Ever wondered how to clean your home with baking soda?
Beyond its role in leavening baked goods, baking soda serves as a wonderful and versatile cleaning agent with a range of household applications. Its absorbent and mildly abrasive properties make it effective for tackling various messes without causing damage to surfaces. When combined with other household cleaners like dishwashing liquid, baking soda’s cleaning power is amplified, enabling you to conquer stubborn grease, polish metal surfaces, unclog drains, and more.
Accessible and economical, baking soda is readily available at grocery stores and often sold in large quantities at a budget-friendly price point. Its versatility and affordability make it a staple in many cleaning arsenals.
Discover the myriad ways cleaning experts harness the potential of this powerhouse pantry staple with 7 innovative methods to clean your home with baking soda. From freshening carpets to scrubbing sinks, baking soda proves itself as an indispensable ally in maintaining a clean and tidy home or office.
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What is Baking Soda?
Baking soda, scientifically known as sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), is a white crystalline powder commonly used in cooking, cleaning, and various household applications. It is a chemical compound composed of sodium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms. Baking soda is alkaline in nature and has a slightly salty, alkaline taste.
In cooking, baking soda is primarily used as a leavening agent, helping baked goods rise by producing carbon dioxide gas when combined with acidic ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, or buttermilk. It also acts as a pH buffer and can help tenderise meat.
Beyond culinary uses, baking soda is prized for its versatile cleaning properties. Its abrasive texture and mild alkalinity make it effective for scrubbing away dirt, grime, and stains from various surfaces. Baking soda is also known for its ability to absorb odours, making it a popular choice for deodorising carpets, upholstery, refrigerators, and other household items.
Baking soda is a versatile and widely used household staple valued for its culinary, cleaning, and deodorising properties.
How to Clean Your Home with Baking Soda:
1. Scrubbing the Shower
Prepare a cleaning solution by sprinkling a small quantity of baking soda onto a damp microfibre cloth and adding a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Create a lather by working the cloth between your hands, then utilise it to scrub the shower walls thoroughly. For the shower floor, evenly distribute baking soda across the surface and apply dishwashing liquid in an “S” motion. Employ a wet brush to scrub the floor, ensuring all areas are adequately cleaned. Rinse all shower surfaces with warm water to remove any residue. Use a dry microfibre cloth to wipe down the walls and floor, leaving them clean and dry. To clean shower curtains, dampen a microfibre cloth with water and sprinkle it with baking soda before wiping down the curtains. Finish by rinsing the curtains with hot water to ensure thorough cleaning.
2. Clean the Bathroom Drains
As part of your weekly maintenance routine, it is advisable to thoroughly clean sink, tub, and shower drains using baking soda. Begin by running hot water through the drain to help loosen any debris and prepare the piping for cleaning. Next, carefully pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, allowing it to settle within the pipe. Allow the baking soda to sit undisturbed for approximately 15 minutes to effectively neutralise odours and break down accumulated residue.
Following the allotted time, rinse the drain with hot water to flush away any lingering baking soda along with musty smells and debris that may have accumulated within the piping. This simple yet effective cleaning method helps to maintain optimal drainage functionality and promotes a fresh and hygienic environment in your bathroom fixtures.
3. As An All-Purpose Cleaner
Baking soda serves as a highly effective cleaning agent, enhancing the scrubbing power of sponges while maintaining a gentle approach that avoids abrasiveness. To capitalise on its cleaning prowess, apply baking soda onto a damp sponge featuring a non-scratch scrubbing surface. This combination not only ensures effective removal of stubborn residues but also safeguards delicate surfaces such as tubs, sinks, and toilets from potential damage.
Utilise the prepared sponge to meticulously scrub away dirt and grime from various surfaces, including bathtubs, sinks, and toilets. The baking soda acts as a natural abrasive, aiding in the breakdown of tough stains and leaving surfaces thoroughly cleansed without causing undue wear or scratching.
Incorporating baking soda into your cleaning regimen alongside a sponge equipped with a non-scratch scrubbing surface is an efficient and safe method for achieving sparkling clean results throughout your home.
4. Oven Cleaning Agent
For a thorough oven cleaning, consider applying a paste made from baking soda and water to the interior surfaces of the appliance. This paste, when brushed onto the sides and bottom of the oven, serves as an effective agent for loosening and removing stubborn baked-on food residues.
Following the application of the baking soda paste, spray the affected areas with vinegar, allowing the solution to foam upon contact with the paste. This foaming action aids in the breakdown of tough, baked-on food particles, facilitating their removal from the oven surfaces.
Depending on the severity of the buildup, you may need to repeat the spraying process as necessary until the baked-on food particles are sufficiently loosened and can be easily removed. This method offers a safe and efficient approach to oven cleaning, utilising the natural cleaning properties of baking soda and vinegar to achieve optimal results.
5. Clean the Kitchen Sink
Harness the cleaning prowess of baking soda and lemon to effectively clean stainless-steel sinks. Begin by sprinkling baking soda onto half of a lemon or prepare a paste using lemon juice and baking soda. With either application method, utilise the lemon-infused mixture to gently scrub the sink basin, ensuring to follow the grain of the stainless-steel surface to prevent scratching.
This combined approach capitalises on the natural acidity of lemon and the abrasive properties of baking soda to remove stubborn stains and grime from the sink. By working in tandem, these ingredients provide a powerful yet gentle cleaning solution that restores the luster of stainless-steel surfaces without causing damage.
6. Unclog the Kitchen Drain
Baking soda offers an effective solution for addressing slow-moving kitchen drains. Begin by introducing a few tablespoons of baking soda into the affected drain. Follow this by pouring heated vinegar down the drain, which will trigger a fizzing reaction with the baking soda, effectively breaking up clogs and obstructions within the piping. Complete the process by thoroughly rinsing the drain with boiling water, ensuring to flush away any remaining debris and restore optimal drainage functionality. This method provides a simple yet powerful remedy for addressing common drain issues, leveraging the natural cleaning properties of baking soda and vinegar to promote free-flowing drains without the need for harsh chemicals.
7. Eliminate Carpet and Upholstery Odours
Effectively neutralise odours from carpets and upholstered furniture using a natural approach. Begin by evenly distributing baking soda onto the surface, allowing it to sit undisturbed for approximately 15 minutes. This allows the baking soda to absorb and neutralise unwanted odours. After the designated time, thoroughly vacuum the area to remove both the baking soda and the absorbed odors. This is particularly effective if you have an inside pet, such as a cat or dog.
For an added fragrance boost, consider incorporating a few drops of your preferred essential oil into the baking soda before application. This enhances the odour-eliminating process while infusing the area with a pleasant scent.
By following this method, you can achieve a refreshed and odour-free environment without relying on harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances.
Our Final Say on Cleaning Your Home with Baking Soda
No matter which use from above you plan on using baking soda for, ensure you have adequately read through the instructions so that you are prepared for all stages of the clean. Baking soda is a remarkable and cost effective solution for cleaning, not only in the kitchen, but other areas both inside and outside of the home
If you’re still searching for the benefits of using baking soda, don’t hesitate to contact us or check out our blog for more information. We can also reveal other cleaning tips, from how to clean clean iphone speaker to how to clean glass shower doors. We’re professionals in the commercial cleaning industry and are ready to help in almost any way we can, even that means pointing you in the right direction of another expert for advice.