Why Use Baking Soda for Household Cleaning

If you're always looking for a more eco-friendly way to clean, you're in luck. Baking soda is one of the most versatile and effective home cleaning solutions, helping you remove tough stains, polish countertops, and even scrub bathrooms. Whether you're looking to save money on cleaning products or use fewer chemicals at home, learning about the benefits of using baking soda for household cleaning will help you.

Baking Soda Basics

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which you may remember learning about in high school chemistry class. While it's a staple in a baker's pantry and often touted as a DIY teeth-whitener, baking soda is actually a highly versatile alkaline leavening agent.

When baking soda reacts with an acid, like vinegar, it releases carbon dioxide. In baking, this helps recipes like muffins and cookies rise. During cleaning, the same reaction can produce powerful carbonic acid that lifts dirt, stains, and grime from surfaces. Its abrasive texture is great for scrubbing away dirt, while the odor-neutralizing properties can leave you with a fresher, cleaner home without the need for chemical-fueled air fresheners or other cleaning solutions.

When to Use Baking Soda as a Cleaning Product

There are many benefits of using baking soda for household cleaning, including in the kitchen and bathroom, which are two of the most heavily used and frequently cleaned parts of a home.

Because of its mildly abrasive texture, baking soda is great for removing tougher stains and grime. It's often used to:

• Scrub pots and pans
• Clean sinks
• Remove grease from stovetops and microwaves
• Unclog drains when mixed with vinegar
• Clean counters

You can even use baking soda sprinkled on carpets and rugs as a natural deodorizer. It can be mixed with water to form a paste that is easy to apply around sinks, tubs, and showers, as well as dishes that need a good scrubbing.

The only time you should avoid using baking soda for cleaning is on aluminum, as it can cause the metal to oxidize and rust. You should also avoid using abrasive baking soda on delicate surfaces, such as glass stovetops or finished furniture, as it could strip paint.

How Do You Use Baking Soda to Clean?

The simplest way to clean with baking soda is to mix it with a bit of water to form a paste. This gives you a universal cleaning solution that's a superhero stain remover for bathrooms, kitchens, countertops, stovetops, and more. There are no chemicals involved, so you don't have to worry about health risks to you, your children, or your pets.

When you want a fizzier reaction to really lift hard-to-remove stains or grease, first apply baking soda to the area, then add some white vinegar on top. Use a 2:1 ratio of baking soda to vinegar first, and add more as needed.

Here are some different ways you can actually use baking soda around the house.

Freshen Laundry

Baking soda is actually great at brightening fabrics, softening clothes, and boosting your wash cycle. You can add 1/2 cup to a load of laundry to brighten your clothes and towels naturally without bleach. Adding baking soda to your laundry can also help prevent white garments from turning yellow over time.

Another reason you may want to keep some baking soda handy on laundry day is its natural odor-eliminating properties. It acts as a natural buffer, neutralizing odor-causing compounds and turning them into neutral salts. This lets you get fresher-smelling clothes without relying on artificial fresheners.

As another advantage, baking soda can help soften and brighten clothes for far less money than fabric softeners and whiteners. This helps reduce chemical use and plastic consumption and lowers your monthly expenses!

Clean Pots and Pans

That sigh of frustration when you finish cooking dinner doesn't have to become a sigh of defeat the next day. Instead of endlessly scrubbing a stain that won't budge, you can use baking soda and vinegar to make a natural cleaning solution. Crusted food residue and grease are much easier to remove with just a bit of baking soda, vinegar, and some scrubbing.

Clean and Descale the Washing Machine

Over time, your washing machine can accumulate a lot of grime and even limescale, which can stop it from working efficiently. An easy way to combat this is to add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the machine and 2 cups of white vinegar to the drum of a top-loading machine; for front-loading machines, add the baking soda to the well and the vinegar to the fabric softener tray.

Run a full, empty cycle with hot water, and let the dynamic cleaning duo work its magic!

Clean Windows

Windows with stubborn stains can be easily cleaned with baking soda and water, or with a fizzier, vinegar-based solution. Grab your spray bottle, mix your ingredients, and wipe the glass clean with a soft microfiber or cotton cloth!

If your windows are older and perhaps need an upgrade, Arcadia Sash and Door is always here to help. View our main office and contact details to get in touch with an expert who can bring new life to your home!

Polish Grout

Grout is probably at the bottom of everyone's list of fun things to clean, but it doesn't have to be such a headache! You can use baking soda paste and a vinegar spray to get that like-new sparkle in just a few minutes. When you scrub, work in slow, methodical circles.

If your grout is unsealed, stick with just baking soda and water to make a paste you can scrub into the grout. This will prevent mold and damage.

Get Rid of Garbage Smells

As trash sits in a bag, it begins to break down and cause an odor. Food leftovers are among the most common causes of foul smells in the trash can. A simple trick is to sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda into your garbage bag, then simply take the trash out as normal when it's full.

You can also deep-clean your garbage cans with baking soda paste. If you have a large trash can, you can use 1 cup of baking soda with 1 gallon of water. For smaller cans, use 1/2 cup and 1 liter. Remember, you can always add more water to achieve the desired consistency, and baking soda rinses easily.

Freshening Your Home With New Upgrades

The benefits of using baking soda for household cleaning include fewer chemicals, less money spent on products, and pet-friendly solutions that leave your house sparkling. Be sure to check out more of our blog posts for housekeeping tips you'll love.

If you'd like to explore home upgrades with an expert, contact Arcadia Sash and Door! We offer free estimate scheduling for residents in Arcadia, CA!