Bicarbonate of soda better known as baking soda has many great uses around the home. This everyday baking staple is so useful in fact it can replace multiple cleaning products and even make your skin glow.
Ways to use Bicarbonate Soda
There are many great ways to use bicarbonate of soda, otherwise known as baking soda, around the house to help keep it clean and smelling fresh.
Baking soda can be used as a:
Paste: Combine 3 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with 1 tablespoon of water. Adjust as necessary.
Solution: Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 litre of warm water.
Wiping: Apply baking soda directly onto a damp cloth or sponge.
For Cleaning
Scoring powder
One of the best ways to use bicarbonate of soda, is as a mild scouring powder. It can get into the nooks and crannies of textured surfaces to pull out dirt and grime, gently scrub away dirt and baked-on food, and is fine enough to use on general surfaces. Always be sure to test in a hidden spot for delicate surfaces.
Deodorise your carpet
Carpet deodorising powders are expensive but you can make your own using baking soda and essential oils of your choice. Mix a few drops of essential oil in a jar of baking soda. Shake and let sit overnight to spread the fragrance. In the morning, shake to break up clumps and sprinkle on the carpet. Leave for a couple of minutes before vacuuming up. Note: Spot check your carpet before using.
Clean your grout
Baking soda makes a great grout cleaner. The tiny pores in grout hold dirt and grime, making it near impossible to remove with basic mopping or cleaning. To really get your grout to shine like new, try using baking soda and a toothbrush to scrub the grout. Then spray the area with vinegar to create bubbles which will pull the dirt out of the small holes in the grout. Again, test in a hidden spot first.
Clean your sink drains
When you combine bicarbonate of soda with white vinegar, you create a chemical reaction that will bubble, scrubbing out your drains, cleaning them on the way through.
Cleaning Vases
Residue tends to build up in vases while using. An easy way to clean vases it to use a bicarbonate of soda solution (see above) in the vase. Allow to soak for around 30 minutes. Wipe clean and rinse with cold water.
Clean and Shine Floors
Brighten your floors by dissolving 100g of baking soda in a bucket of warm water. Mop and rinse.
Clean the Dishwasher
Easily clean your dishwasher by running a cycle with baking soda. To help eliminate odours in your dishwasher between cycles, try sprinkling a small amount of bicarb-soda onto the bottom on your dishwasher after use.
Polish Silver
Shine tarnished silver by combining three parts bi-carb soda with one part water. Rub onto silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
Clean the Oven
Make a bi-carb paste and scrub the one with it and a clean cloth. Rinse well. If you have an electric oven, make sure not to get any on the element as this may cause it to corrode.
Clean Lunch Boxes
Use a bi-carb solution to clean and refresh, stained and smelly lunch boxes.
In the Kitchen
Keep your refrigerator smelling fresh
We all know the trick where you can place a box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb odors. This can be done in the box or in a bowl to help make use of a bulk package of baking soda or to use the baking soda left over when you make a batch of cookies. You can also try making these natural fridge deodorises with baking soda.
Remove stains from dishes
Have you ever found yourself with a stained coffee cup or ceramic bowl? Scrubbing with a dishcloth will leave the stains, while a scrubber will often leave scratches that can make it worse. Instead, use a bit of bicarbonate of soda on the corner of your sponge or dish cloth, and gently scrub the stains on your dishes.
In place of baking powder
You can use baking soda and some form of acid, like buttermilk or vinegar, in place of baking powder in your recipes to give the same structure to your baked goods. If a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of baking powder, substitute with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice.
Wash Produce
Place a small amount of bi-carb soda into a sink of water and wash your fruits and vegetables. This will help remove any residue or dirt.
Remove Stubborn Food Stains
To remove stubborn food stains in your pots and pans, try adding a generous amount of baking soda to them. Add hot water and dishwashing detergent and let still for 15 minutes. Then, wash as usual.
Fluffy Omelettes
To create fluffier omelettes, try adding ½ teaspoon of bicarb-soda for every three eggs that you use in your omelette batter.
Eliminate Smelly Hands
Garlic, onion and fishy smells can be hard to remove from your hands. Try wetting your hands, then sprinkle on a little baking soda. Rub hands together well, then rinse and dry.
In the Bathroom
Deodorise your bathroom
Place a bowl of bicarbonate of soda on the shelf or the back of your toilet. Add a few drops of essential oil every few days to keep it smelling great. You can decorate the bowl with shells or trinkets to make it look like decor.
Remove stains from your toilet
You can use baking soda to help scrub away stains in your toilet. Try making this toilet cleaner using citric acid, baking soda, and some essential oils to help clean your toilet. For a quick and easy clean, try having some of these toilet bombs on hand to use when needed.
Unblock Drains
Pour 100g (4oz) of baking soda into your drain, followed by 100 ml (4 fl oz) of vinegar to quickly unclog drains. Flush out with some hot water when done.
Clean the Tub
Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda on a clean, damp cloth or sponge and scrub the tub. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry.
In the laundry
Fight laundry stains
A little baking soda mixed into your laundry detergent to make a paste is great for cleaning away hard-to-remove laundry stains. Use a scrubby brush or old toothbrush to brush the paste onto the stain.
Fresh clean laundry
Add around ½ cup of bi-carb soda to the wash cycle. This will help with giving you fresh, clean clothes, with whiter whites and brighter colours. If you do add the soda, then half the amount of laundry powder or liquid you use.
Boost your laundry soap
Bicarbonate of soda makes a great laundry booster. While washing soda is best for cleaning, baking soda, makes a great substitute for boosting your laundry detergent.
Freshen Towels
Freshen and clean musty towels by adding ½ cup of bi-carb soda to the rinse cycle of your washing machine.
Personal care
Facial Mask
Bicarbonate soda is great for making homemade facial masks or a scrub to help gently exfoliate your skin. It will help with giving you a brighter, more even skin tone and reduce acne issues.
To make a facial mask, simple mix two tablespoons of bi-carb soda with one tablespoon of melted coconut oil in a bowl. Gently massage the thick and runny mixture onto your skin. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse with water warm. Pat your face dry.
For a spot treatment for acne, mix a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda with a small amount of water until you get a thick paste. Apple directly to the pimple and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Tooth care
You can use baking soda in making your own tooth powder to brush your teeth with. Or, add a dusting to your toothbrush with your regular toothpaste to help remove stains from your teeth.
Relieve Insect Bites and Sunburn
Create a thick paste with bi-carb soda and a small amount of water. Apply a layer of the paste to the affected area and leave to dry.
You could also try soaking in a bath of 1 cup bi-carb soda with a warm bath. Make sure to soak the affected area while in the bath.
Clean Hair Brushes and Combs
To clean your hair brushes and combs, soak them in a mixture of 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and a small amount of warm water. Rinse and dry when done.
Treat Your Hair
To help keep your hair healthy and resistant to split ends, try mixing a little baking soda into your conditioner and lather onto your hand. Rinse as normal.
Calendula Fizzing Bath Powder
This Calendula Fizzing Bath Powder is so easy to make and provides all the same fun and fizzy bath experience as a bath bomb without the need of a bath bomb mould and a lot of extra time.
Lavender and Sweet Orange Bath Salts
These gorgeous smelling lavender and sweet orange bath salts are a great way to end a long day.
Around the Home
Reduce Cat Litter Odours
Baking soda is great for helping to control odours including those in your litter box. Line the bottom of your litter box with just a sprinkle of baking soda when you change it. Be sure to put this under the litter to avoid dust flying around that may bother your pet’s lungs.
Stinky Shoes
You can use baking soda sprinkled or placed into the foot of a stocking to make a great deodorizer for stinky shoes. If your shoes are wet and stinky you can use a mix of cat litter and baking soda to leave your shoes smelling great and dry them out for more comfort.
Deodoriser
Baking soda can be used to deodorise almost everything, including carpets, mattresses, rubbish bins, shoes, car upholstery and carpets, and pet beds. Simply sprinkle a small amount of baking soda, wait for 15 to 30 minutes then vacuum up.
To help clean tea towels, sponges and containers, soak them in water in a ratio of 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 cup of water.
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda into your wheelie bin after collection to help remove nasty odours.
Clean the BBQ
An easy way to keep your bbq grill clean is to add some baking soda to a damp brush and scrub. Rinse off when done scrubbing.
Kill Garden Weeds
One way to discourage weeds from growing between cracks in your driveway or walkways, is to sprinkle with a little bicarbonate of soda.
Ant Repellent
Bicarbonate of soda can be used as an effective ant repellent. To deter ants, simple sprinkle bi-carb soda near their usual entry point.
Remove Crayon Marks
To remove ‘artworks’ that have been drawn on your walls with crayons, wet a cloth with some baking soda and wipe on the marks.
Fungal Prevent on Plants
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 3 drops of liquid soap in 2 litres of water. Spray on plants.
Kids Activities
Orange Soda Experiment
This fun orange soda experiment is for the kids. It will teach them about states of matter using orange juice, water and bicarbonate of soda.
Erupting Volcano
Another fun experiment for the kids is this erupting volcano.
Crayon Slime
Kids will love playing, stretching and manipulating this fun and easy to make colourful crayon slime.
Sand Slime
This fun and easy to make Sand Slime is such a great activity to keep your young children enjoying themselves while working on their fine motor skills.
Fizzy Frozen Heart
This fizzy frozen heart is an exciting, super affordable chemical reaction experiment which children will love doing over and over again.
How to Make Sherbet
This fun chemical reaction experiment tastes so delicious and is so easy for kids to complete themselves! Learn how to make sherbet that’s fizzy on your tongue and tastes great while learning.
You can grab a printable copy of this list by clicking the link below:
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.
How to Dehydrate Lemon Peels and make Lemon Powder