Baking soda is one of the most versatile ingredients you can have in the pantry. Want to know why? Well, apart from just adding it into your cake and pancake batter, it has multiple other uses as well, wherein you can use baking soda in your household.
From cleaning of tile grouting, to brightening dull cookware, to removing labels from glass jars, baking soda can do the trick!
Here are some of the best ways to use baking soda at home:
1. Clean white shoes
Mix 1 tbsp baking soda, 1 tsp hydrogen peroxide and 2 tbsp dish soap to make a mixture. Dip a clean toothbrush into the mixture and use it to scrub the dirt on your shoes. Wipe it with a damp cloth and dry it in a sunny place.
2. Clean your stovetop
Sprinkle some baking soda onto the surface of your stove top and leave it to sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Thereafter, take a damp towel, with a few drops of cleaning liquid and wipe down your stove top. Lastly, wipe with a clean dry towel.
3. Clean burnt pan
Add equal parts of vinegar and water on the burnt pan and bring it to a boil. Take off the heat and remove the vinegar water. Cover the burnt area with 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda and add a bit of water to make a paste.
Let it sit for 15 mins and then using a soft scrubber and scrub until all food bits and stained areas are clean. Rinse pan with warm soapy water.
4. Deodorize and unclog blocked drains
Use a funnel or using a spoon, pour down the drain ¼ cup of baking soda along with dish soap. Let it sit for 30 mins and gush it down hot water.
5. Remove sticky labels from glass jars
For this hack, you will need to fill in a bowl with warm water and drop in a little dishwashing liquid. Make sure the water is soapy enough. Then, submerge the jar until fully covered with the water and leave it to sit for an hour.
After an hour, to remove the sticky residue, apply some oil over the label and sprinkle some baking soda over it. Leave it to dry overnight and use a damp cloth and wipe off the label.
6. Clean your stainless steel sink
Sinks are always in use and it requires a deep clean once in a while. Simply make a paste of baking soda and dish soap, dip a scrubber/brush or half a lemon into it and use it to scrub your sink.
7. To remove rust from metal objects
Into a large container, place the object and soak it in vinegar. In case the object is very large, you can dilute the vinegar with some water. Let it sit for an hour or two.
Thereafter, take a damp coarse scrubber or steel wool and dip it in baking soda and use it to scrub the object. Once all the rust has come off, rinse with plain water or warm water, pat dry with a paper towel and lastly, using a cotton pad dipped in oil, oil the object to prevent further rusting.
8. Clean your microwave and deodorize it
Make a paste of 1 cup water and 2 tbsp baking soda. Pour the mixture into a microwaveable container and leave it unsealed. Microwave the solution for three minutes. Then, take a damp cloth wipe the inside and outside of your microwave.
9. Disinfect your kitchen sponges and kitchen towels
Make a mixture of baking soda, water, a little white vinegar and dishwashing liquid. Then, soak your kitchen sponges and kitchen towels in it for an hour or two. Then, rinse with plain or warm water.
10. Clean your dishwasher
Sprinkle some baking soda at the bottom of your dishwasher. Let your dishwasher run and it can help remove any hard leftover food particles/stains from the dishwasher and also freshen upt he dishwasher.
11. Deep clean Towels –
12. Sanitize your cutting boards
Bacteria can collect on cutting boards and scrubbing them with a paste made from baking soda and diluted white vinegar can help sanitize them.
13. Brighten silverware
In case you have any silverware in your house, make a paste of baking soda (3 parts) and water (1 part) and rub it all over your silverware. Then, wipe it with a clean towel and rinse it with plain water. Lastly, wipe it down with a dry cloth and enjoy the renewed shine, with a better sheen.
14. Brighten dull cookware and baking sheets
Make a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and apply it on the baking sheet or any cookware. Let it sit for 10 mins and then using a scrubber, scrub the baking sheet using a little dish soap and rinse it off.
15. Clean Jewelry
To clean jewelry, pour 1 cup (of hot water into a bowl and mix in 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda. Stir the mixture until the baking soda dissolves. Place gold and silver jewelry in the bowl along with few piece of aluminium foil and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then using a soft brush, scrub the jewelry and pat it dry with a towel.
16. Clean Mattresses
Open the box of baking soda and add 10 to 20 drops of your favourite essential oil. Give it a good mix and sprinkle it on the mattress. Baking soda can absorb moisture and odours. Let it sit for 10 mins and vacuum it off.
17. Clean and disinfect fruits and vegetables
For a mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon baking soda to every 2 cups water. Submerge the fruit or vegetables in the baking soda water. Let soak for 12 to 15 minutes before it rinse it off with plain water.
18. Clean tile grouting Method 1 – Title grouting often gets dirty and discolored and sometimes even covered with mildew. Use a paste of baking powder and hydrogen peroxide to scrub the grouting of your tiles, leave it on for an hour and rinse it off with plain water.
Method 2 – Add 4 cups warm water, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup vinegar and spray it on the grout. Let it sit on for 30 mins and scrub it off.
19. Deodorize carpet – Just sprinkle some baking soda mixed with essential oil on the carpet and then After sprinkling, spritz the area with a spray bottle filled with cool water. The carpet should be very damp but not sopping wet. After 15 mins, Use a scrub brush to scrub into the carpet fibers. When the carpet is dry, vacuum to remove any remaining baking soda from the fibers.
20. More baking soda hacks –