Baking soda or bicarbonate of soda is a leavening agent used to balance out acidic substances in a cake batter and make the cake rise. It is also an ingredient that is commonly available in most homes. However, aside from its well-known uses in baking the perfect treat, there are several other, relatively unknown uses of the substance. We’re here to discuss some of the best uses of baking soda with you, and believe us when we say this: you won’t need any other cleaning chemical or deodoriser for your home ever again! Let’s begin.
Some Amazing Uses of Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used around the house for a number of cleaning purposes and household chores, especially when you are dealing with stubborn stains or foul odours. The household tasks where baking soda can be of assistance include:
- Scrubbing surfaces with softer chemicals
- Washing dishes and pans
- Cleaning the microwave
- Polishing silverware
- Cleaning tea and coffee pots
- Removing stains of oil and grease
- Cleaning the floors
- Stopping shoes from stinking
- Cleaning furniture
- Washing away odours from your chopping board
- Cleaning the oven
- Washing your baby’s clothes gently
- Cleaning shower curtains
- Neutralising odours in your refrigerator
- Keeping stinky trash smells at bay
- Cleaning cars
- Eradicating foul smells from the carpet
- Cleaning your jewellery
- Removing odours from lunch boxes
- Freshening wardrobes
- Improving the power of your laundry detergent
- Cleaning car batteries
- Deodorising your car
Now let’s discuss these chores and the uses of baking soda in each.
1. Scrubbing Surfaces with Softer Chemicals
If you’re looking for a scrubbing agent that is free from harsh chemicals, try baking soda. From tiles to sinks and bathtubs, your bathroom’s interior will gleam like new, and you won’t have to fear the after effects of harmful chemicals. Just sprinkle some baking soda onto a damp sponge, and then scrub as usual. You can then rinse the entire place and wipe your tiles and fixtures dry. For stubborn stains, you can mix baking soda with liquid dishwashing soap and coarse grains of salt to make a lumpy paste. Apply this paste on the stubborn tile stains and wait for around 10 minutes before scrubbing the paste off and rinsing the area.
2. Washing Dishes and Pans
Mix 2 full tablespoons of baking soda with your liquid dishwashing soap and wash away the grease from your dishes without scouring them. Burnt food stuck to the bottom of the pan? Fill the pot with a mix of dishwashing liquid and baking soda and let it soak. Pour out the water after a while and clean the pot with a regular sponge without worrying about scratching the bottom of the pan.
3. Cleaning the Microwave
Yes, if your microwave has gotten really messy with all the food you’ve been heating and cooking inside it, a clean damp sponge and a sprinkle of baking soda can help you out. Just sprinkle baking soda onto the sponge and clean the insides of the microwave oven gently. Wipe the interior with a damp cloth once you are done. Make sure you disconnect your microwave before you begin cleaning it to avoid the risk of electrocution. This method is fairly effective as one of the many uses of baking soda because it leaves no residual smell of cleaning chemicals inside the oven.
4. Polishing Silverware
A baking soda solution of three parts of baking soda and 1 part of water can be used to scrub and polish your silverware. Use a clean cloth for the job. Just rinse and dry your new-looking cutlery when done.
5. Cleaning Tea and Coffee Pots
Coffee and tea stains often become constant companions of the pots you use to brew them in. Teacups and coffee mugs also become discoloured over time due to frequent use. The best way to get rid of the stains in both the pots and cups is to wash them with a baking soda solution containing a ¼ cup of baking soda and 4 cups of lukewarm water. If the stains are stubborn, let your pots and cups soak in the baking soda solution overnight after adding some dishwashing soap. Rinse them in the morning as usual for sparkling, clean results.
6. Removing Stains of Oil and Grease
If you have oil or grease stains on your concrete driveway, sprinkling baking soda on the spot can help you get rid of the stains. Scrub the area with a wet brush after applying baking soda to it.
7. Cleaning the Floors
Want to clean tiled floors without leaving scratches? Well, baking soda is one of the top budget-friendly ways to clean floor tiles. Add a ½ cup of baking soda into a bucket of lukewarm water and mop the floor to remove dirt and grime. All tougher stains can be scrubbed with a soft sponge dipped in the solution.
8. Stopping Shoes from Stinking
Sprinkle some baking soda into your shoes and then shake it out before wearing. The stink will no longer follow your footsteps.
9. Cleaning Furniture
Have your kids drawn on the walls and your painted furniture using crayons? Remove all the marks by simply scrubbing the affected area with a wet sponge sprinkled with baking soda. You can then wipe the area dry with a clean cloth.
10. Washing Away Odours from Your Chopping Board
If you have used your chopping board to prepare fish for your next meal, a simple wash will most probably not drive the fishy smell away. The best way to remove the odour is to sprinkle baking soda onto the board for a little while before you scrub and rinse the chopping board as usual.
11. Cleaning the Oven
Baking soda is one of the best ingredients to deep clean your home, including the extremely problematic, greasy oven. Just sprinkle some baking soda at the bottom of the oven and spray water to dampen it. Leave it sitting overnight. The first thing to do in the morning is to scoop out all of the baking soda before you wipe the interior of the oven clean with a sponge.
12. Washing Your Baby’s Clothes Gently
You need a gentle detergent to clean your baby’s clothes so that there is no risk of adverse effects and reactions. If you need to battle tough stains or stinky odours, a ½ cup of baking soda and the detergent you use for your baby’s clothes can help, as baking soda is mild without having any harmful chemical additions.
13. Cleaning Shower Curtains
Scrub your vinyl shower curtain with a brush sprinkled with baking soda. Then rinse the curtain and hang it up to dry.
14. Neutralising Odours in Your Refrigerator
If you are worried about the different odours in your refrigerator—thanks to the variety of food—spreading or affecting the quality or aroma of other edibles, then all you need to do is place a small bowl of baking soda in your fridge. Baking soda is a natural deodoriser that will retain smells within itself and prevent food smells from spreading.
15. Keeping Stinky Trash Smells at Bay
Nobody wants their house to smell of stinky trash. Just sprinkle some baking soda at the bottom of the trash bin before you place a trash bag on it. This will keep the odours away.
16. Cleaning Cars
Want a strong detergent to clean your car without leaving any scratches? A baking soda solution of 4 cups of warm water and a ¼ cup of baking soda is what you need. Dip a soft sponge into the mixture and use it to clean grime off the car headlights, tires, windows, and other fragile parts.
17. Eradicating Foul Smells from the Carpet
Sprinkle baking soda liberally over the carpet and leave it overnight. Sweep the excess baking soda in the morning and vacuum the rest. The odours will be gone!
18. Cleaning Your Jewellery
Baking soda is also one of the many home remedies to clean your jewellery. One part water with three parts of baking soda can be used as a baking soda solution to clean your jewellery with a soft toothbrush.
19. Removing Odours from Lunch Boxes
If you pack lunches for your kids every day, there is a chance that the odours of home cooked food will linger. Keep a small packet of baking soda ready to place into the box every night before you pack the lunch in the morning.
20. Freshening Wardrobes
Remove the smell of old clothes from your wardrobe by placing some baking soda in the cupboard in a bowl.
21. Improving the Power of Your Laundry Detergent
Give your laundry detergent a boost in performance by adding a ½ cup of baking soda to your laundry when you load it into your washing machine coupled with your regular detergent. The addition of baking soda results in a better balance of pH, which means that your clothes will cleaner, brighter, and fresher after the wash.
22. Cleaning Car Batteries
A baking soda solution of three parts of baking soda and 1 part of water can be used to remove corrosion and rust from your car batteries. Remember to disconnect the battery before you start cleaning.
23. Deodorising Your Car
If your car smells of sweat and spoilt food, remove the stink by sprinkling baking soda on the seats and floormats. You can then use a vacuum to clean up the residue after about 15 minutes.
This wraps up our list of the 23 top uses of baking soda around the house for a variety of chores. Another ingredient that is just as versatile in its use is white vinegar. These common household products can make your cleaning tasks a lot quicker and more thorough. For more lifestyle hacks and ways to clean your home conveniently, keep following Zameen blog, Pakistan’s best lifestyle blog.
