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10 Surprising Uses for Baking Soda
This nontoxic pantry staple is great for deodorizing and removing grime
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Baking soda is a versatile ingredient that is definitely worth having in your cleaning basket. “It’s very cost-effective, and most people have it somewhere, either in the fridge or in the pantry. And it’s multipurpose,” says Michael Silva-Nash, brand president of Molly Maid.
Baking soda is nontoxic. “It’s safe for pets, safe for kids, safe for seniors, safe for everyone,” says Silva-Nash.
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From eliminating odors to lifting stains from your carpet, here is everything you need to know about this versatile and economical household pantry item.
First up: A couple of pro tips
Baking soda can lift grime, remove stains and deodorize, but it’s not a disinfectant. “There’s a light cleaning action and it deodorizes, but it doesn’t actually kill germs in the way that disinfectants do,” says Chris Willatt, founder of Alpine Maids, based in Colorado. (If you’re looking for a household staple that does disinfect, look to another pantry staple: hydrogen peroxide).
For scrubbing or removing grime or grease, make a paste by mixing baking soda with water. Combine three parts baking soda to one part water for a toothpaste consistency, says Willatt.
Here’s how it can make your home sparkle.
Keep garbage smells at bay
Want to keep unpleasant scents at bay in your garbage can? Dust baking soda at the bottom of the garbage pail to absorb any foul odors. “I’ll clean out my garbage can once a month, let it dry completely, and then I sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on the bottom,” says Tonya Harris, an environmental toxin expert and founder of Slightly Greener.
You can also put baking soda in the garbage bag to keep your trash area smelling fresh, says Silva-Nash.
Remove strong odors after car spills
Spilling coffee in your car means a brown stain and a lingering coffee smell that may never go away. “Baking soda gets to the root of the odor and neutralizes it rather than just masking it,” says Harris.
Harris once spilled coffee all over her car and knew that if she sprayed it with an air freshener, it would smell like coffee plus the added scent.
“I sprinkled baking soda on the carpets in my car, and then I took paper towels and put them on my [leather] seat so I could sprinkle the baking soda over them,” she says. “I let it sit overnight, and the next morning the smell was completely gone.”
You can sprinkle on fabric car seats directly. Be sure to have a vacuum ready to get it up.
Scrub the oven to a sparkle
Baking soda, used in combination with a vinegar spray, comes to the rescue for grime or tough stains in the oven.
“Sprinkle a light layer of baking soda in the bottom of your oven,” says Harris. Put vinegar in a spray bottle and spray over the baking soda so it fizzes and brings up any grime or food residue, she says.
The other option is to use baking soda and water paste. Apply it with a damp sponge, scrub and then rinse really well, she says.
Get rid of carpet stains
Challenging stains on the carpet can be remedied with baking soda. Added bonus: Baking soda gets rid of the smells too.
“I have gotten [out] red wine stains by sprinkling a little bit of baking soda on the carpet and then spraying it with vinegar,” says Harris. “When it bubbles up, just blot, don’t wipe.”
You’ll see the stain coming out of the carpet, and you may have to do this a few times, she adds. She usually does one part baking soda to two parts vinegar and tends to eyeball it.
Make sure to check a small section of fabric before applying baking soda to the stain. “I always recommend testing an area separately first,” says Harris.
Wipe away stains on your favorite mug
If you have a favorite mug for your morning cup of joe or tea, it may have light stains. Apply a baking soda paste and then scrub the tea or coffee stain with a sponge and let it sit for three to 15 minutes, says Silva-Nash. It’s super simple and super safe, he adds.
Silva-Nash, a self-proclaimed “big coffee drinker,” recommends doing this once a year with your favorite mugs that have that stain line [showing] that they have received a little extra love throughout the years.
Deodorize your fur baby’s pet bed
Is your dog or cat bed starting to emit an odor but you don’t want to wash the bedding for the umpteenth time? Harris applies baking soda to pet bedding to eliminate odors. Instead of throwing bedding in the wash every time there’s an unpleasant scent, she sprinkles baking soda on the pet bed, lets it sit for 15 to 30 minutes and then vacuums it up.
Clean your stainless steel sink
If you’re noticing grime in your stainless steel sink or simply want to give it a good scrub, apply baking soda. Baking soda removes stains without scratching the stainless steel, says Silva-Nash.
Sprinkle some baking soda and then use a non-scratch sponge. He recommends using baking soda weekly for everyday use, but if there are more difficult stains, another cleaner may be appropriate.
Whiten grout
Noticing that the grout between your kitchen or bathroom tiles has grime? Scrub grout with baking soda to whiten it. “I like to clean grout with an old toothbrush that you have lying around instead of a sponge because it lets you get in there a little bit better than a large surface scrub or sponge,” says Silva-Nash. “Then you just scrub and rinse.”
Baking soda will also help with grime buildup and everyday stains, such as soap scum, he says. If the grout is super stained or there is black mold, you’ll need a dedicated cleaner or bleach, he adds.
Eliminate smelly shoes
After a workout or when feet have been sweating on a hot day, a musty or stinky odor may emanate from your sneakers. The easiest way to remove the unpleasant smell is to put some baking soda in your shoes and let it sit overnight, says Silva-Nash.
Harris offers a time-saving step so you don’t have to vacuum up the baking soda. “Put some baking soda in a coffee filter, tie it up with a rubber band, stick it in your shoes and leave it overnight,” she says. “I don’t have to vacuum anything out the next morning.”
You can also put the coffee filter sachet in a gym bag or any place where you want to remove odors, she adds.
Deodorize upholstery
If you have older sofas or recliners with a musky or funky odor, apply baking soda to lift the smells. Lightly sprinkle the baking soda, making sure the furniture is equally covered, leave it for 30 minutes to an hour and then vacuum, says Silva-Nash.
“One of the ways that baking soda works so well to deodorize or neutralize odors is because it can neutralize moisture,” says Harris. Baking soda removes moisture, which is why it shouldn’t be used on leather since it can strip out the moisture in the natural oils, she adds.
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