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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- As a bath additive