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.
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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.
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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?
I tried the
Please log in or create a free account to comment.“tile grout cleaner, mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste, and scrub the grout with the paste and a toothbrush.” today. WOW, amazing. I had previously tried all sorts of cleaning things…literally everything, and nothing worked. This does! Thank you! :-)
Jillee, I would like to know on the mattress one, how much baking soda do you use?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I LOVE baking soda too, I go through crazy amounts of it because I use it for everything. That and vinegar (white distilled) are the primary cleaning products in my home. I add a little of both to the dishwater when I have pots and pans to hand wash (along with Dawn power clean) works like a charm and cuts down on scrubbing. My all time favorite use though is to add it to my shampoo every other day. I suffer from severe dandruff, which is probably something closer to psoriasis but I’ve never seen a dermatologist for it because if I use the baking soda the itching goes away completely. Mind you it doesn’t COMPLETELY cut down the flaking but it does improve it considerably. I used to use t-gel but I had to use it daily and eventually it stopped working. The baking soda works better than anything else I’ve tried and never quits working. I have found that it dries out my hair a little but using a GOOD conditioner solves it. I would love to try the no-poo method, but with my scalp condition I know I can’t, adding it to my shampoo helps the bsoda to be scrubbed into my scalp better since I have very thick hair.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sprite, the product you need for your head is called Nizoral in the blue and white box. It isn’t all natural like the recipes here, but IT WORKS! I, too, had flaking like mad, itching and even oozing. They told me it was NOT psoriasis, but couldn’t tell me what it was or how to get it to stop. Nizoral (in the medicated shampoo section of the pharmacy) is the ONLY thing that works.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Maybe like me you have severe seborrhea and I have used a salicylic acne cleaner when it starts itching and builds up. Try an unbuffered aspirin in a paste or more water and let set a few minutes..
love Love LOVE all your tips Jillee…came across your site via Pinterest and have already tried out half a dozen of your suggestions. I am with Molly O though on the mattress re-freshener. How much Baking Soda do you use? What is the ratio of liquid fabric softener to baking soda?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When I’m ready to store my ice chests after using, I pour in 1/2 cup baking soda to keep them smelling fresh until the next use. Never another musty smelling ice chest!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great for suitcases too.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks, Jillee for the tips. Question on the mattress freshening, though. Approx what ratio of soda to fabric softener? High ratio would be a paste, but if just a little, wouldn’t the mixture still be too chunky to spread? Can you help confused girl out on this one? :) Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m confused with you Molly. I want to do this to my inherited mattress…1 Tablespoon to a box? or… Help :) Thanks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I too would like to know.
As would I…
Anyone figure this ratio out?!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would love to know too! I just inherited a mattress and boxsprings and fabreeze is not doing enough.
I, too, sing the praises of baking soda! It is one of the ingredients that I use daily for an almost endless list of uses. The dollar weed idea has piqued my interest and am going to take a box of bs outside (just as soon as it cools down some) to sprinkle on some of the weeds (dollar & other) I have. Maybe I’ll even put some on the fire ants to see what happens.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.@ Sw33tp3a pour white distilled vinegar on ants. They will be gone the next day!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Try vinegar full strength and spray on weeds. Maybe even the vinegar then soda.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.when using baking soda before vacuuming you say try adding cinnamon..how much would you recomend?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Breeze….I would add a teaspoon of cinnamon to a cup of baking soda. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.FYI, make sure that if you are using baking soda as an indigestion cure that you don’t use too much of it as it can throw off your body’s acid/base balance
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just found out the other day that I can buy a 50# bag of baking soda at the local feed store where I get feed for our chickens. Less than $10 for the bag! I can make my own washing soda now so this will save me a ton of money. Now to figure out where to store it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Ahhh…always a dilemma in my house too! STORAGE! Good luck! That’s an awesome deal. You’ll save TONS! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A six gallon bucket may hold all of it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What are great idea– I forgot all about DIY washing soda. 50 lbs is still a lot. I was trying to visualize 50 lb– really its just about the size of 4 of the Walmart pool size bags. Then again I can always split it with someone.
I like to sprinkle BS in, my trunk & vacuum it out a while later.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You also can use baking soda as base for poo-free shampoo: http://hairgrowthandcare.com/how-to-make-hair-growth-faster-naturally/
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That link does not work Elena. Is it correct or did the site change?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My husband uses to clean his Camelback which is a water bladder backpack for bike riders. He rinses it out, puts some water in it and adds some soda, shakes it and drains it. He leaves the soda in it to help it dry out. When he is ready to refill it, he rinses the remaining soda out and refills it with water or Gatorade. He has used the same Camelback for over 10 years using this method to keep it and the tubing clean.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have used a baking soda paste on shingles blisters. It immediately takes away the itching and stinging and cools down the pain (if you have had shingles, you will know this hot pain). It also dries out the blisters. Love BS and keep an industrial-size bag under my kitchen sink and clean the stains from my white porcelain sink every week.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What is the ratio you use for the shingles paste? A good friend of mine has developed shingles and can’t seem to find anything that gives her relief. I’d really like to pass this tip on to her.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My little girl got thrush in her mouth and none of the medications the doctor gave me worked, so I put baking soda on it and guess what? Completely gone! And I washed her toys with vinegar and lemon juice and I’ve never seen the thrush again. Yay for natural remedies, and they work even better anyway!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wish I had known this sooner! lol I keep getting thrush and my doc thinks it’s from my CPAP machine. He told me to wash the hose and mask parts in 1 to 1 mixture of water and vinegar and to brush my tongue with baking soda. So much better than taking prescription after prescription!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Denna, I soak my mask and hose in a sink full of water and add (Dawn) Antibacterial dishwashing liquid. This is what the medical supply folks told me to do.Hope it helps. :)
Debbie, The medical supply folks told you wrong. Use a milder soap than Dawn. As I replied to Denna, I have a bucket that I only use for cleaning my CPAP mask. I use a very mild soap & soak it for 1/2 hour, rinse well, then let it dry on a towel (used only for my mask).
Denna, I’ve been told from the medical supply company that you should never use vinegar to clean your CPAP. It can pit your mask which can render it useless. I have a small bucket that I only use for my CPAP mask. I use a mild liquid soap & let it soak for a 1/2 hour. Then I rinse it quite well with warm water & let it dry on a small towel that is only used for my mask. I’ve never had thrush or any other problem in my mouth. Good luck!
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Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use a handful of Baking Soda and a swig of coke or sprite when I have bad indegestion. Within a minute the indegestion is gone! Precription medication doesn’t even work like a 25 cent box of Baking Soda does!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.after reading all the benefits of using baking soda I had to add one our family has used for generations. For any type of upset stomach, use one whole limon (yellow) and the tip of a spoon of baking soda, mix together and drink immediatly. This helps settle your stomach problem, you might have to do it more than once (every few hours as needed) its almost like alkaseltzer, but way cheaper.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.im absolutly in LOVE with baking soda i go thru at least 1 big box a week at my house! lol about once a week ill make the face scrub let it sit on till it dries then hop in the shower and rinse it off, then i att it to my shampoo to help get all the styling products (and anything else my lovely lil men have decided to put in there! lol) out, add a bit to my toothpaste and brush my teeth with it which has definatly made them whiter! i also scrub my tounge ring with the bs toothpaste mix… another thing i use it for is i scrub my stove and countertops with baking soda and water paste then come back around and spray them down with vinager and water (half an half) with a bit of lemon juice mixed in… i have neverr seen my stove sparkle so bright!!! plus my house smells of fresh lemons afterward i love it!!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That baking soda uti trick also works really well for indigestion/acid reflux as a natural remedy. Mix a Tbls in a glass of luke warm water, drink, wait 10-15 minutes and viola, acid is neutralized! Beats spending 15-20$ on OTC meds
Please log in or create a free account to comment.katie another GREAT thingfor acid reflux is drinking lemon water!! i usually just put a lemon wedge in my glass of water in the morning and leave it in there all day as i refill.. i suffer from really bad reflux and once i started doing this i dont even have the slightest trace of heartburn or anything dont even have to take my medication anymore! plus lemon water does so many other great things for you body!! and then at the end of the day i throw the lemon wedge down the garbage disposal so my disposal smells GREAT!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My acupuncturist told me to put fresh lemon juice and about 2TBLS of baking soda in water and drink it in the morning to help bring the alkalinity level up. If I remember I also will do it in the evening at bedtime.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.SPIDER BITE: Make a paste with warm water and apply to spider bites. Leave on for 20 minute and then wipe off with clean warm wash cloth. Do this a couple of times until bite has healed. You will see a reduce in the redness after the first time. The baking soda helps to draw the poison out. Of course if you think it is a poisonous spider bite seek medical attention.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was told by a pharmist to make a paste of plain meat tenderizer (with no add spices in it) and apply it to spider bites or misquiteo bites. Leave it on there for about 15- 20 min. and wash with a warm wash cloth.I had done this after our son who was bitten three to four times on his back by a Hobo Spider. It drew out the poison and shrunk it down and went away after a couple of days. Of course if it’s a “nasty” one seek medical help.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Was kitten-sitting for a friend and the little guy pooped all over my brand new microfiber sofa. Wiped it off, used a wet sponge with a dab of Dawn to clean the spot, and then put a good amount of baking soda all over the area. I waited a few hours and then vacuumed up the baking soda and you would never know that anything ever happened!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I do the baking soda in the brewed tea. It works well..
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You have no idea how much I love you! Cat litter trays, air freshner (love the smell of fabric softener) and drains are happening this evening!
Also when you say vinegar…is white malt vingear the same as white vinegar? I’m having real trouble finding white vinegar in London :(
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Not quite. Look for (or ask for) distilled vinegar, or spirit vinegar. Malt vinegar, even white, still has that distinctive “malt” odor.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree with Katy. (Thanks Katy!) Look for distilled. I love you too. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I created my “at home” version of Mary Kay’s Satin Hands (the old 3-step version). Start some warm water running in the sink (you’re hands are about to get goopy!)…slather on some of “Jillee’s substitute petroleum jelly“, next rub in a generous amount of baking soda to exfoliate, then squirt on some handwash (any kind will do, really). Rub that in so that it breaks up the greasy-paste on your hands. Next, rinse & apply some hand lotion! BEAUTIFULLY soft hands!! :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great Idea! Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Joanne….this sounds WONDERFUL! Can’t wait to try this! I added a link to the non-petroleum jelly post…I hope you don’t mind. :-)
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