Baking Soda: The Wonder Cleaner
There are such an overwhelming number of cleaning products available for purchase that frequently you may not even know what to buy. Do you go for the harshest cleaner, or the all natural? The multi-purpose cleaner, or multiple cleaners for very specific jobs?
You may not know it, but you probably already have one of the most versatile cleaners there is in your home: baking soda. Baking soda has been used for cleaning for years and it still doesn’t get the credit it deserves. There are many uses for baking soda when it comes to cleaning. Here we have outlined just a few:
In the fridge. There is nothing worse than a foul smelling fridge. Pop an open box of baking soda into the fridge and all those nasty odors will be absorbed not by your food, but by the baking soda.
Eliminate garbage odors. Just like your fridge, your garbage holds a lot of odors. Sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your trash can to keep it smelling fresh.
Clogged drains. Not only are clogged drains a huge inconvenience they are also smelly. Before you call the plumber pour down ½ a cup of baking soda followed by ½ a cup of vinegar. Your sink will bubble but that just means the solution is working. Wait 5 minutes and flush with hot water.
Stained tupperware. We’ve all done it, stored pasta sauce in a plastic tupperware and thought we could escape the oily stain. Well, turns out you now can! Soak any stained containers in warm water and 1 cup baking soda and voila!
Greasy pots and pans. There is no need to scrub until your arm is sore. Soak stuck on pots and pans in 1 cup baking soda and hot water. After 20 minutes the grease will come off easily and save you some arm pain.
Removing soap scum and mildew. Your bathroom might be the dirtiest place in your home. If your shower walls have soap scum and your grout is filled with mildew, a damp sponge and some baking soda will have your shower sparkling in no time.
Laundry. Are your whites and colours looking a little drab? Add a cup of diluted baking soda to your load of laundry with detergent - your clothes will pop! You can also use it to remove grease stains: wet the garment, cover the area with baking soda, spray vinegar and let it sit for 20 minutes. Throw it into the wash and it will look brand new.
Smelly, hard to clean fabrics. Stuffed animals and sneakers get a daily beating and are very susceptible to odors. Sprinkle these items with baking soda and vacuum up any leftover. These fabrics will be smelling like new in no time.
Crayon on the walls. Little ones get into everything and that is not always a good thing. Have crayon drawings on your wall but don’t want them there forever? Lightly scrub your walls with a damp sponge sprinkled in baking soda and your walls will be looking like new (just hide the crayons to keep them that way).
Air freshener. Gone are the days of buying aerosol air freshener at the store. Mix water, baking soda, and some drops of your favorite essential oils. Add this mixture to a spray bottle and you have yourself a homemade air freshener - spray the air as needed.
The bottom line is that baking soda should be a staple in your home. For all that it can do it is something you should always have on hand. Happy cleaning!
