Baking soda is in most people’s homes and often expires because it’s not being utilized to its full potential. A box of baking soda is used once to bake cookies, and then it is shoved back into the pantry. Some people use it as a deodorizer in their fridge. However, it can be used to clean. The best part? Cleaning with baking soda is SO cheap.
Every room in my grandma's house had a box of baking soda. I thought this was pretty odd until I learned a bit about it after I grew up. It is a mild abrasive and a great deodorizer and surface cleaner (even for surfaces that are prone to scratching). I now buy baking soda in bulk and it feels very satisfying. The teenagers might not appreciate it, but at least the house is clean!
1. Carpet Odor Absorber
To eliminate odors from carpet, try this method. For 15 minutes, place some baking soda on the carpet and leave it. If the smell is tough, then let it sit longer. Once you let it sit, vacuum the carpet. The baking soda, rather than covering up the smell, actually absorbs it. This works on pets, food, and just general smells.
Before guests come over, try this. The carpet will smell clean without that "I covered up the smell with a candle" vibe. Gigi really adds to the carpet situation in this house and the one constant solution is baking soda. For best results, let it sit longer than you would expect!
2. Stainless Steel Sink Scrub
You should first dampen your stainless steel sink, then sprinkle some baking soda on it. Using a sponge or cloth, scrub the sink in the same direction as the grain. The gentle abrasiveness of this method will help in removing residue, water stains, and build dullness without scratching stainless steel. To avoid getting water stains again, dry the sink with a cloth after rinsing it. You will see a big difference after just one scrub.
A clean kitchen sink can totally change the look of the kitchen! Motivating right? Just still feels a little wrong when everything else is a mess. You can use baking soda to clean the sink so there is no need to bother with smelly store bought scrubbing cleanser. This is a good habit to build!
3. Toilet Bowl Deodorizer and Cleaner
Directly put a good amount of baking soda into the toilet bowl and wait 15 to 30 minutes before brushing and flushing. More cleaning action happens if you put white vinegar after baking soda and let the fizz do its work before brushing. It cleans and removes light staining while also deodorizing without the smell of toilet bowl cleaners.
When vinegar and baking soda react in the toilet bowl, it creates a fizzing sound that might make you think something dramatic is happening—and it is. The reaction creates an effective and all-natural toilet cleaning solution, and it won’t leave you with that pesky chemical smell lingering in the bathroom afterwards.
4. Refrigerator Deodorizer
A box of baking soda in the fridge absorbs and captures food odors so they don’t transfer to other foods. Depending on the smell severity, replace the box every 1-3 months. If your fridge has strong odors, consider using one box for each shelf, and add one to the freezer.
Most people know that baking soda neutralizes bad odors, and it does its job. It keeps the fridge smelling neutral instead of like the odd combination of every leftover container that has ever been in there. Replace it more often than you think you need to. Most people leave it for far too long and then wonder why it stopped absorbing odors
5. Drain Deodorizer
For odour build up in your kitchen and bathroom drains, maintain and clean your drains by flushing half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of white vinegar down the drain. Wait 15 minutes and then flush with hot water. The baking soda and vinegar get smelly drains cleaning and odour neutralizing reactions started.
Drains slowly develop odors over time, so you don't notice it anymore, but the person using your sink does notice it. The flush method using baking soda and vinegar is quick, costs nearly nothing, and helps with drains smelling clean, not just less bad.
6. Oven Cleaner
Combine baking soda and water until you have a thick paste. Spread this paste along the inside of your oven (be careful to avoid the heating elements). Leave this paste on for twelve hours or more. The baking soda will break down and soften the grease and food that has been baked onto your oven. This will allow you to wipe it down with a damp cloth instead of scrubbing. For additional cleaning power, spray some white vinegar on the paste before wiping to help with the dissolving of the baking soda.
When using oven cleaner sprays, it is important to note that they can be harmful, and the odors are potentially dangerous. Therefore, the entire kitchen has to be ventilated. While it may be tedious, using a baking soda paste is less expensive, does not require anything special to create or use, does not release fumes that will make you unsafe, and involves no gloves / dangerous materials. While it may take 1 extra step, it is the safest and most economical choice. You can even do it the night before to save time in the morning.
7. Microwave Deodorizer
To absorb odors each time after using the microwave, put a small, open bowl of baking soda in the microwave. For a more thorough deodorizing, place a bowl containing a tablespoon of baking soda and set it to high for two minutes. After that, let it sit for five minutes while the microwave door is closed, and then wipe out the microwave. This helps eliminate the accumulation of odors from food.
Microwaves trap smells in a strange and irritating way. The baking soda bowl placed in the microwave between uses really helps reduce some of the odors. The heated water method also works for when reheated fish or last week's leftovers have really stuck to the walls of the microwave.
8. Grout Scrub
Mix water and baking soda together until you get a thick consistency. Then use a straw to apply this mixture to the grout lines. Scrub gently in small circles. After that, rinse the paste off. For grout that is more heavily discolored, spray white vinegar over the baking soda paste. Then, wait a few minutes for the fizzing to do its trick before scrubbing again. The mild abrasive action will remove surface grime and mildew and will not damage your grout.
Most people tend to avoid cleaning grout due to the nature of the work and the strong chemicals involved. While cleaning your grout with an old toothbrush and some baking soda paste is just as tedious, it won't be as harsh on your lungs. With the same results and costs, it beats specialty grout cleaners.
9. Porcelain Tub and Shower Scrub
Directly sprinkle some baking soda on a tub or shower floor that has been made damp and then use a non-scratch sponge to scrub it. It will remove soap scum, water marks, and light staining without scratching the porcelain. Be sure to rinse afterwards. For more difficult stains, let a baking soda paste sit for 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing to give it time to work into the residue.
While commercial scrubbing cleansers do their job, the abrasives in one or two can over time dull the finishes on porcelain. In contrast, baking soda is gentle enough to be used on porcelain as long as the user wants, so no long term surface damage occurs. The tub looks clean and nothing is harmed in the process.
10. Cutting Board Deodorizer
To clean your cutting board, simply sprinkle some baking soda on it, take a brush or a cloth and scrub it in, let it sit for five minutes, and then rinse it off. The baking soda gets rid of food odors such as onion and garlic that soap and water alone do not get. It can be used on both wood and plastic cutting boards and after you rinse it, it won’t leave a taste or residue.
Dish soap won't get the smell of last Tuesday's onions out of your cutting board. But baking soda is a solution! It's a quick extra step after washing to make the cutting board smell clean, rather than just washed. It's a huge difference when you're getting ready to chop up some fruit on your board.
11. Trash Can Deodorizer
To soak up odors while trash is being thrown away, sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the can under the liner bag and repeat this when you change the bag. For trash cans that have a lingering smell that refuses to leave, wash your can with some soap and water, dry it, and before putting the bag back, add a thick layer of baking soda to the bottom. Unlike the other options baking soda will absorb the smell continuously.
Trash cans smell because odors build up not only in the bag but also in the can itself. The layer of baking soda under the bag helps with the problem at the source. This small habit will improve the smell of the kitchen a lot for almost no work.
12. Shoe Deodorizer
To absorb odors, sprinkle some baking soda in your shoes and let it sit overnight. You can wear the shoes the next day after you shake or tap out the baking soda. If you have athletic shoes or boots that have a lasting odor, you can leave the baking soda in for a full twenty-four hours. Before you wear the shoes, use a small brush to remove the baking soda. You can do this regularly to keep your shoes odor free.
A pair of shoes that has been worn all day definitely needs to be aired out, and baking soda helps with that, a lot. It works on the same principle as shoe deodorizer sprays, but is considerably cheaper. As for the teenager’s shoes, they have really had a complicated history with baking soda, and I see it as an essential household item.
13. Gym Bag and Sports Equipment Deodorizer
To help your gym bag stay odor-free, make a small cloth bag or use a container to put some baking soda in the bag. You can do the same for your sports gear (shin guards, helmets, pads, etc.); put some baking soda in the gear, let it sit for a few hours to absorb the smell, and then shake or brush the baking soda out. This process eliminates odors and bacteria, as opposed to masking sprays that just cover the smell.
Fragrance sprays, or any other air freshener, just mask the odor that develops on gym bags and sports equipment, making the smell worse because the spray combines with the odor. The real solution is the odor absorbing baking soda. If you have teenagers involved in sports, this is something you may have wished you knew sooner.
14. Mattress Deodorizer
Take off the sheets, put some baking soda on the mattress, and let it sit for at least thirty minutes. You should vacuum it before making the bed. Baking soda absorbs moisture and bad smells baked into the mattress. You should do this every few months.
Mattresses take a lot of punishment over the years and many people never clean them. Instead of using chemicals, you can use baking soda to help freshen the smell of a mattress. It won't make your mattress smell brand new again but it will be a noticeable improvement. This is particuarly true for homes with dogs.
15. Pet Bedding Deodorizer
Baking soda can be used to combat odors on bedding, blankets, pet beds, and any pet-related items. While pet items should be washed regularly, spreading baking soda on pet items removes odors between washes. Spread the baking soda and then let it sit for about 15 to 30 minutes. Once it is done sitting, take the baking soda outside and shake it off or vacuum it and it will be ready to be returned back to the pet. This method will not cause any issues to the pet's skin or be harmful to them as it doesn't use any chemicals.
Gigi's bed washing happens routinely and yet somehow retains a very particular Gigi scent in-between washes. The interim solution is baking soda. While she is not fond of the vacuuming step, she is always glad to have her bed back, which is what matters most.
16. Scuff Marks on Walls and Floors
Using a damp cloth, rub a small amount of baking soda onto scuff marks on your walls and the vinyl and tile floors. The scuff marks and paint are removed without scratching the surface. To make sure there are no issues with the finish, check and test on a painted walls first concealed area. After eliminating, the mark rinse with a clean damp cloth.
People living in a house can be annoying, especially when scuff marks appear on the floors and walls. Specialty cleaners may take longer to use, but baking soda combined with a damp cloth will take them off in no time. The simple solution might be annoying.
17. Silver Polish
To make a paste, mix baking soda with water. Using a soft cloth, rub the paste onto the silver in circular motion. Rinse the silver and then dry buff it using a clean cloth. If the silver pieces are badly tarnished, place aluminum foil along the bottom of a basin and pour in some very hot water. Then, add one tablespoon of baking soda and one teaspoon of salt, and soak the silver in the solution for a few minutes. A chemical reaction will cause the tarnish to transfer from the silver to the foil.
The method with aluminum foil seems like a science experiment, and it actually works for tarnishing on silverware and jewelry. This is one of those tricks that is more fun to watch than it actually is. While store-bought silver polish works, methods using baking soda are equally as effective, and almost free.
18. Coffee and Tea Stain Remover From Mugs
Put some baking soda in the stained coffee cup, and add enough water to create a paste. Mild abrasives that help remove stains from coffee cups without scratching the cup. Then, rinse the cup. If you notice that the stains are really old and stubborn let the paste sit for around ten minutes before scrubbing.
Many coffee mugs have a stain that soap doesn’t seem to remove, and many people just accept that as a mug owner. Using a baking soda paste removes these stains and makes mugs look new again. This method also works for stains in teapots, thermoses, and coffee carafes.
19. Thermos and Water Bottle Deodorizer
To eliminate unpleasant smells in containers that have been used to store coffee, tea, or other flavored beverages, add one teaspoon of baking soda to a thermos or water bottle, fill it with warm water, and let it sit for thirty minutes . You can rinse it thoroughly. For stubborn odors, let the solution sit overnight before rinsing. Finally, air dry without the lid on.
When water bottles smell like last week's coffee, it makes the water taste like it too. Use baking soda, soak it, rinse it then air dry with the top off. This is a cleaning routine that is very easy to skip but will be very obvious if it is skipped.
20. Dishwasher Booster
To enhance cleaning, reduce smells, and brighten your dishes, sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher before running it. Baking soda softens the water, allowing the detergent to function better. This is helpful for loads with lots of dirt, or dishwashers that smell bad between cycles.
Baking soda can be added to your dishwasher to improve how clean your dishes look, since it is an easy and inexpensive method. With this trick your dishes may look cleaner, your dishwasher may smell like less old food, and your glasses may look clean, too. Once you try this tip for the first time, you're probably going to want to do it every time you wash your dishes.
21. Laundry Booster
Put in half a cup of baking soda for every load along with the normal detergent. It works to soften the water, strengthens the detergents ability to clean, as well as, helps clean the bad smells trapped in the fabric. By using this, the clothes come out smelling a lot fresher, and the detergent has less of work to do. This is especially true for the towels, workout clothes, as well as, anything that tends to trap bad smells in between washes.
Using baking soda in your laundry is a real game changer and costs almost nothing! The towels smell fresh, the workout clothes look better, and it actually helps detergent last longer. For generations, people have recommended using baking soda in laundry, and the new version of this tip is exactly the same as the old one.
22. Sweat Stain Paste
Take baking soda and combine it with a bit of water until it forms a paste-like texture, then rub it into the area of the fabric that has the perspiration stains. Allow it to sit for one to two hours before washing the fabric as you normally would. The baking soda will help remove the compounds found in sweat that lead to discoloration and can even remove the smell, and works especially well on the underarm portions of the shirts. If you have a more difficult stain, apply the paste and let it fully dry before you wash the fabric.
Stains from sweat can be found on white shirts and are a unique problem that can be frustrating. If washing shirts with sweat stains on them along with some baking soda paste, you can remove those stains effectively. Even though it seems counterintuitive, applying the baking soda paste to the dry fabric as opposed to the damp will help you see a difference in your results.
23. BBQ Grill Grate Cleaner
To clean the grill grates, sprinkle some baking soda onto the warm grates, then use a stiff brush (or crumpled aluminum foil) to scrub the surface. This will remove built-up grease and carbon without damage due to the mild abrasiveness of baking soda. Before the next use, rinse with water and dry. Scrubbing will be easier after making a baking soda paste and letting it sit on the grates for thirty minutes if there is a lot of built-up grease.
Cleaning grill grates is one of those chores that tends to get neglected due to the nature of the job. The standard cleaning methods are unpleasant, and just brushing the grate after a bake cleaning won't get it totally clean. The same methods grandma would have used on a cast iron skillet work just as well on the grill grates, and considering what the two surfaces have to contend with, that seems reasonable.
24. Tupperware Odor Removal
If your container is stained or holding a smell, fill the container with warm water and a tablespoon of baking soda. Leave it to soak for 30 minutes (or longer) and then wash it as you usually would. This will remove the stains and odors that are absorbed in plastic containers from foods like tomatoes, curries, garlic, or odors that dish soap just can’t remove. If you still smell the container after washing it, try this method: Pack the container (without lid) with baking soda and seal it for 24 hours.
Dishwashers won't eliminate tomato sauce smells from plastic containers. They need a baking soda soak. If a container smells like three-week-old marinara, it isn't clean, and baking soda will make short work of that problem.
25. Burnt Pot and Pan Rescue
To clean your burnt cookware and pots, fill the burnt pot or pan with water and add two to three tablespoons of baking soda. Bring it to a boil on the stove and let it simmer for ten to fifteen minutes. Remove from heat, and allow to cool before you start scrubbing. The baking soda combined with the heat will loosen the burnt food, so it lifts away with out the need to aggressive scrubbing. This method works on most cookware and stainless steel.
The first sight of a burnt pot can make it seem like it's doomed. Fortunately, it usually isn't. After fifteen minutes of boiling water and baking soda, it looks much better. Using this method, I've saved many pots from looking completely done for, and it's very satisfying to know I don't have to throw things away after one cooking accident.
26. Shower Curtain Mildew Treatment
Sprinkle some baking soda directly on a damp shower curtain liner with mildew spots and scrub gently with a brush or cloth. Rinse well. For a more thorough cleaning, take down the liner and wash it in the washing machine with detergent and half a cup of baking soda on a gentle cycle. Be sure to hang the liner to dry instead of using the dryer. This will take care of mildew and keep the smell from coming back too quickly.
Every few months, mildew on shower curtain liners becomes a nuisance and replacing them can get costly. The washing machine technique and baking soda scrub can help remedy this and extend the lifespan of a liner. The methods can be costly, but it is worth the time and effort prior to replacing liner.
27. Chrome Fixture Polish
To remove light tarnish and water spots from chrome without scratching, use gentle pressure from a soft cloth to apply a small amount of baking soda paste to the chrome fixtures. After removing the paste, rinse then buff to dry. The main point is to rub the surface with a soft cloth and very gentle pressure. Less pressure is better. Baking soda will clean the surface without the need for any pressure.
After cleaning chrome with baking soda and a damp cloth, it genuinely shines. Water spots that make chrome look dull are mineral deposits from the water, and the abrasive action of baking soda removes them without scratching and removes the deposits! This two-minute task makes bathroom fixtures look brand new!
28. Garage Floor Oil Stains
Method 1: For multiple spills on your garage floor, leave some baking soda on the spill and let it soak up the oil. After a few minutes, use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub the stain. Rinse the area with water.
Method 2: For baking soda removal stains, you will need to pre-soak the area. To do this, you will need to add a sufficient amount of water to completely cover the area. Allow the water to stand for at least 5 minutes. After the time has elapsed, cover the area with a thick layer of baking soda (about 1/2 inch) and allow the soda to absorb the oil for at least 30 minutes. Use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub the area. Rinse the area with a hose.
This oil stain treatment method will not completely remove oil stains, as you may have thick oil stains on your garage floor.
Concrete oil stains are easier to manage when treated with baking soda. However, if the stains are older then more intensive stain removal methods may be required. Before using harsh degreasers always try using baking soda first. The quicker baking soda is applied after an oil spill, the more effective it will be.
29. Refrigerator Drip Pan Cleaner
Baking soda is a great deodorizer! Most refrigerators have a drip pan that collects condensation, and water that collects in the drip pan can cause mold and a foul smell that can spread to the rest of the kitchen. The source of the smell can go undetected by most people. To clean the fridge drip pan, first pull it out. Then sprinkle it with some baking soda and let it sit for a few minutes. After a few minutes, scrub it with a brush and rinse it out. Make sure to let it dry before putting it back in the fridge. As part of a seasonal maintenance routine for your fridge, clean the drip pan every three to six months.
A lot of people don't discover the drip pan until there's an odor in the kitchen that they cannot pinpoint. If the kitchen has a bad smell with no apparent cause, this is one of the first things you should check. It's generally simple to get to the pan, and it only takes about five minutes to clean.
30. Litter Box Deodorizer
To manage odors in your litter box, add a light coating of baking soda before adding litter. You can also add baking soda between full cleanings of the litter box. It will neutralize, not cover, the ammonia odor from cat urine. For best results, replace the contents of the litter box frequently, and clean the box with baking soda paste between cleaning it.
This will also work for cat owners. When baking soda is sprinkled under and within the litter box, it really helps with the smell even between cleanings. Although we are a dog family, we often hear about this in relation to inexpensive cleaning hacks, so it goes on the list.
31. Keep a Bowl in Every Problem Room
An open dish of baking soda will absorb odors in any room, regardless of whether it is a basement, bathroom, mudroom, or laundry room, without using any fragrance or chemicals. It is advisable to replace the baking soda on a monthly basis. This trick works like the refrigerator box trick, as it provides ongoing odor control in enclosed spaces.
Thinking of Grandma keeping baking soda in every room, I thought it was a bit too much, but I get it now. Having an open dish of baking soda in the bathroom or the mudroom does its job quietly and consistently. You only notice it when it’s gone. A dish of baking soda is one of the simplest and cheapest improvements to how a home smells.
A single box of baking soda is capable of dealing with more cleaning scenarios than most people's whole cabinets of specialty products. It may not do dramatic foaming and may not smell like a cleaning product, which may give the impression that it's not doing much – then you look at the results and realize it was doing exactly what it was meant to do all along.
When using a pantry method to create cleaning supplies and work on vinegar, baking soda goes together to cover most household situations. For a full breakdown on what vinegar deals with, visit 33 Things You Can Clean With Vinegar. The original list of old-school cleaning methods that started all of this is at 33 Vintage Cleaning Tips That Beat Modern Shortcuts.