Fifteen House Cleaning Tips Using Wonder Home Cleaner Baking Soda

People are becoming more and more aware of the hazards of using toxic chemicals around the house ,especially when small children are around. You can take heart because there is a wonder all purpose cleaner lying hidden around your house and that is baking soda which is available in most kitchens. It is so mild that a form of it is present in our saliva to fight plaque. Even though it is mild it is highly effective when it comes to making even tough cleaning jobs very easy. When it comes to cost effectiveness it can beat any commercial cleaning product hands down. Here are 15 amazing cleaning tips for using baking soda for house cleaning.

1. Use it as an oven cleaner.

The bottom of ovens is very difficult to clean. Simply sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your oven and spray a little water to just moisten it. Leave it overnight and in the morning scrub it clean. You can also use it to scrub out the gunk from outside of your oven or toaster.

2. Use for unclogging drains.

This is one of the most well known cleaning tips for baking soda. Just pour a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by boiling water, wait for some time and then run the water to clear the drain. For tougher clogs you follow up the baking soda with a cup of vinegar and let it sit for some time before flushing out with boiling water. In rare cases it may take longer so it is better to leave it overnight.

3. Use in place of a powder cleanser.

Baking soda can easily replace powder cleansers to scrub sinks, bathtubs, toilets and shower stalls. You can either pour some baking soda on a sponge or rag adding a little water to form a paste or even better, make a paste in a small bowl or cup. Use this to scrub. If you are keeping baking soda near the sink or in the bathroom it may cake in presence of moisture, so keep it in a closed container in these places. Or you can pour small quantities into a salt shaker and use it. You can use the paste for cleaning the soap scum from bathroom ceramic tiles or fiberglass in the shower. As it does not scratch surfaces it is very useful. You can also use it to clean stained marble by making a paste with vinegar. Also use it for washing windows.

4. Use for scrubbing pots and pans.

Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of a pot or pan and moisten it or make a paste and let it sit for sometime and then scrub it. If the pot or pan has something burned then it is a bit tougher to clean. In such a case you can either just sprinkle baking soda on the burnt portion or add a little water and bring it to boil and let it sit overnight.

5. Use for removing tea and coffee stains.

Tea or coffee mugs and pots get stained after some use and can be easily cleaned with baking soda. For tough stains let it sit for sometime and then scrub.

6. Use as carpet freshener.

You can do this by sprinkling baking soda on the entire carpet surface and vacuum it out after letting it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. No need for commercial carpet fresheners. It absorbs both odor and moisture from the carpet. You can also sprinkle some on beds and mattresses to get rid of moisture and odor. You can also put a few drops of scent in the soda and then sprinkle it and then vacuum. Your whole house will be scented.

7. Use it as deodorizer and room freshener.

You can reduce the odor in garbage cans and bags by sprinkling a generous amount when empty. Place a box of baking soda kept at the bottom in a diaper pail under the trash liner to neutralize the odor and freshen up the room. Use it in your kitty’s litter box to reduce kitty odors. Use it in ashtrays. Another one of the well known cleaning tips is to use baking soda in the fridge or oven to neutralize odors and burnt out smells and in milk containers for milk smell.

8. Use as an additive to dish water.

When you are doing dishes add a small handful of baking soda in the sinkfull of soapy water. This will clean your dishes better than just soap.

9. Use in your dishwasher for dish washing.

If you are using a dishwasher to do your dishes then you will get better results by adding a handful of baking soda into the dishwasher. Your dishes will come out extra clean.

10. Use for cleaning your dishwasher.

Run a full dishwasher cycle by adding baking soda in both the compartments. Your dishwasher will not only become thoroughly cleaned it will do a better cleaning job next time. It will remove all the soap buildup in the inner mechanisms and glassware of your dishwasher. You won’t need expensive commercial cleaners. This is one of the money saving cleaning tips.

11. Use for doing laundry.

Adding baking soda to your laundry will reduce your detergent requirement. It is also great for people whose skins are sensitive or allergic to detergents. Adding it to laundry helps remove dirt better and it also makes clothes fresh and whites come out whiter.

12. Use as a fabric softener.

For clothes that are cold water washable you can use baking soda in the rinse water. It removes all the remaining soap and softens the fabric of the clothes. There is no need to use a fabric softener. This is another one of the money saving cleaning tips.

13. Use for washing your fridge.

For cleaning your fridge take a handful of baking soda and mix it in a small bucketful of water and clean the inside of your refrigerator with a rag or sponge dipped in it. It not only cleans but also deodorizes. This is much less expensive than the commercial cleaners and nontoxic at the same time. One of those environment friendly cleaning tips! Keep a box of baking soda inside your fridge to absorb the food odors.

14. Use for cleaning combs and hair brushes.

Combs and hair brushes can be easily cleaned with baking soda. Add some in the water and clean your combs and brushes in it. The hair and dirt that have built up in them are easily removed.

15. Use to put out minor kitchen fires.

Baking soda releases carbon dioxide when put on the fire. You can use this property to put out small kitchen fires immediately. Keep a box of it near your stove and throw baking soda into the small fire as soon as it starts and it will be snuffed out. Although this is not strictly one of the cleaning tips it can be life saving.