A box of baking soda is a versatile household tool. It offers practical solutions for your entire home – from cooking to cleaning. With its multi-purpose abilities, here are 16 practical ways to put baking soda to work around the house.
Meat Tenderizer
Baking soda is a practical choice for tenderizing meat and enhancing the texture and taste of your steak, chicken, or turkey. Tenderized cuts of meat are not only easier to slice and chew but also boast improved flavor and juiciness. You can achieve this with the help of baking soda.
Wash Fruits and Vegetables
Mom always used to say, ‘Wash your fruits and veggies,’ and for good reason. From how it is transported to the number of hands that touch it in the supermarket, there’s no telling how filthy those things are. That’s where baking soda comes in. Simply add some baking soda to your water mix and wash your fruits and vegetables. Just make sure to rinse off any residue when you’re done.
Brush Teeth
No toothpaste, no problem. Baking soda can help. Simply brushing or rinsing with baking soda can remove surface stains, whiten teeth, reduce plaque, and freshen breath. To use it in your oral care routine, wet your toothbrush, dip it in a bit of baking soda, and brush. Just remember not to overdo it.
Remove Scuff Marks off the Floor
When traditional mopping falls short in removing scuff marks from your floor, experimenting with baking soda could be worthwhile. Prepare a mixture of baking soda and water, apply it to the marked area, and then wipe it down. Baking soda is highly effective in addressing dirt and scuffs on surfaces like ceramic and luxury vinyl plank floors.
How To Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring
Cleanse the Dishwasher
While a dishwasher is primarily designed for cleaning dishes, there are times when it could use a thorough cleaning itself. This is particularly true if your dishes aren’t coming out clean, your glasses appear cloudy, or an unpleasant odor is lingering.
Sprinkle a generous portion of baking soda in your dishwasher and run an empty cycle. This will swiftly refresh and clean the appliance. Engaging in routine maintenance is essential for maintaining your dishwasher’s consistent performance.
How to Clean a Dishwasher with Baking Soda
Unclog the Sink
Baking soda can help unclog the sink drain drain. It can also help to remove those pesky drain flies that tend to appear during warmer months. Pour some baking soda down the drain and follow up with vinegar. You will start to see a bubbling effect. Allow it to work its magic, then complete the process by flushing it down with hot water.
Dirty Grout
Whether you have white or black grout in the bathroom or kitchen, baking soda is perfect for cleaning your grout. Grout can be a challenge to clean in general, but baking soda makes the process much easier.
Coffee Maker
If you frequently use the coffee maker in your household, then the rule of thumb is to clean it at least once a month. The cleaning process requires flushing out the coffee machine using vinegar. You then use baking soda to create a little scrub to clean the inside of the coffee pot. The baking soda will scour the coffee pot buildup removing existing coffee stains.
Brighten Your Towels
Baking soda can serve as a laundry detergent substitute. For stained towels, using baking soda can effectively revive them. It helps soften the water and preserves the brightness of white fabrics.
Deodorize the Refrigerator
Baking soda proves useful for tackling stubborn stains and stubborn, ingrained dirt. It also works well to counteract unpleasant odors in a refrigerator. By placing an open container of baking soda inside the fridge, you can effectively neutralize and absorb undesirable smells.
Clean Thrifted Shoes
For those who appreciate thrifting, cleaning thrift items, especially shoes can be a bit of a challenge. This is where baking soda can be helpful. Sprinkling baking soda inside the shoes can effectively absorb and neutralize any lingering odors.
12 Ways to Get Smells Out of Clothes
Jewelry Cleaner
Baking soda makes an excellent cleaning agent for jewelry. Combined with an old toothbrush and water, you clean thoroughly clean jewelry to get it shining and sparkling again.
Scrub Pots and Pan
Cleaning pots and pans, particularly when dealing with tough stains, can be a challenge. Baking soda is useful for heavy-duty cleaning and can help with burnt pots. Its mild scrubbing power can effectively remove scorched areas from the pot.
Remove Grime in the Oven
Opting for baking soda offers an alternative to using potent solutions like Easy Off. Though it may demand a bit more effort than typical commercial products, it’s highly effective. The method involves creating a paste using baking soda and water, which is then applied to the interior of the oven, focusing on the areas with stubborn dark spots and grime. Allowing it to sit and penetrate, you’ll find that wiping it down with a damp cloth afterward yields impressive results.
Get Rid of Coffee Stains in Mugs
Baking soda’s scouring power is effective in removing coffee stains from your mugs and restoring their previous look.
Get Tough Coffee Stains Out of Carpet
Whether it’s a small dribble or a full-blown coffee catastrophe, baking soda can help to remove tough coffee stains from your carpet so you can say goodbye to those unsightly brown marks for good.
How to Clean Coffee Stains From Carpet
10 Aluminum Foil Hacks Your Mom Might Not Have Taught You
Aluminum foil is a useful kitchen staple known for its versatility and reliability. Surprisingly, this household staple goes beyond just covering your favorite dishes in the oven. There’s so much more that you can do with aluminum foil, as it has so many practical uses. So, if you’ve only used aluminum foil to line your baked dishes, you are in for a treat. Here are ten ways to use aluminum foil to simplify your life and household tasks.
10 Aluminum Foil Hacks Your Mom Might Not Have Taught You
10 Uses for Dryer Sheets You Probably Didn’t Know About (And It’s Not Laundry)
Dryer sheets have earned their place as a laundry room essential, adding fresh scent and reducing static in our clothes. They’re appreciated for making laundry softer and more fragrant. But these sheets offer more than just laundry benefits. In fact, they can be quite handy around the house. Here are ten ways you use laundry sheets for more than just laundry.
10 Uses for Dryer Sheets You Probably Didn’t Know About (And It’s Not Laundry)
WD-40 Is Not Just For Squeaky Doors. Here are 10 Ways You Can Use It Around the House
For many of us, purchasing WD-40 is often prompted by the need to silence a squeaky door, only for the can to be shelved and forgotten. You’d be surprised to know that this well-known spray has numerous practical uses. Here are ten ways to make the most of WD-40 in your home.
WD-40 Is Not Just For Squeaky Doors. Here are 10 Ways You Can Use It Around the House
Tamara White is the creator and founder of The Thrifty Apartment, a home decor and DIY blog that focuses on affordable and budget-friendly home decorating ideas and projects. Tamara documents her home improvement journey, love of thrifting, tips for space optimization, and creating beautiful spaces.
