Get Things Clean with Baking Soda

by DoItYourself Staff

If you desire an environmentally friendly and frugal way of maintaining your household, you can have baking soda clean just about everything in your house – and beyond.

In the Kitchen

To clean and freshen a microwave oven, rub it with a thick paste of baking soda (combined with a little warm water) and rinse well.
To clean the dishwasher, run baking soda through an empty cycle instead of detergent.
If you need to eliminate freezer and fridge odors, place a small box of baking soda in the door. Renew it every couple of months. When you replace it with new baking soda, use the old to clean the sink.
You can degrease oily dishes such as skillets by sprinkling some baking soda on a damp kitchen sponge and rubbing it in circles. You can even let the paste rest on the dish while it sits in the sink for a while, to let it loosen the grease better.
To control litter box and trash can odors, sprinkle some baking soda inside the receptacle.
To remove stains on ceramics, such as coffee cups, scrub with a damp sponge sprinkled with baking soda and salt.
To clean ovens, first wet down the interior. Make a paste from three fourths of a cup baking soda, one fourth of a cup water, and one fourth of a cup salt. Distribute the paste evenly around the oven, avoiding openings and exposed metal. Let it rest several hours or overnight. Finally scrape to remove the residue with a spatula or steel wool if needed.

In the Laundry Room

You can freshen laundry and intensify the cleaning powers of your detergent by combining a half cup of baking soda with your regular washing detergent.
To treat fabric stains, you can use a stiff paste of baking soda and water. Scrub the paste into the stain with an old toothbrush before laundering.

In the Bathroom

To clean and deodorize a toilet, pour a cup of baking soda in toilet and let it rest several hours or overnight. Then scrub it well with a toilet brush and flush.
Make your sink and ceramic tiles sparkle by scouring with a simple paste of baking soda and a little water.
You can remove clogs from drains by pouring a cup of baking soda down the drain hole, then following up with a generous amount of vinegar.

In Living Areas and Bedrooms

If you want to get rid of carpet and upholstery odors, sprinkle on some baking soda. Let it rest a half hour or so, then vacuum.
You can clean crayon and pencil marks off your walls with some baking soda on a sponge.

In the Backyard and Beyond

Cut through cooked on grease and char on your grill by scrubbing with some water, a few sprinkles of baking soda, and plastic or metal scouring pads.
Control the pH of your pool water and keep the water clearer by adding baking soda to neutralize the acidity. Per 10,000 gallons of water, add 3-4 pounds if the pH is less than 7.2. Add 2 pounds if the pH is between 7.2 and 7.5. Do not add baking soda if the pH is above 7.5.
You can even soak up motor oil spills in the garage. Shake baking soda abundantly onto a new spill, let it absorb the oil, then scrape away.
Create a multipurpose household cleaner in a spray bottle by mixing a quart of water, a half cup of vinegar, and 4 teaspoons of baking soda.