Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Hacks & How-to's

There are way more uses for baking soda around the house than you thought

Amanda Hoyer
By

There are many uses for baking soda. It’s great for science experiments, brushing teeth, and more. Plus, there are plenty of homeowners who need solutions for reducing smells and cleaning tough stains. There are products you can get, but baking soda is often cheaper and just as effective.

You can use baking soda in virtually every area of your home. Read on to explore a variety of household uses for baking soda. You’ll have a bright, grime-free, pleasant-smelling home in no time.

Geo-grafika / Shutterstock

In the kitchen

Sinks

Baking soda can make a massive difference in the smell and the efficiency of drains. Add baking soda under hot running water to freshen the drain. Baking soda can even be used in combination with hot water to unclog a drain.

Recommended Videos

Refrigerators

Opening a box of baking soda and leaving it in the fridge to absorb odors isn’t the only solution for smells. Sprinkle it in the bottom of your crisper drawer or use it as a stain remover.

Related

Pots and pans

Do you have cookware with baked-on stains? Use baking soda with enamel and copper pans. Baking soda easily removes or reduces the visibility of stains. Nonstick pans also benefit from a baking soda soak by removing lingering odors.

Microwave

Baking soda removes grease, odors, and stuck-on food particles, including oily and tomato-based stains. Baking soda is ideal for the inside of the microwave and leaves no chemical residue.

Ovens

Like a microwave, ovens get lots of caked-on grease and grime.  Start with spreading a layer of baking soda in the bottom of a cooled oven. You can mix baking soda with water to spray on, too. Repeat until all food is dissolved.

Dishwasher

Baking soda with a bit of Borax is inexpensive and practical for dishwashing detergent. Adding a little baking soda to your dishwasher’s rinse cycle freshens the machine, removing the grime and dirt inside.

Trash

Baking soda helps with smelly trash, too. All you do is sprinkle some at the bottom of a can, and it will absorb even the stinkiest odors. You can also sprinkle it inside an odor-heavy trash bag if you can’t put it out on the curb just yet.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the laundry room

Washing machine

Just like it cleans a dishwasher, baking soda cleans your washing machine, too. Detergent builds up, making your machine less effective. Baking soda makes a great fabric softener and neutralizes odorous spills.

Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply with a cloth or sponge. Scrub the inside of the machine and rinse when finished. The same paste can be used to remove stains off the exterior, such as rust. Combine vinegar and baking soda to thoroughly clean and freshen your machine.

Set the machine on the hot water cycle and add 2 to 4 cups of white vinegar.  Run the machine for a minute, and add a half cup of baking soda. Run the machine for another minute, then stop and let the solution soak for 30 to 60 minutes. Finish the cycle, drain the solution, and run another hot water rinse for a clean machine.

For stain removal

Add half a cup of baking soda with liquid detergent. Baking soda gives sharper whites, brighter brights, and odor-free clothing. It’s also effective at removing stains from linens caused by age. As a natural cleaner, trust that old linens will be whitened and brightened rather than damaged. Regular detergents can damage linens, so use soda alone. Pretreat with a water baking soda paste if there are spot stains.

Neutralize acid

Common acid stains include drain cleaner, battery acid, toilet bowl cleaner, and bodily fluids. Rinse these stains from clothing and neutralize them with baking soda. Even after the stain dries, you can still spot treat (before laundering to avoid setting the stain).

photagraphee.eu / Deposit Photos

In the bathroom

You can clean toilet bowls with a quarter cup of baking soda and half a cup of white vinegar. Scrub with a stiff brush and flush. Repeat if necessary. Use a sponge or cloth to wipe down the exterior.

You can also wipe down faucets, handles, and towel racks. Apply a thick paste of baking soda and water to grimy areas, and scrub with a stiff brush. An old toothbrush works for tight spots, too. Rinse off immediately, or let it dry and rinse later.

If you have a clogged shower or sink drain, a cup of baking soda will do the trick. Pour it into the opening of the clogged drain with a cup of hot vinegar. After a few minutes, flush the drain with a quart of boiling water, and you’re done. Repeat as needed.

Baking soda is a nifty little product that you can use all over your house to clean and deodorize. It’s always a good idea to keep some close at hand.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Amanda Hoyer
Amanda Hoyer
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Degreed in Psychology and English, Amanda fell into copywriting and blogging when she discovered an innate gift for narrative…
Avoid a cleaning disaster: When not to use a Magic Eraser
Everything you need to know about using a Magic Eraser
Gloved hand cleaning crayon off wall with a Magic Eraser

Magic Erasers are truly incredible for cleaning. They can scrub off that stubborn ring that’s been on your bathtub for ages, make plastic outdoor furniture look new again, or remove scuff marks from your favorite pair of sneakers. However, there are times when your Magic Eraser might work a little bit too well and ruin the very object you're trying to save.

Even though Magic Erasers look a bit like ordinary sponges, they don't perform in the same manner. They are a deceptively abrasive and effective cleanser. To ensure your most prized possessions don't end up in ruins, you need to know when to use a Magic Eraser and when not to use a Magic Eraser for cleaning. 
How does Magic Eraser work?
Now that we know a Magic Eraser is not a sponge, what is it? It’s actually blocks of melamine foam composed of microscopic air bubbles encased by threads of hardened melamine resin — and it’s every bit as tough as it sounds. Those hardened melamine resin threads are sharp when broken — similar to shards of glass.  

Read more
When you should (and shouldn’t) put used coffee grounds in your garden
Coffee grounds do have a place in your garden
coffee grounds mixed in the garden compost bin

Depending on how into gardening you are, you may be aware that putting used coffee grounds in your garden is a highly debated topic. Some people swear by using coffee grounds for growing plants, while others say it's the worst thing you can do for your garden.

So which opinion is correct, and how do you know which side to trust? How do you know if you should -- or shouldn’t -- put used coffee grounds in your garden? We’ve researched the pros and cons and broken them down below so you can decide if you want to use coffee grounds in the garden.
Should you use coffee grounds as mulch?
Using mulch in your garden can be beneficial, but many people find the cost of mulch too expensive to turn into organic matter. Straw and compost can be used as mulch, but not many people have tons of straw lying around, and compost takes months to create. So it seems as though coffee grounds would be the perfect solution for gardeners in need of mulch.

Read more
5 easy ways to spruce up your living room for spring
The sun is shining and the birds are chirping. Here's how to bring that energy into your living room
Living room with warm yellow curtains

Spring is here, and we couldn't be more excited! This means temperatures starting to warm, birds chirping, flowers beginning to bloom, and spring cleaning. There are so many ways to introduce spring into your home, and — as a place where family and friends gather to watch movies, play games, and relax after a long day — the living room is the perfect place to start.

If you're thinking about updating your living room this spring, you may want to start by decluttering. It can help give you a sense of what to keep, donate, or throw away, and will help you see the space more clearly.

Read more