10 Awesome Household Uses for Baking Soda

If you are a baker, baking soda is a staple item in your kitchen pantry. Baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) is often used as a leavening agent in doughs and batters to make them rise and expand. How does it happen? When baking soda is mixed with an acid (e.g. vinegar, lemon juice, etc.), it makes small bubbles of carbon dioxide that cause baked goods to rise.

Baking soda should not be confused with baking powder, they are totally two different things. Baking powder is already a combination of baking soda, an acidifying agent (which is often cream of tartar) and some fillers (e.g. starch). Baking powder is mainly used for baking and is not a good substitute for baking soda when it comes to household uses.

Aside from cooking and baking, baking soda has several household uses – from cleaning to deodorizing. It’s a great alternative to commercial cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals that can be both harmful to you and the environment. Baking soda is the ultimate “green” cleaning agent because it is non-toxic, eco-friendly and very cheap.

1. Deodorize Trash Cans

Spoiled and leftover food + moisture (from spillage) = stinky trash can.

A simple trick to deodorize a smelly trash can is to sprinkle generous amount of baking soda at the bottom of the trash bin before placing a new trash bag. If you find this method a little bit messy (because you have to toss out the baking soda each time), then another way is to make a deodorizing baking soda pouch. All you need to do is to fill either a coffee filter or an empty tea bag with baking soda and tie the top with a rubber band or a string. Place the pouch at the bottom of the trash can to neutralize the smelly odor.

2. Deodorize Shoes

Our shoes are the ideal breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria since they absorb all the moisture from our feet. To de-stink your smelly shoes, sprinkle baking soda inside your shoes and let it sit overnight for better result. The next day, dump the baking soda out of the shoes. The only problem with this method is that there will be baking soda residues left on the shoes. If this bothers you, then you can try to make baking soda pouches (see instruction under Deodorize Trash Cans) and place them overnight inside the shoes.

3. Deodorize & Clean Refrigerator

If you don’t have a charcoal at home (which is a tried-and-tested fridge deodorizer), another alternative is to place a bowl of baking soda inside your refrigerator and leave it there for 24-48 hours, depending on the severity of the stench of your fridge. The baking soda will absorb the unwanted odor, leaving your fridge smelling fresh. However, please don’t reuse baking soda that has been used for deodorizing fridge in cooking and baking.

Aside from deodorizing, baking soda can also be used to clean the fridge without leaving behind a chemical smell that the food inside your fridge can absorb. Simply make a solution of 2 tablespoon baking soda and 1 quart (4 cups) of warm water. Moisten a cloth with this solution and use it to wipe down the interior of the fridge, then dry the areas with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Bonus tip: The same method can also be used to deodorize and clean the inside of your microwave oven.

4. Deodorize & Clean Carpet

Over time, several odors in your house (e.g. cigarette smoke or pet urine) can penetrate to the carpet fibers leaving an unwanted odor to your precious carpet. To freshen it up, sprinkle baking soda liberally over the carpet. Let it sit for several hours or overnight before vacuuming up the baking soda from the carpet. If odor still persists, repeat the same steps.

For cleaning carpet stain (e.g. red wine spill), gently blot (don’t rub) the stained area with a paper towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray the stained area with the mixture. Cover the area with baking soda and let it sit for several hours. Using a small brush, gently scrub the area to loosen up the dried up baking soda and then vacuum up.

5. Wash Pesticides Off Fruits and Vegetables

It is a good practice to wash all of your fruits and vegetables prior to eating or cooking in order to remove pesticide residues on their surfaces. One of the best methods for getting rid of pesticide residues is to soak the fruits and veggies in a solution of water and few tablespoons of baking soda for 10 to 15 minutes, then give them a final rinse under running tap water.

6. Deodorize Dish Sponge

Dish sponge is always moist so it’s no wonder that it gets stinky in just a few days. In order to eliminate its bad smell, soak the dish sponge for 30 minutes to 1 hour in a solution of 2 tablespoon baking soda and 1 quart (4 cups) of warm water. Rinse and squeeze out the excess liquid, then allow to air dry.

7. Deodorize Plastic Containers

The thing I hate the most about reusable plastic containers is that they tend to absorb the odor of the food they contained. One trick to remove the food odor is to soak the plastic containers overnight in a solution of baking soda and hot water.

8. Clean the Bathroom

Cleaning the bathroom is what I considered as the most tedious household chore and it doesn’t help that I really don’t like the smell of most commercial bathroom cleaning products. Fortunately, if your bathroom is not too dirty, you can actually use baking soda to gently clean the different areas of your bathroom. All you need to do is to mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water until a smooth paste consistency is achieved, then add a few squirts of your favorite dishwashing liquid. Dip the cleaning brush/sponge in the baking soda paste, scrub the surfaces you want to clean (e.g. tiles, bathtub, sink and grout) and rinse well.

Since baking soda is abrasive, it helps remove surface grimes that have been stuck in the grout. Take note though that baking soda alone can’t remove soap scum. Since soap scum is an alkaline (same with baking soda), you will need an acidic component to break down the soap scum. Most often a solution of 50/50 vinegar and water is sprayed on top of baking soda in order to remove soap scum.

9. Clean Pots and Pans

Alkaline cleaning agents have the ability to cut down grease, that’s why baking soda (an alkaline with a pH of 9) is often used as a kitchen degreaser. In fact, baking soda can be used to remove grease and stubborn food residues on pots and pans. Just make a paste using 3 parts baking soda, 1 part water and a few squirts of dishwashing liquid. Using a dish sponge, rub this paste on the surface of pots and pans then rinse with water. You’ll have grease-free and sparkly clean pots and pans in no time.

10. Clean Coffee & Tea Stains from Mugs

White mugs are often discolored by coffee or tea stains which are difficult to remove with just dishwashing liquid. To remove the coffee and tea stains, sprinkle baking soda inside the mug and add a little bit of water to form a paste. Scrub gently with a sponge until the stains are gone and rinse well. Your mug will look spotless just like when it was newly bought.

Do you know other household uses for baking soda? Share them on the comment section below J

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