I think that baking soda is truly one of the most useful things any homemaker can keep on hand, and it also happens to be blessedly inexpensive! I buy big bags of it whenever I go to Costco, because I go through so much of it that those teeny little boxes at the grocery store just don’t cut it.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has many properties that make it useful for household tasks. Like washing soda and borax, it’s great as a laundry booster. It’s highly absorbent, making it great for eliminating odors and drawing out moisture, and it’s also abrasive enough to scrub away grimy messes (but gentle enough to use as a skin exfoliant!)
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If you are wondering just how many uses for baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda, as the Brits call it) there are, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 25 of the best uses for baking soda around the house. :-)
25+ Practical Uses For Baking Soda
1. Freshen Carpets
Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets to absorb moisture and eliminate odors. (This is especially helpful for those with pets at home!) Let it sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming it up, and try adding a bit of cinnamon for additional freshening power!
2. Erase Marks From Painted Surfaces
You can use baking soda to erase marks on painted furniture or even crayon drawings from your walls. Just sprinkle it onto a damp sponge and rubbing lightly until the stain is gone, then wipe the area clean with a dry cloth.
3. Freshen Smelly Shoes
Use baking soda to absorb and eliminate odor from a stinky pair of shoes. Just make a few simple baking soda sachets and stick them inside the smelly shoes overnight.
4. Prevent Garbage Odors
Keep kitchen and bathroom trash cans smelling fresh with the help of baking soda! Just sprinkle a small amount into your trash every once in a while, or sprinkle a handful directly into the bottom of the receptacle before lining it with a new bag.
5. Clean Grout
Grimy grout lines? Make a simple grout cleaner by mixing together enough hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to form a paste. Apply the mixture to dirty grout and scrub with an old toothbrush.
6. Exfoliate Skin Gently
Before putting on self-tanner, remove dead skin cells with a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin, then rinse clean for perfectly prepped and softened skin!
7. Make Washing Soda
Washing soda is a powerful laundry booster, but it comes in handy for removing stains, scouring dishes in the kitchen, and more! And while it can be tough to find in stores, it’s actually really easy to make washing soda using baking soda! All you need is a baking sheet and an oven.
8. Soothe Diaper Rash
If your baby is suffering from a diaper rash, baking soda can help! Add 1/4 cup baking soda to your baby’s bath water to help soothe the skin and clear up the redness.
9. Dry & Deodorize Mattress “Accidents”
Speaking of little ones, baking soda can also come in handy after a bed-wetting incident. Use towels to soak up as much of the wetness as you can, then sprinkle baking soda liberally over the mattress and let it sit for two hours.
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The baking soda will not only absorb the remaining moisture in the mattress, but it will also eliminate odors and leave it smelling fresher. After two hours, vacuum up the baking soda and then spritz the mattress with 50/50 mix of water and vinegar.
10. Freshen Mattresses
And speaking of mattresses, you can keep your fresh by treating it with baking soda every couple of months. Just sprinkle an even layer of baking soda over your mattress, let it sit for an hour, and then vacuum it up. This simple process will help get rid of unwanted odors, dust mites, and moisture.
11. Deodorize Smelly Drains
Have a smelly drain in your kitchen sink or bathtub? Sprinkle baking soda into the drain, pour some vinegar in, then quickly put a stopper into or over the drain.
The fizzy reaction will eat away at grease, food deposits, soap scum, and other grime that can cause odors. Flush the drain with hot water afterwards to clear out the loosened gunk.
12. Preserve The Color Of Cooked Veggies
When cooking green vegetables, add a sprinkle of baking soda to the water and then bring to a boil as usual. The baking soda will help preserve the veggies’ bright green color as they cook.
13. Remove Burnt Food From Pots & Pans
To remove burnt food from a pot or pan, fill it with water and a bit of baking soda and bring it to a simmer on your stovetop. Let it simmer for a few minutes to allow the food residue to soften up, and you’ll be able to remove it much more easily!
14. Relieve UTI Symptoms
To get some relief from the painful symptoms of a urinary tract infection, mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of water and drink it. The baking soda “cocktail” will help raise the pH of your urine slightly to make it less acidic and irritating.
15. Brighten Dingy Nails
Use a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water to brighten your manicure! Rub the mixture over your hands and fingers in a gentle, circular motion to exfoliate and smooth your skin. Rinse clean with warm water and apply polish as usual.
16. Remove Carpet Stains
Use baking soda to help treat and remove fresh carpet stains. Blot the spill with a towel to soak up as much of the liquid as you can, then spray the area with water and sprinkle baking soda over the top. Let it sit until the baking soda dries, then vacuum.
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17. Deodorize Food Storage Containers
Deodorize plastic food containers in between uses with baking soda sprinkled on a clean, damp sponge. For even tougher odors, soak items in a solution of 1/4 cup of baking soda and one quart of warm water.
18. Clean Grimy Tub Jets
To clean and deodorize jets in a jetted tub, fill the bath to a few inches above the jets, add two cups of baking soda, then run the jets for about 10 minutes. Drain the grimy water, refill the tub with clean water, then run the jets for another 10 minutes.
(As someone with a jetted tub, this is one of my favorite uses for baking soda! I’ve tried a LOT of methods for cleaning tub jets, and this one works better than any of them.
19. Make Extra Fluffy Omelets
Adding a small amount of baking soda to your morning omelets can make them extra fluffy! Just add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda for every 3 eggs in your omelet(s).
20. “Dry Clean” Stuffed Animals
Risking your child’s favorite stuffed animal by putting it through the wash may be more trouble than it’s worth! Instead, use baking soda to “dry clean” those precious stuffed animals and remove odors, body oils, and more!
Place a stuffed animal in a large ziplock bag (or trash bag, depending on the size.) Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the bag, tie it off, then give the bag a good shake and let it sit for 30 minutes. Afterward, use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment to remove any excess baking soda from the animal, and you’re done!
21. Clean Stained Mugs
Use baking soda to erase stubborn tea and coffee stains from your favorite mugs. Simply sprinkle a bit of baking soda inside a wet mug and scrub!
22. Boost Your Bath Water
Add a handful of baking soda to your bath water to soften rough skin. (And if you normally use bubble bath, the baking soda will also result in super sudsy bubbles!)
23. Keep Flowers Fresh
Keep fresh-cut flowers alive longer by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to the vase of water.
24. Wash Fresh Produce
Use baking soda to wash away dirt and chemicals from your fresh produce. Fill your sink or a large bowl with cold water, add a few tablespoons of baking soda, then soak your veggies in the water for 10 minutes. Rinse under clean water before drying.
25. Kill Insects
You can kill unwanted insects by making a mixture of powdered sugar and baking soda. Sprinkle the mixture in corners or cupboards where insects are present.
26. Dishwasher Booster
Adding baking soda to your dishwasher is an easy way to get cleaner dishes and a cleaner dishwasher in one! Just add a couple of teaspoons of baking soda to your dishwasher along with your usual detergent.
Do you have any favorite uses for baking soda?
