I’ve written about how you can use baking soda in your beauty routine. Recently a friend asked me how she could clean her house using more natural items.

She knew about vinegar and salt…but what about baking soda?

It’s not just a great deodorizer, you know. It’s actually quite a workhorse, which is why you’ll always find a large bulk bag in my pantry. I actually clean with baking soda in every room of my house. 

Kitchen

Natural Febreeze

Baking soda makes a fabulous deodorizer in your fridge, under the sink, and anywhere else things get a little stinky. Simply put a 1/2 cup in a glass bowl in the back of the fridge or under your sink.

Garbage Pail

You can stop buying scented garbage bags by simply sprinkling a 1/4 cup of baking soda in the bottom of your garbage can or the garbage bag to keep things smelling fresh.

Stop Smelly Tupperware

When Ish forgets to bring his bento box home for a few days, it can get a little ripe. To get the smell out of plastic containers, add a Tablespoon of baking soda and fill with hot water. Allow the mixture to sit overnight, and wash normally.

Scrub Your Counters (And Stove!)

Lightly dust your surfaces with baking soda and use a damp sponge to scrub away stuck on messes.

Descale Pots And Pans

If you accidentally end up with burnt on food after cooking dinner, just toss in 1/4 cup of baking soda, fill with hot water, and allow to sit overnight. In the morning, empty the mix and use a bamboo pot scrubber to remove the leftovers easily.

Polish Silver

My grandmother always used a baking soda paste to polish her silver, and it works amazingly well! Simply combine 3 Tablespoons baking soda and 1 Tablespoon water. You want a thick paste. Apply the paste to the silver that you want to polish, and then rinse under warm water and rub dry with muslin or other soft cloth.

Clean The Garbage Disposal

Toss 1/2 cup of baking soda into your garbage disposal, and run for 5-10 seconds, then add 1/2 cup vinegar and let it sit. You’ll not only clean your disposal, you’ll also get rid of funky odors.

Clean Up Grease

Just sprinkle baking soda over the grease, and wipe up with a damp cloth.

Revive Funky Sponges

Mix 1/4 cup baking soda into a quart of hot water and soak your sponges for at least an hour. Rinse thoroughly.

Remove Coffee And Tea Stains

Soak your coffee pot with warm water and add 1/4 cup baking soda to remove stains. If it’s been awhile, sprinkle baking soda in your carafe or coffee press and scrub with a sponge. You’ll get the stains out without scratching the glass.

Clean Your Oven

No one needs to be inhaling “fume free” (HA!) oven cleaner. That stuff is super toxic. Instead, spritz the bottom of your oven with water, and sprinkle with baking soda. Let it sit for at least a few hours (overnight is even better), and then use a sponge to gently remove any stains. You can either wipe it clean or let it dry again and vacuum it up (my preference).

Clean Veggies (And Fruits!)

No one wants to eat the wax or pesticides on fruits. So run your fruit or vegetable under water, dust with a little baking soda and scrub. Rinse. You won’t taste it, and your food will be clean. You can also use this to quickly wash potatoes without a potato brush before baking.

Laundry

Sparkling Clean Diapers

I loved using cloth with Smalls. And every cloth diapering mom needs to have a good soak up her sleeve. To help refresh my diapers, I always soaked them in 2 gallons of water mixed with a cup of baking soda.

Revive The Laundry You Forgot

You know what I’m talking about. I know it’s not just me. None will be the wiser if you add a 1/2 cup of baking soda to a quick rinse cycle. If you really forgot and your clothes are getting crunchy again, add in a 1/2 cup of vinegar to the wash and then use baking soda. You’re welcome.

Deodorize Workout Clothes

Or boy’s clothes. Whatever. All you need is a baking soda soak! Add 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda to a pre-wash soak, and you’ll get the funky out.

No More Smelly Sneakers

I hate smelly shoes. Sprinkle your shoes with a little baking soda while you’re not wearing them to keep the odors away. Just make sure you shake them out before you use them again.

Freshen Your Hamper

Sprinkle a 1/2 cup baking soda into your dirty laundry hamper. This will also boost your detergent’s cleaning ability on laundry day.

Floors

Remove Scuffs

Although most shoes are “no scuff”, and we do have a no shoes in the house policy, there are often scuff marks on the floors and walls because Smalls forgets. Or he wants to play cowboy and everyone knows that you can’t play cowboy without your boots.

Which scuff my floors. Thank heavens for baking soda! Simply make a paste using 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon water, rub into the offending scuff and wipe clean.

Remove Grout Stains

I have light colored grout. It stinks because I have boys who spill things, like chocolate milk, on my light colored grout. Thankfully, all it takes is a light dusting of baking soda and a squirt of vinegar to lift them. Scrub lightly with a toothbrush and use a wet rag to wipe clean.

I recommend doing this on an as-needed basis, though it will work for your entire floor…but your knees may not be super happy with you when you’re done!

Mop Your Floors

Add 1/2 cup baking soda to a bucket of warm water and mop your floors to gently remove the grime. Make sure you run back over it with a bucket of clean water to rinse off the baking soda. Super easy, and no chemicals.

Non-Toxic Carpet Freshener

Let’s face it: carpets can get a bit funky. It’s really easy to deodorize your carpet by sprinkling baking soda over it, gently scrubbing it in with a cleaning brush, and letting it sit overnight. In the morning, just vacuum it up!

Bathrooms

Natural Soft Scrub

Use baking soda to scrub grime out of your shower, sinks, and even the “scum” around the toilet (I live with boys). Simply use a damp sponge and a light dusting of baking soda. If you’ve got particularly stubborn stains, wipe it on and let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing.

Unclog Your Shower Drain

Take 1/2 cup baking soda and use a funnel to really get it down the drain. This will take some time, but trust me on this one. Grab a drain cover and pour in 1/2 a cup vinegar. Slap that cover on the drain.

When you stop hearing the fizzing, add another 1/2 cup and repeat. Let the baking soda and vinegar work for 30 minutes to an hour, then rinse with super hot water.

Household Cleansing Uses For Baking Soda

Soft Scrub

Growing up, we used Comet for getting the gunk off of everything. Since going a bit more natural, I prefer to make my own DIY scrub. Just combine 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup castile soap (I use and LOVE Dr. Bronner’s).

Remove Crayon From Walls

or you can clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth. If you’ve got an especially tough spot, try the soft scrub above.

Clean Toys

I love flea markets and garage sales, but often the toys and goods I find aren’t in great condition (and even if they are, I have to clean them!). I use a simple mix of 1 gallon of water and 1 cup of baking soda to soak plastic toys overnight. Rinse clean and allow to dry.

Freshen Stuffies

Dust musty stuffed animals with baking soda overnight and shake them off in the morning to freshen them!

Deodorize Your Diaper Pail

Pup 1/4 cup baking soda in the bottom of your diaper pail or wet bag to absorb odors.

Deodorize The Litter Box

Dust 1/4 cup baking soda over your cat litter to help keep the ammonia smell away.

Clean Lawn Chairs

My mom used to have us clean the lawn furniture at the beginning of each summer. She’d send us outside with a bucket and a box of baking soda. Add a cup of baking soda to a gallon of warm water and use a sponge to get the grime off. Rinse with the hose when you’re done scrubbing.

Clean Outdoor Toys

Got a scummy slide or dirty kiddy pool? Use baking soda to make it new again. Grab a bucket of warm water and add a cup of baking soda. Scrub away.

What are you going to clean with baking soda first?