32 Practical Uses for Baking Soda

In addition to being one of my all-time MVPs of cleaning ingredients, there are many other baking soda uses for all sorts of useful purposes, from beauty to hygiene and beyond! If you’ve ever wondered why baking soda is considered so useful, what exactly baking soda is used for, or how to make the most of it as a household product, you’ve come to the right place! 

In this post, you’ll learn just about everything there is to know about baking soda. We’ll begin by exploring the various properties and benefits of baking soda, after which we’ll cover the many practical ways you can use it around the house.

Baking Soda Basics & FAQs

What Is Baking Soda?

This inconspicuous white powder is actually an alkaline salt, known for the fizzy reaction that takes place when it’s mixed with an acidic ingredient like vinegar or lemon juice. As the reaction fizzes, it produces carbon dioxide gas, making it useful as a leavening agent in baked goods (just like baking powder!)

Baking soda has a variety of health benefits, as well as various other properties that make it useful around the house. Commercial baking soda is typically made from soda ash or a mineral called trona, which is found in huge quantities in Wyoming. The soda ash is combined with carbon dioxide to make baking soda. 

What’s the Difference Between Baking Powder and Baking Soda?

Yes, there is a difference between baking powder and baking soda. While both substances can be used for leavening, baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate. To make baking soda work as a leavening agent when you’re baking, it needs to be mixed with an acid like vinegar, cocoa powder, or buttermilk.

The main difference between baking soda and baking powder is that the latter already contains an acid, usually in the form of cream of tartar. (Some baking powders also contain cornstarch and other ingredients.) Baking powder may be more convenient, but baking soda also promotes browning, so some baking recipes call for both!

Find out how baking soda differs from other powders in my guide to the differences between baking soda, washing soda, and borax!

Many Names, Many Useful Properties

Because baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda) is alkaline, it can help to neutralize many of the acidic chemical compounds responsible for unpleasant odors. It’s also highly absorbent, a great laundry booster (similar to washing soda and borax), and an abrasive scouring powder, helping to scrub away grime while being gentle enough to use as a facial exfoliant.

Plenty of people keep an open box of baking soda in the fridge to control odors, but there are so many other places you can use it! I use baking soda as a cleaning agent all over the house (with glass and wood being two of the rare exceptions). Check out 34 of the best tips for using baking soda below!

34 Practical Household Uses for Baking Soda

1. Freshen Carpets

Sprinkle baking soda onto your carpets to absorb moisture and eliminate odors. Let it sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming it up. For a pleasant scent, stir a bit of cinnamon or a few drops of essential oils into the baking soda before using it on carpets. (This is a great tip for those with pets at home — just be sure to keep them out of the area until you’re done!)

2. Erase Marks from Painted Surfaces

You can use baking soda to erase marks on painted furniture, and even remove crayon from your walls! Just sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge, rub lightly until the stain is gone, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.

3. Freshen Smelly Shoes

One of the best uses for baking soda is absorbing and eliminating odor from stinky shoes. It takes just seconds to make a baking soda sachet that helps remove stinky shoe odor overnight!

4. Remove Corrosion from Batteries

Since it’s alkaline, you can use baking soda to remove the acidic corrosion on car batteries and other batteries. Create a paste by mixing baking soda and a bit of water, then disconnect the battery and apply the paste to corroded areas and scrub. Remove the paste and corrosion with a damp cloth, then swipe a bit of vaseline on the terminals to keep them clean.

5. Clean Grout

Grimy grout lines? Make a simple grout cleaner by combining baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Apply the mixture to dirty grout and scrub with an old toothbrush.

6. Exfoliate Skin Gently

Before shaving or applying self-tanner, scrub off any dead skin cells with a baking soda paste — about 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Gently rub the paste on your skin in circular motions to exfoliate, then rinse clean for perfectly prepped skin!

7. Make Washing Soda

Washing soda is a powerful laundry booster (it’s in my homemade laundry detergent for a reason!), but it also comes in handy for removing stains, scouring dishes, and more! And while you can usually buy washing soda in stores, it’s also surprisingly 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, a baking soda bath 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 and Deodorize Wet Mattresses

Speaking of little ones, baking soda can help you dry and deodorize mattresses after a bed-wetting incident. Use towels to soak up as much moisture as you can from the mattress, then sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the entire damp area and let it sit for two hours.

The baking soda will not only draw out the remaining moisture in the mattress, but it will also eliminate odors and leave it smelling fresher. When the baking soda dries out, vacuum it up, then spritz the mattress with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar.

10. Freshen Mattresses

Regular baking soda treatments can help keep your mattress fresh over time, too. Just sprinkle baking soda evenly over your mattress, let it sit for an hour, and then vacuum it up to get rid of unwanted odors, dust mites, and moisture.

11. Preserve the Color of Cooked Veggies

When cooking green vegetables, add a pinch 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.

12. Remove Burnt Food From Pots & Pans

To remove burnt food from a pot or pan, fill it with water, add 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!

13. Remove Carpet Stains

Use baking soda to help treat and remove 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.

14. Deodorize Food Storage Containers

Do you re-use plastic food containers? Deodorize them 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.

15. Make Extra Fluffy Omelets

Make your morning omelet extra fluffy by adding a small amount of baking soda! Just add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda for every 3 eggs in your omelet(s).

16. 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.

17. ‘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!

18. Deodorize Smelly Drains

Have a smelly drain in your kitchen sink or bathtub? Sprinkle baking soda down 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 boiling water afterwards to clear out the loosened gunk.

19. 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 to make a paste and scrub!

20. 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!)

21. Keep Flowers Fresh

Keep fresh-cut flowers alive longer by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to the vase of water.

22. 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, dissolve a few tablespoons of baking soda in the water, then soak your veggies in the water for 10 minutes. Rinse under clean water before drying. (And by the way, you don’t need to wash pre-washed greens and lettuce!)

23. Kill Insects 

Baking soda is a safe and effective way to get rid of ants. Just mix baking soda and powdered sugar, then sprinkle it in corners or cupboards where insects are present.

24. 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. Baking soda is also a featured ingredient in my highly effective homemade dishwasher detergent.

25. Remove Brown Stains From Sheet Pans

A paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is one of the only things I found that can actually remove stubborn stains from sheet pans. (As a bonus, it’s also a powerhouse combination for fighting bathroom stains!)

26. Brighten Dingy Nails

Use a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water to brighten your manicure! Use a damp cloth to 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.

27. Eliminate Musty Smells From Towels

Towels can easily develop an unpleasant mildew smell, but you can fix smelly towels easily with baking soda and vinegar. A vinegar wash followed by a baking soda wash will kick those odors to the curb! The powerful combination of baking soda and vinegar can be used to clean a lot of things around the house.

28. Brighten Grey Hair Naturally

The occasional baking soda treatment can brighten gray hair naturally by removing buildup from body oil and hair products. Just mix equal parts of baking soda and shampoo and massage it into your hair. Let it work for a couple of minutes, then rinse and condition. (Do this only as needed to avoid drying out your scalp!)

29. Fight Bad Breath

A baking soda and water mouth rinse can neutralize the acidity of plaque, which can contribute to bad breath. Just rinse your mouth with 1 teaspoon of baking soda per quarter cup of water. Swish good and hard to get out any little food particles that might be hiding in nooks and crannies.

30. Make Baking Powder

Make your own baking powder at home is as simple as mixing 1 part baking soda with 2 parts cream of tartar. As an added bonus, the resulting baking powder is fully gluten free, unlike some brands you’ll find in stores.

31. Prevent Garbage Odors

Keep kitchen and bathroom trash cans smelling fresh with the help of baking soda! Just sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your trash bag every once in a while, or sprinkle a handful of baking soda on the bottom of the empty receptacle before lining it with a new bag.

32. Put Out Kitchen Fires

Grease fires can quickly get out of control in a kitchen, and putting water on them can actually make it worse! When you’re cooking with oil or grease, keep a pan lid and a box of baking soda nearby. If a grease fire starts, immediately put the lid on the pan and smother the flames with baking soda.

What other uses for baking soda would you add to this list?

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