Cleaning Uses for the Miracle Powder That is Baking Soda!

you've heard it before -- baking soda is a great, natural cleaning agent -- but that information is pretty much useless unless you know HOW to use baking soda to clean different things or areas in your home. Well, you’re about to learn seven amazing cleaning uses for bicarb soda, along with quick guides and tips that help use the powder to its full potential!

Because baking soda is a very gentle cleaning agent, it can be used to clean an endless number of things without the worry of causing any damage to the surface. With that said, it is commonly used as a core ingredient along with distilled vinegar and/or other natural ingredients. Nonetheless, bicarb soda is very handy to have in your home even if you aren’t much of a baker! 

So, stock up on this miracle powder and find our top seven effective cleaning uses for baking soda below.

Clean Crayon Off the Wall

Some painted walls such as high-gloss finishes are easy and safe to clean even with a little more water or liquid than required. On the other hand, other types of painted walls including eggshell and flat finishes require careful cleaning with a gentle cleaning agent -- otherwise known as bicarb soda! To remove crayon from your painted wall with baking soda, simply mix 1 teaspoon of the powder in 2 cups of water; stir it well. Dip a soft cloth or sponge into the mixture and wring it thoroughly (so that it is not dripping wet); use this to gently wipe off the crayon from your wall. 

De-stain Plastic Food Containers

Certain types of foods including gravy and oily/greasy foods can discolour/stain plastic food containers. This makes them look rather shabby which, in turn, encourages owners to discard them. Before you think of doing the same, give this incredibly simple cleaning method with bicarb soda a try:

1. Soak the container in approximately 5 cups of warm water and 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda (stirred and mixed properly). 
2. Wait for 30 minutes before scrubbing the container using the same solution and a clean scrubber.
3. If the stains do not come out after the first soak and scrub, simply repeat the process and finish off by scrubbing the container with liquid dish detergent and water. 

Clean Grimy Counters

Believe it or not, all you need for cleaning a greasy, grimy counter is baking soda and warm water! The use of bicarb soda breaks down common kitchen buildup caused by grease while also eliminating dullness from the surface. For best results, you will need to give the counter a pre-wipe down using just a damp cloth; this should take care of any loose debris on the surface. Next, make a solution of warm water and baking soda (adjust the strength as needed), and use a scrubber to clean off grease and grime from your counter.

Freshen Up Carpets

Have you ever wondered why the dingy smell in your carpet doesn't go away even after vacuuming it? Well, that’s because carpet odours need to be absorbed before they can be removed. In fact, some carpet cleaning solutions merely disguise the smell which is only a temporary solution. To counter this, a surefire way to remove carpet odours and freshen up the material can be achieved by sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda over the carpet and leaving the powder to absorb the smell for as long as possible. Overnight is typically advised, however, even 4-6 hours can help remove bad odours from your carpet. At the end of the sitting time, simply vacuum the carpet to remove the baking soda along with the absorbed odour!

Clean & Buff Stainless Steel

While stainless steel utensils and appliances can be cleaned with soap and water, they aren’t as effective as a natural cleaning solution consisting of white vinegar and baking soda. Together, this combination tackles grease and stubborn stains while leaving the steel shiny and spotless! To clean your stainless steel with this solution, measure 4 cups of white vinegar and add in 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda; when the reaction dies down, mix in 3-4 cups of water. Use this solution to wipe down your stainless steel with a soft cloth or sponge to remove grime and stains.

Make Washed Laundry Brighter

There are commercial products on the market that claim to brighten up laundry (particularly whites), and a lot of them do live up to this promise. Of course, a cheaper and incredibly effective alternative like baking soda is widely preferred for its natural bleaching properties. So, to make your washed laundry come out brighter than normal, put in a load, add the usual detergent to it, and sprinkle in a cup of baking soda.

NOTE: Baking soda can be used to brighten both coloured and white fabrics, however, more effective results can be observed in the case of the latter.

Clean the Toilet Bowl

For this, you will need white vinegar and baking soda. This method is also tried and tested for removing stubborn mineral build up in toilet bowls. Gather the two ingredients and follow the steps below:

1. Depending on how dirty or stained the bowl is, add in 1-2 cups of baking soda.
2. Follow this up with 1-2 cups of distilled vinegar.
3. Allow the ingredients to break down grime for at least 45 minutes while the lid is down.
4. While most of the residue will be loosened due to the vinegar and baking soda, light scrubbing with a toilet brush may be required for stubborn stains.
5. Rinse off the bowl interiors by flushing the toilet.
   

Baking soda is a great natural ingredient for removing odours nearly everywhere in the home. You can even use it to clean fruit before eating.

If you haven’t tried cleaning with baking soda in the past, the future for your home is certainly looking bright with MaidForYou’s top seven household cleaning uses for this miracle ingredient!