How Many Uses of Baking Soda Can There Possibly Be?

A natural whitener, deodorizer, and all-purpose scrub, baking soda is a must-have in your cleaning supply closet as well as your kitchen cabinet. The uses of baking soda are listed in numerous home magazines, cooking magazines, and a wide array of other articles.

The article below from Mother Nature Network touts eleven of the most common uses for baking soda, though the many uses do not end here.

Throughout your home, on your body and on your pets, baking soda truly is one of the most versatile products on the market. Here are 11 of the most popular uses. 

Though the name might suggest otherwise, baking soda is not just for use in recipes. In fact, so many people use baking soda to deodorize their refrigerators and freezers that Arm & Hammer, one of the oldest and leading manufacturers of the ubiquitous powder, created new packaging specifically for that use. 

What are some other uses of baking soda? Throughout your home, on your body and on your pets, baking soda truly is one of the most versatile products on the market. Try some of these uses for baking soda: 

1. Clean and deodorize carpet. For stains or messy spills, scrub baking soda and water into the carpet and vacuum when dry. Sprinkle baking soda on a dry but musty or smelly carpet, and vacuum. 

2. Wash clothing. Add half a cup of baking soda with your regular detergent into the washing machine for added brightness and whiteness. Many also use baking soda as a fabric softener by adding half a cup to the rinse cycle. 

3. Clean a variety of surfaces. Baking soda can be used on its own — or as part of a paste with water — to clean surfaces including hardwood and tile floors, painted walls, glassware and upholstery. Various recipes exist online for creating baking soda solutions, but the most simple and multipurpose baking soda formula involves 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. This inexpensive baking soda cleaner goes a long way. 

4. Keep away odors. One of the main uses of baking soda is eliminating odors. Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of your trashcans before adding the garbage bag, pour2 tablespoons down the garbage disposal drain as you run warm tap water, and shake some baking soda into your smelly sneakers overnight (and tap out the leftover before wearing). If something is smelly in your home, chances are baking soda is part of the sweet-smelling solution. 

5. Clean outdoor furniture and baby pools. Washing with a quarter cup of baking soda and a quart of water will make your outdoor furniture gleam. Add baking soda to the bottom of a mildewed baby pool and hose it down with water to clean and deodorize. 

6. Clean your teeth. Baking soda has long been used as a toothpaste. Pour some baking soda into a dish, dip in a wet toothbrush and apply to your teeth. Though baking soda toothpaste tastes unpleasant (unless you buy commercial toothpaste with baking soda and flavor), it is effective. You can also use baking soda and water as a mouth rinse. 

7. Soak in a bath. Add a half cup of baking soda to your warm bathwater, and emerge with your skin feeling soft. 

8. Exfoliate your skin. Make a baking soda paste and gently rub it in a circular motion onto your face, feet or other dry areas. Rinse and pat dry. 

9. Deodorize a litter box. Pour baking soda in the bottom of the litter box, then add litter. Sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter box to remove smells. 

10. Eliminate pet odors. Pet accidents often smell even after they are cleaned. Apply a layer of baking soda to the area to neutralize the odor, then vacuum when the area is dry. 

11. Refresh a dog bed. Like with a carpet, sprinkle baking soda onto your dog’s bed, wait about 15 minutes, then vacuum.

While this list covers a variety of the uses of baking soda, so many other ways to use baking soda exist. For instance, if you thought mixing baking soda with a little water to put on bug bites for instant relief was an old wives’ tale, guess again. It is a legitimate use of baking soda.

Some less common uses of baking soda include cleaning the inside of the dishwasher and the coffeepot, keeping your grill grates clean with a baking soda scrub, and washing your produce. Also, in the event of a grease fire you can douse the flames with a heavy sprinkling of baking soda.

While many of the uses of baking soda are extremely common and have become very well known, other uses are relatively new with even newer uses sprouting up every day. If you were to give some thought to which new uses of baking soda you could find, you’d probably be able to test out a few theories of your own, such as adding a dash or two to your scrambled eggs for a fluffier batch.

Let’s not forget some of the original uses of baking soda that actually involve baking, such as cookies, waffles, breads, etc. 

While individually we find many kitchen uses of baking soda, The Maids, as you might guess, find even more cleaning and household uses of baking soda. It certainly is one little gem of a cleaning tool. For even more cleaning tips, or better, to have your home cleaned for you, contact The Maids. We are “referred for a reason.”