Most people have baking soda in their homes. Most use it for baking and as a deodorizer in their fridge, then leave it in their pantry until it expires.

Here are some of our favorite uses for this incredibly versatile product.

1. Carpet Odor Absorber

Not only is baking soda an incredible deodorizer, it absorbs odor instead of just masking it with a (usually fake-smelling) fragrance. To deodorize your carpet, sprinkle baking soda on your carpet.

Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, longer for more persistent smells. Then, vacuum.

Presto! No more Gigi’s stink, teen’s lunch smell, or other unidentified carpet stench.

And, best of all, “I covered up the smell with a candle” is not a phrase your unappreciative teens will hear.

2. Stainless Steel Sink Scrub

Baking soda is a very mild abrasive which makes it a great all-around cleaner that will not scratch your sink. To clean your sink, sprinkle baking soda on a dampened sink.

Scrub in the direction of the grain. The baking soda will cut through any built-up gunk and take out water stains that make your sink look dull.

Then, rinse and dry. Drying your sink ensures that there will not be new water spots that form as it dries.

A clean kitchen sink goes a long way towards enhancing the look of an entire kitchen. Save money and skip the stinky commercial cleanser; just sprinkle some baking soda in your sink and use as you would a commercial cleanser.

I first learned this tip from my grandmother. She had a box of baking soda in every room of her house!

I don’t think there was a surface that baking soda wasn’t used on.

Other uses include cleaning your oven, removing stains, and removing ring spots from wood. It is an incredibly versatile item.

It’s a must-have item that will save you time and money. And, best of all, baking soda is ridiculously cheap.

Bulk-buyers (that would be me) will be pleased to know that baking soda is very economical to buy in bulk. Another check for the satisfaction that comes with buying in bulk!

3. Toilet Bowl Deodorizer and Cleaner

Sprinkle some baking soda in the toilet bowl and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Scrub and flush.

For added cleaning power and to tackle some of those pesky light stains, try sprinkling some baking soda in your toilet bowl, followed by a liberal sprinkling of white vinegar. The two will fizz up and make quite a mess, but they’ll deodorize your toilet and leave it clean and bright.

4. Refrigerator Deodorizer

We all know to keep an open box of baking soda in our refrigerators to control those pesky food odors, but it’s amazing how often and how quickly this task gets overlooked. Trust me, the box of baking soda does capture odors and can prevent foods from absorbing one another’s smells.

The trick is remembering to replace the box regularly, every 1 to 3 months. In cases of severe odor control, I’ve been known to leave a box on each shelf, as well as one in the freezer.

Check on your deodorizer about every 1 to 3 months depending on the odor.

5. Drain Deodorizer

Over time, even well-functioning drains can develop an odor. It’s very subtle at first, you might not even notice it yourself, but houseguests will comment on it.

Pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by 1/2 cup white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes, then flush the drain with hot water.

You’ll be amazed at the results.

6. Oven Cleaner

Commercial oven cleaners are expensive and harmful. Avoid these harsh chemicals by making a thick paste of water and baking soda and spreading it on your oven.

Make sure not to get it on the heating elements. Leave the oven closed for twelve hours or longer.

The paste will help to loosen stuck on grease and food. Remove with a damp cloth without scrubbing.

For extra zing and power, spray white vinegar onto the paste and allow the reaction to occur before wiping. The vinegar will help to loosen the grime as well as react with the baking soda making the removal much easier.

You will be thankful you avoided the nasty stench and trip to the hardware store for protective gloves that comes with commercial oven cleaners.

7. Microwave Deodorizer

There is nothing worse than opening your microwave and being greeted by a bouquet of the last meal that was cooked within its walls. Food smells can get trapped inside of microwaves in a very irritating and bothersome way.

Place an open bowl of baking soda in your microwave when it is not being used and leave it to absorb odors as they occur. For more of a deep deodorizing experience, stir a tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl of water.

Heat on high for two minutes. Let it sit for another five minutes in the closed microwave.

Remove and wipe out. This will take care of those pesky fishy reheated burritos or funky leftovers from last week.

8. Grout Scrub

Make a thick paste out of baking soda and water. Use a straw to apply the mixture to grout lines.

Scrub gently in circles and rinse. For deeper cleaning add some white vinegar and allow to fizz before repeating the above steps.

The fizzing vinegar helps to loosen stuck on dirt. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive which makes it perfect for cleaning without damaging your grout.

Remove surface level dirt and mildew with baking soda easily and naturally.

Grout is an item that a lot of people avoid cleaning because it is tedious and requires harsh, powerful cleaning solutions. Try a mixture of water and baking soda to form a thick paste.

Apply the paste to your tile grout and scrub with an old toothbrush. This is an easy and effective way to clean grout and doesn’t require deep breaths to avoid harsh chemical fumes.

This solution costs little and cleans just as well as the name-brand grout cleaners.

9. Porcelain Tub and Shower Scrub

Lightly sprinkle baking soda over a dampened porcelain shower or bathtub floor and scrub the surface with a non-scratch sponge. Tougher stains will respond well to a paste of water and baking soda.

Apply the mixture to stained areas and allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. The paste will help to breakdown the scum.

Scrub well and rinse. Soap scum, water marks and other common bathroom stains will give way to this application.

Baking soda is a non-abrasive product. Many common scouring cleansers contain abrasive chemicals which can break down your porcelain finish over time.

Baking soda won’t scratch your surfaces and provides excellent cleaning ability.

10. Cutting Board Deodorizer

If you use wooden or plastic cutting boards, sprinkle some baking soda onto the cutting board after washing with dish soap and hot water. Use a brush or dampened rag to rub baking soda into your cutting board.

Let sit for five minutes and rinse. Garlic and onion smells can be difficult to remove, baking soda will help to absorb any unwanted smells.

Dish detergent alone will not always remove these smells. Baking soda won’t leave a residue and will not affect the taste of the next item placed on your cutting board.

Your strawberries will not taste like garlic if you use baking soda to rid unwanted smells from your cutting board.

11. Trash Can Deodorizer

Sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of your trash can underneath the bag. The baking soda will keep the can smelling fresh each time the can is emptied.

For extra-stinky bins, scrub with hot, soapy water and allow to air-dry. Then, sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda in the bottom of the can and add a new trash bag.

The stench can become embedded in the actual can, so this is an easy way to treat the source of the problem. The whole kitchen smells better and it’s very little effort.

12. Shoe Deodorizer

Shoes tend to stink after wearing them throughout the day. Simply sprinkle a little baking soda in the shoes overnight and tap them out when you’re ready to wear them in the morning.

If your workout shoes or boots have developed an entrenched stink, fill them with baking soda and leave them to deodorize for twenty-four hours. Then empty out the baking soda and brush them clean.

Baking soda does the same deodorizing tricks that name-brand shoe deodorizing sprays do, except it’s less expensive. If you have smelly sneakers like my teenager does, baking soda is an item that’s indispensable in my house.

13. Gym Bag and Sports Equipment Deodorizer

Another way to use baking soda as a deodorizer is to keep a small, empty, washable container with baking soda or a small fabric sack of baking soda in your teen’s gym bag. This is an excellent way to keep the gym bag stench free.

If your teen’s sports equipment starts smelling funky, sprinkle baking soda into helmets, shin guards, or pads and let it sit for a few hours to absorb the stench. Empty the baking soda out of the equipment or brush it out, and store.

Unlike the name-brand deodorizing sprays, baking soda is an excellent way to eliminate odors and bacteria. But, baking soda doesn’t just mask the odor-it erases the odor.

Sprays and odor removers just hide the offending odors under fragrances, and trust me when I tell you that a mixture of body spray and teen-aged armpits is nothing short of horrific. Instead of covering up odors, try sprinkling a little baking soda on sports gear and leaving it in the gym bags overnight.

Baking soda works by absorbing odor-causing elements. Parents of sporty teens will thank me for this tip.

14. Mattress Deodorizer

Your mattress takes a beating year after year but is likely the last thing you think of when spring cleaning. Remove all of your sheets and blankets, sprinkle some baking soda on your mattress and let it sit for at least 30 minutes.

Afterwards, vacuum. The baking soda will draw up any musty odors and moisture.

Of course, there’s no way to really make your mattress smell like it’s brand-new. However, deodorizing your mattress with baking soda is a chemical-free method of improving your mattress’s smell.

Repeat this process every couple months for maximum effect.

15. Pet Bedding Deodorizer

Similar to mattresses, pet beds, blankets, cushions, etc. can benefit from a sprinkle of baking soda. Again, just let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes and shake or vacuum afterwards.

If the item can’t be machine-washed, this is an excellent way to revive it between washings. For example, Gigi’s bed starts to smell like Gigi between laundry days.

Since baking soda is safe to use around animals, you needn’t worry about harsh chemicals causing problems with your pet’s skin. Afterwards, give the item a quick vacuuming, though Gigi hates the vacuum, she tolerates it if it means getting her nice, freshly-smelling bed back, or take the item outside and shake it off.

16. Scuff Marks on Walls and Floors

Rub some baking soda with a dampened rag or sponge on scuff marks to remove them from tile, vinyl, or walls. Unlike other methods of getting these pesky marks out, baking soda won’t scratch floors, tile, or your beautiful, freshly-painted walls.

Always test baking soda out of sight before applying to walls to ensure compatibility with the type of paint or wall finish. Afterwards, go over the area with a new, dampened cloth.

Apply some baking soda to a dampened cloth and rub on the marks. You’ll be surprised at how quickly they disappear compared to using a specialized scuff mark remover.

17. Silver Polish

Mix baking soda and water to form a paste. Apply it to your silver and rub in circular motions with a soft cloth.

Rinse and buff until shiny. For heavily tarnished items, lay aluminum foil in a large basin or kitchen sink, sprinkle it with 1 tablespoon of baking soda, add 1 teaspoon of salt and fill with hot water.

Place your tarnished silver in the mixture and leave for a few minutes. Remove items and rinse and shine with a soft cloth.

The tarnish will have migrated from your silver onto the aluminum. This trick is as effective as silver polish and it’s nearly free.

18. Coffee and Tea Stain Remover From Mugs

We all own that stained coffee/tea mug. Rather than resign ourselves to its existence, try cleaning it with a paste of baking soda and a little water.

It acts as a mild abrasive and won’t scratch the surface. For really bad stains, let it sit about 10 minutes before scrubbing.

This also works well to remove stains from other items that are difficult to get into like teapots, coffee carafes and thermoses where soap just isn’t up to the job.

19. Thermos and Water Bottle Deodorizer

Remove any lingering smells from your water bottle or thermos by adding 1 tsp of baking soda to some warm water. Leave for 30 mins and rinse well.

For more stubborn smells, leave to soak overnight. Leave to air dry without a lid.

Let’s say you leave an empty water bottle filled with old coffee around the house. Fill it back up with fresh water and guess what?

It’s going to taste like coffee. Here’s how to use baking soda to remove lingering odors from bottles.

Skip this chore even once and you’ll immediately regret it.

Fill the bottle with water and add baking soda.

Cap the bottle and shake until baking soda is dissolved.

Swish the mixture around the bottle, paying special attention to the cap.

Empty the bottle and rinse with water.

Air dry with top off.

20. Dishwasher Booster

Add a 1/2 cup of baking soda sprinkled on the bottom of the dishwasher before a cycle. It’s going to soften the water and help your dishwashing detergent work its best.

It’s an inexpensive solution to get through a particularly grimy batch of dirty dishes. Bonus: Using baking soda will reduce odors from your dishwasher between uses and leave your dishes and glasses bright and clear.

21. Laundry Booster

Have you heard this tip from previous generations? It still works.

Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry along with your normal amount of detergent. The baking soda will soften the water and eliminate any odors your clothes may be trapping.

The baking soda will take some of the work out of the hands of your laundry detergent which may even help your current bottle last a little longer. Items that tend to retain smells like workout clothes and towels will greatly benefit from this tip.

22. Sweat Stain Paste

Sweat stains are unsightly, stubborn, and embarrassing. Mix together:

Baking soda

Water

Apply the paste directly to the stain and allow it to sit before washing as normal. Repeat if needed.

Baking soda paste. Combine some baking soda and a small amount of water to make a paste. Rub it onto the affected areas of clothing, and let it sit for an hour or two before washing. This is particularly helpful on the underarms of white shirts. Tough stains may require letting the baking soda dry before washing. Applying the baking soda to a dry shirt works best. This will remove the odors and discolored residue caused by a mixture of perspiration, deodorant/antiperspirant and body oils.

23. BBQ Grill Grate Cleaner

One of grandma’s favorite uses of baking soda would have been cleaning her well-loved cast-iron skillets. This is a technique that is applicable to BBQ grill grates, too.

Here’s how to do it:

Make sure the grates are still warm

Sprinkle baking soda generously over the surface of the grates

Using a stiff grill brush or some aluminum foil, scrub the baking soda off the grates. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that won’t scratch the surface of the grill, yet is effective against carbon and grease.

Rinse grates with water and dry. They’re good as new.

In cases of really gunky grill grates, try making a paste instead, and leave it on the grates for half an hour before scrubbing. Trust us, you’ll kick yourself for not knowing this trick sooner.

All those times you thought you’d thoroughly cleaned your grill by brushing it off after each use, or even after giving it a good scrubbing before storing it away for the season, just weren’t good enough.

24. Tupperware Odor Removal

Plastic containers have a nasty habit of retaining stains and odors no matter how hard we try to wash them out. Foods like garlic, strong curries, and tomato-based dishes often stain plastics, and dish soap is not always able to get rid of stains and smells.

Try soaking the stained or smelly item for thirty minutes or more in warm, sudsy baking soda water (fill the container with warm water and a tablespoon of baking soda). Your containers will be as good as new.

Have you ever washed something in the dishwasher that’s still smelly? I know that plastic containers that once contained marinara sauce are never quite the same once washed, even in the hottest, most suds-filled dishwashers.

They may look fine, but are they really clean if they smell like spaghetti sauce? Try filling the offending container with baking soda, sealing it, and allowing the mixture to sit for twenty-four hours.

Rinse well and try again. You’ll be amazed how effective baking soda is at absorbing unwanted odors.

25. Burnt Pot and Pan Rescue

Have you ever left your food on the burner, walked away, and came back to a burnt mess? Don’t toss the pan.

Add two or three tablespoons of baking soda to a pan of water, bring it to a boil, then allow it to simmer for ten to fifteen minutes. Allow to cool, then scrub and wash.

The blackened crud will wipe right off. This works especially well on stainless-steel pots and pans.

Trust me, I’ve been able to save some truly horrible pans with this trick. You’ll be amazed how easy the burnt-on mess wipes away.

26. Shower Curtain Mildew Treatment

If you’re lucky, all it will take to get the spots out of your plastic shower curtain liner is a sprinkle of baking soda. Keep the liner wet, sprinkle on a layer of baking soda, and rub the liner down with a brush or a washcloth.

Rinse off and hang back up. If your liner is really nasty, toss it in the washing machine with your favorite washing soap plus a 1/2 cup of baking soda and wash on gentle.

Allow liners to air-dry if possible, because this keeps mildew and that horrible mildew smell away longer than if they are dried in the dryer. Hang them back up and enjoy your mildew-free shower again.

This might cost you some time and effort, but it will definitely save you some money. Mildew grows on shower curtain liners every few months and replacements aren’t exactly inexpensive.

Using the above methods will prolong the life of your shower curtain liner.

Place liner in washing machine. After washing, sprinkle baking soda all over liner. Scrub liner with an old rag to remove remaining stains. Hang liner back up to air-dry.

27. Chrome Fixture Polish

Hard water can leave unsightly marks on bathroom fixtures. Tarnish can be an issue as well.

Both of these problems can be resolved by adding a little elbow grease and baking soda. Make a thick paste with baking soda and water.

Dip a soft, clean cloth into the baking soda and apply it directly to water spots or tarnished areas. It’s important to use minimal pressure since chrome is prone to scratching.

After the marks have been treated, rinse off the baking soda and dry/buff fixtures. In just two minutes your fixtures will look brand new.

28. Garage Floor Oil Stains

If you have a concrete floor, chances are, you’ve had to deal with oil stains. While you may not be able to remove older stains with baking soda alone, fresh stains can be lifted by sprinkling a thick layer of baking soda onto the stain.

Allow it to soak in the oil for several minutes before scrubbing with a stiff-bristled brush. After scrubbing the stain, rinse with warm water.

For tougher stains, pre-wet the stain and let baking soda rest on stain for 30 minutes. The quicker you attend to stains with baking soda, the easier it is to remove them.

Older stains may require harsher measures. Baking soda is a good option since it won’t be as harsh on your floors as degreasers and other strong chemicals.

29. Refrigerator Drip Pan Cleaner

Have you ever had a lingering food/kitchen smell that you just can’t seem to track down? There’s a good chance that cleaning out your fridge’s drip pan will get rid of the mystery stink.

The drip pan is where condensation collects. Over time, the stagnant water will attract bacteria, mold, and hold onto food/kitchen odors.

More often than not, we overlook the pan and don’t even know it’s there.

Remove drip pan from refrigerator.

Coat pan in baking soda. Let sit for a few minutes.

Scrub pan with a stiff brush.

Rinse pan and allow to fully air-dry before placing back into refrigerator.

It doesn’t take more than five minutes to give your drip pan some TLC and should be part of your refrigerator’s spring/autumn cleaning regime, about every 3-6 months. Trust me, it’s well worth the effort.

30. Litter Box Deodorizer

If you have a cat, sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of the litter box, under the litter. It helps to absorb odors and deodorize your litter box.

You can also sprinkle it into the litter to help with odor. You may be surprised how effective it is to help combat cat pee smell.

It’s much better to neutralize cat pee odor as opposed to covering it up.

For a really deep clean, make sure you’re changing the litter frequently. When emptying the box, scrub it down with some baking soda.

31. Keep a Bowl in Every Problem Room

This is similar to the classic baking soda in the fridge tip. If you have any area in your home that seems to be picking up some funky smells, such as the bathroom, basement, laundry room, or mudroom, try leaving an open dish of baking soda out to absorb the smell.

No perfumes or harsh chemicals required. Replace the bowls of baking soda each month.

While I thought it was a little excessive at first, Grandma’s baking soda deodorizing habit is a tip I’m glad I eventually adopted. One box of baking soda outshines an entire cleaning supply cabinet full of fancy specialty products when it comes to versatile cleaning.

Baking soda is an inexpensive, easy, and all-natural household staple. Try out these cleaning tips for a fresh and inviting home.

In fact, baking soda and a splash of vinegar are the secret to most successful cleaning jobs around the house. Learn more about vinegar here: 33 Things You Can Clean With Vinegar.

Keep a dish of baking soda open in the bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, or anywhere that tends to smell. It will absorb smells over time. You won’t necessarily notice its presence, but you’ll be surprised when you take it out. It’s one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to deodorize a room. Learn more stain removal secrets here: 27 Old-School Stain Removal Tricks That Actually Work

Baking soda may not foam like crazy or smell like a cleaning product, but it’s an extremely efficient cleaner. Learn more cleaning secrets here: 33 Vintage Cleaning Tips That Beat Modern Shortcuts

More related posts: 29 Vintage Kitchen Cleaning Habits Worth Bringing Back and 29 Old-Fashioned Laundry Tips That Beat Modern Detergent Pods.