours, then remove the baking soda using a vacuum cleaner.

To avoid having to deep-clean your carpets, rugs, or mats too often, vacuum at least twice a week.

16- Mattress and cushion maintenance

Baking soda can be used to eliminate smelly odours in mattresses, pillows, and cushions. Proceed as follows:

• Remove all bedding and wash with laundry detergent in a hot water cycle to kill all germs.

• Eliminate dirt, dust, and all gunk on the mattress’s surface with an upholstery nozzle fitted into a vacuum cleaner.

• Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on your mattress and pillows. When doing so, we recommend using between 200–650 g (1–3 cups) of baking soda over the entire mattress.

• Allow the baking soda to sit atop the mattress for at least half an hour.

• Vacuum the baking soda with an upholstery nozzle.

If your mattress is especially dirty or stained, the above steps aren't prescribed over an in-depth cleaning routine.

17- Eliminate smells from couches and armchairs

To clean an upholstered couch or armchair with a homemade cleaner, you’ll need baking soda and a vacuum cleaner.

Sprinkle your furnishings with baking soda and let the product sit for two hours or overnight, according to the soil level. Next, vacuum the couches and armchairs using an upholstery nozzle.

18- Clean plastic or metal patio furniture

Baking soda can also be used to revamp dull-looking plastic or metal patio furniture.

Make a paste with baking soda and water. Apply the mixture to your yellowed patio furniture, paying close attention to stains. Allow the paste to sit for a few minutes, and then delicately scrub the furniture with a dampened sponge or rag. Rinse with clean water. This trick will revamp your plastic or metal patio furniture in no time.

Revisiting the Advantages of Using Baking Soda as a Household Cleaner

Freshening agent, cleaner, sanitizer—baking soda can be used in a slew of ways for household cleaning purposes. Used with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, it makes for an effective cleaner, meaning you won’t have to buy all sorts of products that'll just end up cluttering your cabinets. Baking soda works great on carpeting and tiles and can be used to unclog sinks and much more. It’s also a naturally derived product, which makes it a must-have for those seeking greener cleaners. Have good-quality baking soda on hand at all times.

Note that baking soda must be stored in a cool and dry area, away from direct sunlight. Keep the product in its original packaging or an air-tight container so it doesn’t spoil.

Homemade Baking Soda Cleaner FAQs

Can you mix vinegar and baking soda to clean?

Absolutely! As mentioned in our article, adding white vinegar to baking soda makes for a great household cleaner.

What should not be cleaned with baking soda?

Cleaning with baking soda has very few restrictions, aside from the following: electronic devices, some jewelry, aluminum and cast iron cookware, stone and marble surfaces, wood floors, and mirrors. 

What can you mix with baking soda to make a homemade cleaner?

As mentioned in the article, you can mix baking soda with white vinegar, lemon juice, salt, hydrogen peroxide, water, and dish soap to make household cleaners.