Baking Soda Uses - Beyond the Basic

Baking soda has a wide application of uses throughout the house. Get the multipack or the big box and keep some in the kitchen, laundry room, and cleaning closet. 

1. Treat laundry stains and odors. Effective on stains and odors caused by sweat (pit stains on white shirts), grease, dirt, food, and urine and feces (hello potty training).

• Mix baking soda and warm water to form a thick paste
• Apply paste to stain. (An old toothbrush works well here.)
• Allow paste to dry, rinse it off, then launder the item with warm or hot water and regular detergent.
• If the entire garment is badly stained or smelly, soak it overnight in a solution of 1 cup baking soda + 1 gallon warm water before laundering as usual.
• You can also add up to one cup of baking soda to a full load of laundry. With a front loader, add it directly in the drum before adding the clothes. With a top loader, add it to the filled washing machine. As a laundry additive, baking soda helps keep your washer clean, and boosts bleach and detergent performance. Read The Spruce's detailed article on using baking soda in the laundry.  
  

1. As a mildly abrasive cleaner.
   

• Mix baking soda and warm water to form a paste. Apply the paste with a toothbrush, sponge, or microfibre cloth to clean and deodorize your kitchen sink, glass cooktop, toilets, metal pots, and more. Optional: add a few drops of tea tree or citrus essential oil to the paste for a scent boost.

1. As a deodorizer 

• Add at least one cup to a shallow dish and leave in the fridge. Sprinkle a teaspoon into smelly shoes, skates or sports equipment. Sprinkle onto the bottom of garbage pails and diaper bins.

1. As a bath additive