Baking Soda Isn’t Just For Cookies!
Baking Soda Isn’t Just For Cookies!
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a versatile and effective natural cleaning alternative due to its mild abrasiveness and neutralizing properties. How can you use it for cleaning?
Here’s how it can be used:
1. Surface Cleaner: Sprinkle baking soda on countertops, sinks, or stovetops and scrub with a damp cloth or sponge to remove grime and stains. You can also mix it with equal parts natural dish soap to make a paste and use on the items listed above or things like burnt pans, or the bathtub or toilet! While vinegar is another great, natural cleaning solution, avoid mixing these ingredients because even though it looks cool, they just neutralize each other. Always spot test on new surfaces and avoid using on delicate surfaces to avoid scratches.
2. Deodorizer: It neutralizes odors in refrigerators, carpets, and trash cans. Many unwanted smells occur due to acidic compounds. Baking soda is alkaline, so when it comes into contact with acidic odors, it neutralizes them. It typically takes 24 hours to absorb odors, and up to several days for stubborn smells. For the fridge, place baking soda in a vented jar and allow to sit. Refresh the soda every couple months and never use soda that’s been a deodorizer for baking. For carpet or upholstered fabrics, sprinkle a light amount of baking soda over the surface and let sit for at least an hour if you’re not able to let it sit for a whole day. Make sure to vacuum thoroughly so you remove all of the soda and odors.
3. Stain Removal: Mix baking soda with water to form a paste and apply to stains on fabric or grout. Let it sit for at least few minutes before scrubbing or rinsing. For stubborn stains, you can mix 1 part natural dish soap, 1 part baking soda, with 2 parts peroxide and let sit overnight.
4. Drain Cleaner: So here is where you CAN use the baking soda and vinegar to your benefit. Start by pouring a pot of boiling water down the drain. Next pour 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar. Cover the plug and wait 10 minutes. Pour boiling water down the drain again. The bubbling action of the baking soda/vinegar combination helps to loosen clogs and the final hot rinse helps rid the gunk.
5. Oven Cleaner: Create a paste by mixing 1/2 c. baking soda with 2 tbsp dish soap. Apply to the oven’s interior, avoiding the heading elements and let it sit overnight. Scrub walls and racks with a steel wool and rinse well for a chemical-free clean.
6. Laundry Booster: Adding a half-cup to your laundry helps brighten whites and remove odors from clothes.
It’s eco-friendly and safe for most surfaces, though it’s wise to test on delicate areas before use similarly to our vinegar and lemon juice articles recently. Have you read those? If not, check them out!
