Ways To Clean With Baking Soda

Besides vinegar, baking soda is one of the best natural, non-toxic household cleaners that you are already likely to have stored away in your kitchen even if you've never used it t clean. Many cleaning products are made up of harsh chemicals that have an unpleasant odor, are toxic, can irritate the skin and eyes, and cause respiratory distress in vulnerable people. Baking soda is extremely versatile and there are several ways to use it as a powerful cleaning product both indoors and out. Baking soda is also non-toxic and inexpensive.
 

 Use Baking Soda to Eliminate Smells

We can all benefit from having a quick and easy way to eliminate odors from inside of our homes. Using baking soda to absorb smells can be very effective. To freshen up your carpets, simply sprinkle them with baking soda prior to vacuuming. Adding baking soda to your cat’s litter box will help to control odor. Sprinkle baking soda inside your laundry hamper several times a week to avoid smells between wash loads. Leave an open box of baking soda in the fridge to absorb food odors. Likewise, leave an open box of baking soda in your closet as well.

Use Baking Soda to Clean Countertops and Hard Surfaces

To clean countertops and food prep areas, get a damp rag out and apply a royal sprinkling of baking soda. Wipe down surfaces and rinse with water if needed. To make a green, multi-surface cleaner, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of sodium borate, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar, and a bit of liquid soap to an empty spray bottle. Some use orange oil to create a pleasant odor as well. Use the mixture to wipe down countertops and hard surfaces including the refrigerator, cabinets and walls.

Use Baking Soda to Eliminate Scuff Marks

To remove scuff marks from floors, put baking soda on a moist cloth or even a rougher sponge, where needed. Apply this directly to the marks and rub out the scuffs. You can also use this technique to remove crayon stains from various surfaces in the home. Baking soda is also effective in cleaning walls and furniture. To remove more stubborn marks or stains, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply it to the affected area and let it sit for several minutes. Wipe clean or scrub if necessary.

Remove Stains with Baking Soda

To remove stubborn marks or stains from surfaces like kitchen counters or table tops, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the area and let it sit for several minutes to allow it to soak in, then wipe clean or scrub if necessary. To clean a stained teapot, mix ¼ cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Soak the teapot overnight, and then wash thoroughly.

Remove Burnt-On Food

Rather than using a poisonous, foul-smelling, highly toxic oven cleaner, you can opt for a natural baking soda cleanser that is equally effective and much safer for your health. Make a paste of baking soda and water. Coat the inside of your oven with the paste, paying special attention to areas with burnt-on food. Leave the paste on for several hours or overnight.

The burnt-on food should be loose enough to remove and scrub clean. To remove burnt or baked-on food from pots and pans, put a generous amount of baking soda inside of the pot followed by dishwashing liquid and hot water, let soak several minutes then clean. Tip — this works for your frying pan, as well, if it's cast iron.

Clean Silver with Baking Soda

Don’t use offensive smelling silver polish to clean your sterling silver or silver-plated items. Instead, make a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Rub the paste directly onto your silver pieces using a clean rag. Once your silver has been coated with the paste, rinse clean.

Clean Household Items

Baking soda mixtures and pastes can be quite effective in cleaning and freshening many household items. To clean toys, mix baking soda with water and either immerse the toys in the solution or simply wipe toys down with the mixture. To freshen sheet and towels, add a ½ teaspoon of baking soda in your washers rinse cycle. To deodorize and clean stuffed animals or cloth toys, simply dust them with baking soda, let stand 5 minutes and shake off.

Soak hairbrushes in a mix of baking soda and water to remove oily buildup and residue, then rinse clean. Likewise, soak dentures and retainers in a glass of warm water and 2 teaspoons of baking soda. To freshen kitchen sponges soak in a solution of 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart of water. This will help to clean sponges and remove musty odors.

Baking soda is an extremely versatile and very effective household cleaner. Whether using baking soda to clean indoors or out, you will be able to cleanse and deodorize a wide variety of items. Utilizing baking soda is not only inexpensive but non-toxic as well. If you are looking for a natural, non-irritating cleaner free of unpleasant odors then baking soda may be the right choice for you.