How to Clean with Baking Soda

Cleaning Surfaces

Wash grout. Form a paste that is half baking soda, half water. Apply along the grout in between tiles. Let the paste soak up the dirt for about 10 minutes. Use a toothbrush to scrub the grout once the dirt has loosened. For tiled floors, you can simply shake some baking soda over the grout and then use a spray bottle to soak it with water instead of forming a paste.

Shine your bare floors. Fill a mop bucket with warm to hot water. Add at least a ½ cup of baking soda to the water. Stir to mix. Mop your floor with the solution. Rinse the mop and then mop the floor again with clean water to remove any traces of baking soda.

Clean counters, sink basins, and other raised surfaces. Soak a hand towel or cleaning cloth with clean water. Dust either the cloth itself or the surface to be cleaned with baking soda. Wipe the surface in a circular motion to remove dirt and stains. Reverse from clockwise to counterclockwise (or vice versa) so that you aren’t merely pushing, say, a stubborn piece of dried, caked tomato sauce down into the countertop again and again. For tougher stains, create a paste. Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water. Cover the stain and let it soak up the paste for a few minutes before rubbing vigorously with a clean cloth.

Clean your walls. Mix equal parts baking soda and water to form a paste. Apply to any areas blemished by handprints, crayons, or other dirty marks. Use a cloth to softly rub the mixture around the affected surface. Then use a dry cloth or paper towel to wipe away the paste. Reapply as needed.

Washing Other Household Items

Wash your dishwasher. First, fill the sink (or a container large enough to fit the washer’s filter) with warm water and a dab of dish soap. Take the filter out of the washer and give it a 10-minute soak before putting it back into place. Pour a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher and then run the machine on a heavy cycle. Once the cycle ends, shake a cup of baking soda over the bottom. Let it sit overnight before running a second empty cycle. Use a toothbrush to rub away any dirt or stains that survived both cycles.

Clean your oven. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar. Spray the inside of your oven evenly. Sprinkle baking soda over the bottom. Pour some into your palm, hold your hand up to your lips, and blow to coat the walls. Pour some more into your palm and toss it upward to coat the ceiling. Allow the baking soda to mix with the vinegar for half an hour. Then use a heavy-duty sponge to scrub the insides. Wipe up the remainder with a clean cloth or paper towels.

Tackle dirty pots and pans. Pour some baking soda into them, add a couple drops of dish soap to each one, and fill with warm water. The amount of baking soda needed will vary depending on how much residue has crusted over, but when in doubt, use a lot for extra abrasive power. Let the cookware soak for a quarter of an hour before scrubbing and rinsing them out. Soak cookware overnight if burnt food has scorched to it.

Shine your silver. First, make a paste. Stir up a 3-to-1 ratio of baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the silver. Massage the silver all over with a clean towel. Rinse off the paste with clean water and then dry immediately with a clean cloth. Avoid scratching your silver. Always use cloth towels, never paper.

Clean your grill. Soak your grill brush in water so that the baking soda will stick. Pour some baking soda over it to coat the bristles. Then scrub away at the grate. Soak the brush in clean water to apply more baking soda as needed. Once you are satisfied, give the grate a rinse with clean water and then wipe it down with a clean cloth to remove residue before using the grill again. For very dirty grills, pour the baking soda directly onto the grate. Fill a spray bottle with clean water and then spray the baking soda. Allow the mixture to sink into the char for a few hours. Once the char has loosened, use your grill brush to break it up.

Doing Laundry

Save on detergent. Wash clothes with a half-and-half mixture. Use only half the recommended amount of detergent for your cycle. Make up the difference with an equal portion of baking soda. Run the machine on your desired cycle. For tougher stains, apply a paste that is 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water to the affected area before washing.

Strengthen your bleach. Make your whites extra bright by adding baking soda. Use the recommended amount of bleach in your machine’s cycle. On top of that, add a ½ cup of baking soda.

Deodorize your hamper. Prevent one stinky piece of clothing from stinking up the rest. Sprinkle baking soda over clothes that are already inside your hamper. Then sprinkle some more over the offending article.

Treating Smells

Deodorize your carpets. Dust your rugs and carpets evenly with baking soda. Use as much as you deem necessary, depending on the smell’s strength. For a quick job, allow the baking soda to absorb odors for at least a quarter of an hour (or longer if you have the time) before vacuuming. For a more thorough freshening, declare the area off-limits for the next 24 hours and then vacuum it the following day.

Minimize the smell of garbage. Dust the bottom of your garbage can and/or the inside of your trash liner to counteract stinky garbage. Rinse the old baking soda out with each change of the bag and reapply. Be careful not to set the old garbage bag on your floor, since it will be powdered with baking soda. However, you can clean your floor easily with a wipe of a cloth or a quick vacuum, so don’t stress out too much about it. Alternately, you can leave a full opened box of baking soda at the bottom of the can to avoid messy bag-changes.

Freshen your cat litter. Dust the bottom of the tray with baking soda for additional odor-absorption. Then fill it with your store-bought cat litter. Alternately, you can create your own litter by filling the tray with three inches of sandy clay and then stirring in an 8-ounce box of baking soda. For especially strong odors, use a 16-ounce box.

Freshen your cat or dog. Shake some baking soda over your wet pet to reduce “wet fur” and other smells when you don’t have time to give them a full bath with shampoo. Keep it light to avoid startling them with a thick cloud, or simply pour some in your palm and rub it into their fur if that is easier. Work it in with your fingers so it can trap the odors. Then use your pet’s brush to comb the baking soda out.

Washing Yourself

Wash your hair. Create a paste in your palm with a tablespoon of baking soda and water from the showerhead. Apply to your hair just like shampoo. Wash and rinse to remove dandruff. If you don’t have it in you to give up store-bought shampoo or other hair products, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with your regular shampoo every two weeks to rid your hair of product build-up. Prolonged use of baking soda as a shampoo substitute may cause dry or damaged hair. Either alternate between baking soda and store-bought shampoo at regular intervals, or only wash your hair every few days to allow your scalp’s natural oils to revitalize your hair.

Whiten your teeth. Soak your brush with water. Sprinkle baking soda over the bristles until they are coated. Brush gently for a couple minutes. Gargle with clean water and spit to rinse your mouth out. Baking soda is very abrasive and can damage your teeth’s enamel. Limit yourself to two brushes per week. Keep the pressure very light and brush your teeth softly. Some amount of burning or tingling is to be expected. However, if it begins to feel uncomfortable, discontinue use. Rinse your mouth repeatedly with clean water to rid it of all traces. Baking soda alone is not sufficient to prevent cavities or other conditions caused by bacteria. Do not use baking soda as a substitute for toothpaste. Do not use baking soda if you have braces, since this may damage them.

Deodorize your armpits. Mix ⅛ teaspoon of baking soda with just enough water so that it forms a paste. Apply it to your armpits and rub it into your pores. To form an antiperspirant that will also reduce sweating, apply a dry mix of cornstarch and baking soda in a 6-to-1 ration. Remember that baking soda is abrasive, so don’t use it as a deodorant immediately after shaving your armpits, when they are at their most sensitive.