Baking soda – it’s not just for baking!
If I could only have one type of cleaning product for my whole house, it would be baking soda – pure and simple. Non-toxic baking soda has so many practical uses without the worry of harsh chemicals. Here are just a few:
- Safely clean baby or pet toys – Use 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water. Wash toys with a clean damp sponge or cloth, rinse and dry.
- Clean baby equipment (stroller, high chair, changing table, exersaucer, swing, etc.) – Just sprinkle baking soda on a clean damp sponge and rub the item clean. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.
- Freshen and deodorize carpets – sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, let sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum it up
- Cleaning bathroom tubs, tile and sinks – even shiny fiberglass and glossy tiles- sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry.
- Freshen sponges – Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess and bring in the fresh (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water).
- Clean your produce of dirt and other residue – Just sprinkle a little baking soda on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse.
- Clean your counter tops – Sprinkle baking soda onto a clean damp sponge or cloth and wipe clean, rinse thoroughly, then dry.
What else do YOU use baking soda for?
Thanks to Arm & Hammer for many of these great tips.
Have any green tips you’ve recently learned? Please email them to me and I may include your tip with a link to your site or blog in a future post. :)
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Cleaning » Blog Archive » Green Tip of the week #13 - The power of baking soda says:
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February 17th, 2008 at 12:33 am
chelle says:
I have like 4 boxes of baking soda about the house … I love it for black marks on the walls and crayons!
February 17th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Gruppie Girl says:
I too just LOVE baking soda! It is amazing.
I use it in the laundry, tub, scuffs on the floor and I recently found a new use.
I have one of those horrible flat-topped electric stoves. I was still using that smally cleaner that is made specifically for those types of stoves. Just last week, I tried cleaning the stove top with baking soda. It works BETTER than the expensive, smelly, prepackaged cleaner.
February 17th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Sherie says:
Yes! Laundry, for sure. I buy 50 pound bags of the stuff from a nearby Farm & Feed place. It costs $13. Lasts for months! I just love it!!
February 17th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Tanya says:
I’ve started using vinegar and baking soda exclusively, now that I have a parrot who can’t take fumes. I was pretty amazed that they work so well. I use them in combination even to clean the crusties from the birdcage. Also, I found out last week that hot water, baking soda, and vinegar works to unclog and keep fresh toilets and all other drains.
Those of you who use baking soda for laundry, do you use a little to “break up” detergent residue, or do you use it as a complete replacement of laundry powder?
February 17th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Penny says:
It’s great stuff for deodorising stale thermoses too.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Kat says:
We love baking soda here too!
We use it for pet and toddler potty accidents! First we blot it up with a rag, then we add vinegar and rub the spot, then add baking soda and leave for a few hours to overnight and vacuum it up!
We also use baking soda in the laundry and to clean all around the house!
February 17th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Mandy says:
I use it to clean a lot of things! I have used it on carpets, counters, etc.
I also dump it in my garbage can to keep it from stinking so bad!
February 17th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Christina says:
It also works great to unclog drains! Pour some baking soda down followed by white vingegar, and it almost always clears the clog.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Carrie at NaturalMomsTalkRadio says:
To freshen the bottom of the laundry pail. Ditto for trash cans.
I make my own toothpowder with baking soda and sea salt. My dental hygienist approves. :)
February 17th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Shay says:
My daghter had a UTI and they said I should let her have baths in baking soda to soothe the irritated skin. I sprinkle it in shoes too. And you know how you put it in the refrigerator to suck up smells? I put it in dixie cups in the laundry closet and in the bedrooms to get rid of that stale ‘winter house’ smell.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Niecey Docherty says:
I occasionally brush my teeth with it. It acts as a whitener.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
erica says:
Gets cat pee smell out of grout. Sprinkle on baking soda liberally, let sit a day or two, pour on vinegar, let it dry. Later, vaccum it up. Yay!
February 19th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Emily at Mommin It Up says:
I LOVE the idea of using it to clean high chairs, toys, etc. Baking soda, vinegar… what more do you need??
February 20th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Autumn says:
hi
March 13th, 2008 at 9:24 am