Cleaning with Baking Soda

You’ve probably used baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) in the kitchen for making cakes, but it has an added bonus – it’s a brilliant and inexpensive cleaning product for your whole home!

It can be used as a mild abrasive, a scouring agent, and a deodorizer to get your home sparkling in no time.

You probably already have some in your kitchen cupboards, but if you don’t, you can easily find it in your local store. Sometimes people get confused between baking soda and baking powder, but baking powder is just baking soda with an acid (usually cream of tartar) added in.

1. Use bicarbonate of soda instead of a cream cleaner

Just a sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda on a sponge will replace a cream cleaner, without the harsh chemical smell. Finish up with a microfiber cloth for a sparkling finish.

2. Clean hairbrushes with baking soda

Brushes and combs can get really gunked up over time with all the hair products you use. Give them a good clean every couple of months by soaking them in a mixture of 1 tsp baking soda and 2 cups of warm water for an hour. Rinse off and dry.

3. Clean your toothbrush

Soak your toothbrush heads in ¼ cup of bicarbonate of soda and ¼ cup water overnight to remove any bad bacteria.

4. Make a bathroom scrub with baking powder

Mix ¼ cup of baking powder with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent, and add some vinegar to give it all a thick consistency. Put a large blob of this cleaning solution on a sponge to clean all your bathroom fittings.

5. De-grease your oven door

Most of us hate having to clean the oven, and tend to put it off as long as possible. Cleaning your oven door need never be a chore again with baking soda!

Mix 3 parts baking soda to 1-part warm water to make a paste. Warm up the oven, then turn it off. Wipe the glass with a damp cloth. Spread the paste on both sides of the oven door. Leave paste on for 2-3 hours, until it turns brown. Wipe both sides of the door with a damp sponge or cloth. Use a plastic car windscreen scraper to remove any excess paste from the door.

6. Unblock your sink

Pour half a cup of baking soda down your sink, followed by two cups of vinegar, and watch as the two substances react to create a cleansing froth. Leave it to settle, and it should help dissolve built up grime.

For extra power, mix 1 cup of baking soda with 2 cups washing powder, then follow up with the vinegar. Pour a kettleful of boiling water carefully down the plughole.

7. Remove tea stains from cups and mugs

Baking soda can be used to remove tea stains gently but effectively from mugs.  Sprinkle some baking soda on a clean scourer and start scrubbing. It will take around 5-10 minutes to lift the stains off, but it’s worth it.

8. Freshen sponges

Baking soda is great at absorbing odors, so soak any funky-smelling sponges in a bowl full of warm water with 4 tablespoons baking soda added. Leave them to air dry after soaking.

9. Keep your fridge smelling fresh

Keep a small bowl of bicarbonate of soda in your fridge to absorb any odors and neutralize smells. Change it every month or so.

10. Remove stains from your plastic food containers

Foods like curry and tomato-based sauces can stain your plastic food containers, as well as making them smell. Soak them overnight in a bowl of hot water with a small amount of baking soda to leave them clean and smelling fresh.

11. Clean your dishwasher with baking soda

Add a generous amount of baking soda to your dishwasher, then run it empty on a wash to clean and freshen.

12. Remove baked on residue from pans

If you have pans or roasting tins with baked on residue, shake a generous amount on to them, add hot water and a squirt of dish soap. Leave them to sit for 20 minutes, and the baking soda should have dissolved the grime.

13. Clean the microwave

Put a small amount of bicarbonate of soda on a damp sponge to effectively clean and de-grease your microwave oven.

14. Clean rugs and carpets

Liberally sprinkle baking soda all over your carpets and rugs. Wait at least 15 minutes (preferably overnight) before vacuuming it up. The baking soda will absorb smells, and leave your carpets looking brighter.

15. Polish silver

Combine 3 parts baking soda to one-part water, mix it up and rub onto the silver with a sponge or clean cloth. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean cloth.

16. Make your own Febreze

Fill an empty spray bottle ¾ full of hot water Add 4 tablespoons bicarbonate of soda Shake well and let cool a little Add a few drops of essential oil When completely cool, spray on clothes and soft furnishings.

17. Make your sofa smell fresh again

Sprinkle some baking soda onto a dry sofa and let it sit for 10-20 minutes before vacuuming off.

18. Brighten your whites with baking soda

Add 1 cup of baking soda to your next load of laundry, along with your regular detergent. They’ll come out cleaner and brighter.

19. Clean your jewellery

Make a paste using 3 parts baking soda to one-part warm water. Using an old cloth or toothbrush, apply it to your jewellery. Rinse off and dry with a clean cloth.