14 Ingenious Ways to Use Baking Soda Around the House
You probably have a box of baking soda sitting in your pantry right now. And while you may only use it for baking or as an antacid, there are actually many different uses for this humble little powder. From cleaning drains to freshening up your carpets, baking soda is an inexpensive and all-natural way to tackle a variety of household tasks.
Here are ways you can use it around your home:
1. Get rid of odors in your fridge
Got a smelly fridge? Baking soda is used to remove odor from the fridge. Just place an open box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb any unpleasant smells. How long does baking soda take to absorb odors? It takes about 3-4 days.
2. Keep your drains clear
Pour ½ cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by ½ cup of vinegar. Let sit for 30 minutes, then flush with hot water. Doing this once a week will help keep your drains fresh and clear.
3. To clean your oven
Combine ¼ cup baking soda with enough water or white vinegar to make a paste. Spread the paste over the inside of your oven and let it sit for 30 minutes before wiping it away with a damp cloth.
4. As a carpet cleaner
Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets and let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight before vacuuming. Baking soda will help lift stains and absorb odors, leaving your carpets looking and smelling fresh!
5. Freshen laundry
Add ½ cup of baking soda to your laundry detergent when washing smelly or musty clothes. Baking soda will help remove odors and leave your laundry smelling fresh and brighter.
6. Clean the microwave
Make a paste of baking soda and water and spread it over the inside of your microwave. Let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping it away with a damp cloth.
7. To clean your garbage disposal
Pour ¼ cup baking soda down the disposal, then turn on the disposal and let it run for a few seconds. Finally, pour ½ cup of white or apple cider vinegar down the disposal and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before running hot water down the drain to flush everything away.
8. As a produce wash
Soak fruits and vegetables in a bowl of cold water with ½ cup of baking soda for 15 minutes before rinsing them off under cold water. This will help remove any pesticide residue or dirt that may be on them.
9. To clean grout lines
Make a paste out of equal parts baking soda and vinegar and scrub into grout lines with an old toothbrush until clean.
10. As an air freshener
Place an open container of baking soda in any room where you want to absorb odors – like closets, bathrooms, or laundry rooms – to help freshen up the space!
11. Remove oil and grease stains
Sprinkle baking soda on oil and grease stains before scrubbing them away with a damp cloth. This will help remove the stains without making your fabrics look worn or faded.
12. To clean your silverware
Make a paste of equal parts water and baking soda, then use an old toothbrush to scrub it over silverware that has tarnished. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it with warm water and drying it with a soft cloth. This will help restore the shine to any silverware!
13. Relieve itchy insect bites
Mix a paste of baking soda and water, then apply it over insect bites or stings to help soothe the itch. This can also be used to relieve bee stings.
14. Deodorize shoes
Sprinkle some baking soda in smelly shoes and let it sit overnight before vacuuming it up in the morning. This will help remove any unpleasant odors and leave your shoes smelling fresh.
With such an array of uses, baking soda is a must-have item in your home. And because it’s non-toxic and inexpensive, you can feel confident using it around your home without worrying about any adverse effects. So the next time you’re looking for a natural way to tackle household tasks, reach for that box of baking soda!
