When it comes to wonder products, baking soda in THE original! Dating back to the ancient Egyptians who were recorded using a similar mixture as soap to the current days where baking soda does much more than puffing our cakes. It is cheap with literally endless uses for cleaning and beauty, and not only. Not to mention it works like magic when odor elimination is required! Here are 15 things you can do with baking soda:
1. Makes Laundry More Effective
Just half a cup of baking soda to your liquid laundry detergent will make an excellent combination for more vivid colors, whiter whites, and deodorization. To top the effects, you can also add half a cup during the rinse cycle.
Tip: If you dissolve six tablespoons of baking soda in half a cup of warm water, you make a stain solution (it becomes a paste) that you can apply onto the stained area. Rub the paste a bit and then throw your clothes into the wash.
2. Fill the Nail Holes on the Wall
White toothpaste mixed with baking soda make a paste that is very useful when you have nail holes to fill. Rub some of the paste into the nail holes and allow to dry.
3. Remove Water Stains
Get rid of spots and water rings from wood by making a paste of baking soda and water. Then dip a washcloth or a microfiber cloth in the paste and rub gently. Voila!
4. Clean your Drains
Avoid the chemical drain cleaners that harm your health and make one on your own. In a cup of water add some baking soda and pour down the drain. Then pour a cup of white vinegar and let it sit for a while (about 10 minutes will do) before you pour down a gallon of boiling water. It will not only clean your drain but also remove all nasty odors.
5. Clean the Bathroom Surfaces
Make a paste by mixing water and baking soda and apply with a wet sponge. Scrub the sink, walls, tiles, shower, and everything else in your bathroom from ceiling to floor. Rinse with warm water and always make sure you wipe dry with a microfiber cloth or a rug to prevent water stains.
6. Clean your Dishwasher
Refresh your dirty dishwasher by sprinkling a bit of baking soda and running a cleaning cycle. This will remove old odors and make the dishwasher bright clean. For areas that don’t get cleaned, such as around the door, you can take an old toothbrush and dip in a mixture of hot water and baking soda. Scrub away dirt and then rinse. Of course, wipe dry, too.
7. Zap Grease on Pans & Dishes
If you are using a dishwasher, add two tablespoons of baking soda into your detergent and see grease disappear from your dishes and pans. If you are hand-washing, you can soak your dishes and dirty pans in a solution of water and baking soda (2 tablespoons) for about 15 minutes before you clean them as you usually do. This trick also works miraculously on burned pots, too!
8. Clean your Blender
Do not remove the blades as you normally would to clean your blender. Also, no need to scrub them. Just fill the blender with water (halfway) and add a drop of dishwashing liquid and a tablespoon of baking soda. Run for about 20 seconds and swirl before you rinse. Aren’t those blades spotless, or what!
9. Clean your Coffee Maker
Fill your coffee pot with warm water and add ¼ cup of baking soda. Swirl and then pour into the water reserve tank (the baking soda should be dissolved by now). Run on a full cycle and repeat until you get clear and clean water coming out!
10. Polish your Silverware
Tarnished silver can quickly find its old glory if you add vinegar, sea salt, and baking soda to a disposable aluminum baking dish (or any baking dish). Pour in boiling water and stir so all dry ingredients are dissolved completely. With the help of tongs, add the tarnished silverware in the solution and let them sit for 30 seconds or so. Remove (again with the use of tongs) and buff with a rag.
11. Clean Combs & Brushes
Disinfect brushes and combs by adding a teaspoon of baking soda in warm water. Let the brushes and combs soak for about 30 minutes or until grime build up and product residues are removed. Rinse well and allow to dry.
Tip: You can also clean and disinfect toothbrushes that way (you add ¼ cup of baking soda in this case and allow them to sit in the solution overnight). The same applies to grimy sponges that you can clean by leaving soaking them in 4 tablespoons of baking soda and a quart of water.
12. Clean your Pet Toys
It is unimaginable what four tablespoons of baking soda added t a quart of warm water can do to your pets’ toys! Scrub them with the mixture with a clean rag or sponge and rinse off. Let them dry.
Tip: For fur toys, you can first sprinkle them with baking soda and leave for 15 minutes. Brush off thoroughly.
13. Clean Sports Gear
Make your sports gear smell like just out of the box with baking soda. Clean your equipment with a solution you will make from dissolving baking soda in warm water. Throw in you golf bags, gym bags or anything else sports-related that needs cleaning and leave until clean. For golf irons, it is better to make a paste out of baking soda and apply. Just swipe clean and them dry and you are good to go! No odors, no grime.
14. Clean the Kitchen & Floors
Sprinkle baking soda on a clean cloth or sponge and wipe down the surfaces in your kitchen, from counter tops and fringes to stove tops. Rinse thoroughly and just wipe dry. For the oven, you can make a paste and apply to the inside of the oven with the help of a wet sponge. Allow to sit for about 2 hours and wipe off. Rinse.
Finally, your floors can be squeaky clean is you add ½ a cup of baking soda to your bucket of water. Mop the floors with this mixture.
15.Remove Crayon from Walls
When in the house with kids, accidents happen all the time! So, at some point, your walls may be “decorated” with crayon creations! To get rid of them, apply paste (baking soda and warm water) and rub gently. But first, wring out with a washcloth that you will have dipped in soapy water. The crayons will vanish without damaging your paint.
Impressed by the ingenious ways to use baking soda? Wait and see what you can do with toothpaste!
For more cleaning tips, hacks, and super cleaning guides, feel free to snoop around!