We all have a few ingredients that we always keep at hand in our pantry. Some are used for the sole purpose of cooking while others can be used for additional purposes. Most often than not, these elements double as cleaning agents, baking soda being one of the most prominent. As necessary as it may be for baking, it can also be used as a cleanser of not only grease and grime but also odor, skin, hair etc. below we have listed the best ways to make use of this compound as a cleaner to make life easier for you.
Using baking soda as a cleaner:
- Baking soda as a grease remover
Facing difficulty removing filthy stains and grease from kitchen counters or clothing? Baking soda may just be the solution you are looking for! Name anything from dirt to grime, baking soda can cleanse it all.
While many may use store-bought cleaners, these often do not get the job done and are rather costly. The baking soda dissolves the fats and oils when combined with water or vinegar and therefore when used as a cleanser, gives excellent results. So if you are looking for something cheap and functional, baking soda is all that you will need.
- To make a paste, combine one part water with three quarters baking soda
- To get a solution, add ¼ cup baking soda to a single quart (0.94 liters) of water
- Mix half a cup of vinegar and baking soda each in order to obtain a fizzy, carbonated cleaner
While all these three mixtures can be used for the same purposes, the paste is preferably used for the “scrubbing” part to get rid of stains and grease on countertops, sinks, coffee pots or simple household items with a brush. It can also be used to remove oil stains from clothing and substituted with laundry detergent.
If a stain doesn’t require vigorous cleaning, it’s better to use the solution which allows you to wipe it off with ease. This sanitizer works best on light spots and less grimy surfaces and produces the same effective results.
For those very tough stains and grime, substitute the soda-water mixture with baking soda and vinegar mix. The fizzy cleaner will work better as both vinegar and soda are individual cleaners which are acids and alkali respectively. You can use it to unclog drains, pipes and the grime above the stove.
- Baking soda as a deodorizer
Like air fresheners or purifiers, baking soda too can be used to remove bad odor. Baking soda itself is odorless and has the quality of absorbing the bad stench. As it is amphoteric, it reacts both as a base and acid. Hence any odor emanated gets neutralized when baking soda is sprinkled around the smell.
Apart from keeping the soda in the freezer for it to absorb smells and prevent other foods from doing so, you may also put it in small containers around kitchen cupboards. Sprinkling a bit of the soda in the toilet and kitchen garbage container will be helpful in order to get rid of any smell that is emitted from them. You will see the malodor has dissipated and become undetectable!
Those with pets tend to have smelly furniture, carpets and litter boxes. In this case, you may use the baking soda as well. You can either layer the litter box with a sheet of soda and then dump the litter in or mix the two and place it in the box. To get the smell out from the furniture and carpet, sprinkle them with baking soda and vacuum after a minimum of 15 minutes. You can keep it for as long as you wish but the best solution would be to do this overnight so you can vacuum in the morning.
Just like cupboards, baking soda can be used is closets, laundry basket, shoes, smelly boxes etc. you will notice the odor will disappear in no time.
- Use of baking soda on the body
Baking soda can be used for various purposes at a time. Trade the chemical based soaps and shampoos for baking soda. It will give the same results as these store-bought products removing all oil, perspiration, odor etc. and also cure skin irritation from bug bites specifically those that are acidic. It leaves the skin soft and supple and can be used on the whole body- mix it with your bath or soak your hands/feet in the mixture of soda and water. Any existing dirt on them will vanish in no time.
As mentioned before, the soda can be substituted for shampoos. But it can also be used as a natural deodorizer under armpits to dissipate any odor. Some even use a mixture of baking soda and water to brush teeth as it is known to whiten them and oust bad breath caused by germs. The germs release lactic acid which when brushing with baking soda is neutralized and hence there is no remnant of any kind of unpleasant smell.
Having said all that, there is no doubt that baking soda is an excellent cleaner. Not only can it be used around the house, but it can also be used for personal hygiene. It is cost-effective and very functional. So the next you see a stain or smell, you know what to do!
