How To Clean Home With Baking Soda Like A Pro

If you watch late-night television, you’ve probably seen advertisements hawking some incredible all-in-one cleansers that promise to take care of almost everything – from muddy paw prints to full-fat pasta sauce.

Of course, the special offers are “only available for a limited time.” If you missed the chance to get one, relax! It’s a good thing!

There’s a cleanser right in your kitchen cupboard that is just as impressive as any of those “miracle” products. What’s more, it is nontoxic, ridiculously inexpensive and extremely easy to use. In fact, you have eaten this stuff a zillion times (in combination with other ingredients).

We’re talking about baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate. This ingredient that you’ve been using in your cake and cookie recipes also has the power to clean your house.

A natural deodorizer and a super-effective abrasive, baking soda serves a plethora of cleaning applications.

You can use it anywhere – in the kitchen, bathroom, all around the house, in the laundry and even outside in your yard and garage.

Scroll down to understand how you can use baking soda for cleaning your home like a pro.

In the Kitchen

There are a number of ways in which you can clean your kitchen and its components with baking soda. From general cleaning and scrubbing to cleaning ovens and stove vents and to odor removal, baking soda does it all.

Method 1: Cleaning the Microwave, Oven, Chimney or Stove Vent

Things you’ll need:

• Baking soda (mild abrasive) –1 to 1½ tablespoons
• Dish soap (cleaning agent) –2 teaspoons
• Water–1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix baking soda in water

• Pour 1 tablespoon of water into a bowl.
• Add 1 to 1½ tablespoons of baking soda to the water.

Step 2. Add dish soap and mix well

• Add 2 teaspoons of dish soap to the baking soda solution.
• Mix up the paste well.

Step 3. Use the solution to clean surfaces

• Soak a sponge in the solution and gently scrub it on the surface that needs to be cleaned.
• Let the paste dry on the surface for 15 minutes.
• Wipe it clean and rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Method 2: Odor Removal

Things you’ll need:

• Baking soda (mild abrasive)– 1 cup
• Lemon essential oil (aromatic and acidic) – 15 to 20 drops
• Water – 1 cup
• Silicone molds

Step 1. Combine baking soda, water and essential oil in a bowl

• Start with1 cup of baking soda in a bowl.
• Add enough water (about 1 cup) to form a paste.
• Squirt 15 to 20 drops of lemon essential oil into paste.
• Stir the ingredients to mix them well.

Step 2. Pour the mixture into silicone molds, dry and use

• Pour the mixture into silicone molds.
• Allow them to dry for 2 to 3 days.
• Once solidified, remove the odor-busting bombs from the molds and put them where you want to eliminate unpleasant odors. You can place these in your bathroom, under the sinks and other areas to get rid of bad odor.

Also, you can use the bombs for cleaning surfaces like mirrors, counters and floors.

Method 3: Cleaning and Scrubbing

Things you’ll need:

• Baking soda (lifts off stains) – 2 tablespoons
• Dish soap (cleaning agent)– 1 tablespoon
• Vinegar (breaks down mineral deposits) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Mix dish soap and baking soda

• Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap.
• Mix the ingredients together.

Step 2. Add vinegar to the mixture

• Add enough vinegar (about 1 tablespoon) to form a smooth paste.
• As you add vinegar, the mixture will foam. Do not use too much vinegar, just enough to form a paste.

Step 3. Mix and use for cleaning

• Combine the ingredients well.
• Dip a scrubber in the paste and scrub the surface you want to clean.
• For stubborn stains, you can let the paste work overnight and wash it off the next morning.

You can use the paste to clean surfaces, remove stale smells from food containers, clean silver, remove oil and grease spills from the floor and for burnt-on food in the bottom of pots and pans.

In the Bathroom

Baking soda works exceptionally well as a homemade toilet cleaner.

Method 1: All-in-One Magic Bathroom Cleaner

Things you’ll need:

• Baking soda (mild abrasive and cleaner) – 1 tablespoon
• White vinegar (breaks down mineral deposits) –3 tablespoons
• Lemon juice (breaks surface corrosion) – 4 tablespoons
• Liquid soap (cleaning agent) – 2 tablespoons
• Water – 3 to 4 tablespoons

Step 1. Put baking soda in a pitcher

• Throw 1 tablespoon of baking soda into a pitcher.

Step 2. Add all the liquids

• Pour 3 to 4 tablespoons of water into the pitcher containing baking soda.
• Add 2 tablespoons of liquid soap to the mixture.
• Blend 4 tablespoons of lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of vinegar into the solution.

Step 3. Mix and transfer the solution to a spray bottle

• Mix the ingredients well.
• Pour the solution into a spray bottle and screw on the cap.
• Just spray the solution on the surfaces to be cleaned and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
• Use a microfiber cloth, sponge or a scrubber to wipe down the surfaces.

You can spray baking soda solution on tiled floors, sinks, mirrors, counters, faucets, the tub and the whole toilet (inside and out)to leave your bathroom sparkling clean.

Method 2: DIY Toilet Bombs

Citric acid has incredible cleaning, whitening and deodorizing properties.

Things you’ll need:

• Baking soda –1 cup
• Citric acid – ¼ cup
• Water – 2 tablespoons
• Olive oil – 2 tablespoons
• Lavender essential oil – 8 to 10 drops
• Peppermint essential oil – 8 to 10 drops
• Lemon essential oil – 8 to 10 drops

Step 1. Mix together baking soda and citric acid

• Throw 1 cup of baking soda in a bowl.
• Add ¼ cup of citric acid to the baking soda.
• Combine the ingredients well.

Step 2. Pour water into a spray bottle

• Pour 2 tablespoons of water into a spray bottle.

Step 3. Add the oils

• Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the water.
• Fuse in 8 to 10 drops each of lavender, peppermint and lemon essential oils.

Step 4. Shake the solution to blend the oils

• Put the lid on the spray bottle and shake the mixture so the oils blend in evenly.

Step 5. Spray the solution into the baking soda mixture while stirring

• Slowly, little by little, spray the oil blend into the baking soda mixture.
• Keep stirring the mixture at the same time to prevent it from fizzing away.
• Continue until the mixture becomes damp enough.

Step 6. Put the mixture in silicone molds

• Put the mixture in silicone molds.
• Allow them to dry for 6 to 7 hours.

Step 7. Remove from the molds and use

• Remove the cleaning bombs from the molds after 6 to 7 hours of drying.
• Store them in a container with a tight-fitting lid.
• Use the bomb to clean your toilet whenever needed.
• Drop the bomb in the toilet and let it work for 20 minutes.

Around the House

Method 1: Cleaning an Iron

Step 1. Add water to baking soda to form a paste

• Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a bowl.
• Add just enough water to form a paste.

Step 2. Mix and spread the paste on your iron

• Combine the ingredients well.
• Spread a thick layer of the paste on the surface of your iron.
• Allow it to set for 45 minutes or until it dries completely.
• Wipe it off using a washcloth.

For cleaning the insides of an iron, you can make a solution of vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:1, pour it into your iron and steam it out. This will clear up the inside of iron as well as the steam holes that have built up gunk in them. Finish with a final rinse and steam with water to remove any vinegar residue.

Method 2: DIY Homemade Carpet Deodorizer

Things you’ll need:

• Baking soda – 2 tablespoons
• Essential oils of your choice – 10 to 12 drops each

Step 1. Put the ingredients in a jar

• Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a jar.
• Fuse in 10 to 12 drops each of your favorite essential oils.

Step 2. Shake well and use

• Put the lid on the jar and shake it to mix the ingredients well.
• Let it sit overnight to allow the essential oils to permeate into the baking soda.
• Lightly sprinkle the mixture over your carpet and allow it to sit for 15 minutes.
• Vacuum as you normally would.

You can also use the mixture to eliminate odor due to smoking or litter boxes, as baking soda absorbs the stale smell of smoke and gets rid of bad odors coming from a litter box.

Also, the powdery mixture of baking soda can be used to clean pet urine stains and remove wet dog odor from your carpet.

In the Laundry

Method 1: DIY All-Natural Homemade Bleach Alternative

Things you’ll need:

• 3% hydrogen peroxide (natural bleach) – 2 tablespoons
• Lemon juice (natural bleaching agent) – 2 teaspoons
• Lemon essential oil – 2 to 4 drops
• Baking soda – 2 tablespoons
• Water –1 cup

Step 1. Throw baking soda into a jar

• Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a jar.

Step 2. Add all the other ingredients

• Add 1 cup of water to the baking soda.
• Pour 2 tablespoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide into the mixture.
• Blend 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 2 to 4 drops of your preferred essential oil into the concoction.
• Put the lid on the jar and shake it well to combine the ingredients.
• Adjust your washing machine to the hottest water setting.
• Use 1 cup of the homemade bleach per load to get whiter and brighter garments.

Method 2: Fabric Softener

Things you’ll need:

• Baking soda (regulates pH and contains no harsh chemicals) – 1 tablespoon
• Epsom salt (contains magnesium sulfate that softens fabrics) – ¼ cup
• Essential oil – 3 or 4 drops

Step 1. Blend the essential oil and Epsom salt

• Put ¼ cup of Epsom salt in a jar.
• Squirt 3 or 4 drops of your preferred essential oil into the salt.
• Mix the ingredients well.

Step 2. Add baking soda and blend well

• Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the mixture.
• Mix the ingredients well.
• Store the mixture in a container with a tight-fitting lid.

Step 3. Add the homemade softener to your washer before the rinse cycle

• Toss 2 to 3 tablespoons of the mixture in with your clothes as a fabric softener before the rinse cycle.

Method 3: Stain Removal

A baking soda and hydrogen peroxide blend evokes a chemical reaction to clean stains, impurities and any other mineral deposits, thus leaving the item stain-free.

Things you’ll need:

• Water – 1 cup
• Hydrogen peroxide (natural cleaner and sanitizer) – ½ cup
• Baking soda (lifts off stains) – ½ cup

Step 1. Combine the ingredients well in a jar

• Pour 1 cup of water into a jar.
• Add ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide.
• Add ½ cup of baking soda as well.
• Mix the ingredients well.

Step 2. Pre-treat your clothes with the homemade stain remover

• Work the solution onto the stained fabric.
• Allow it to sit for 20 minutes before washing the fabric.

Not just for laundry, you can also use the solution to clean polished porcelain sinks, to get rid of mold and mildew, to deodorize smelly trash cans and even to tackle weeds in the cracks of your driveway.

Tips

• Baking soda is abrasive, so wear gloves while working with it to protect your hands.
• When using homemade cleaning solutions, test them first on a small area of the surface you want to clean.
• Do not mix commercial cleaning agents with homemade cleaning solutions, as the result can be dangerous.

References:

http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/cleaning-products/bicarbonate-of-soda/

Summary of How To Clean Home With Baking Soda Like a Pro

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