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We all have a wealth of home cleaning methods handed down through the generations, and cleaning with baking soda is an effective one – if you know how to use it. Here’s a list of all the ways you can get started on some baking soda cleaning to get rid of nasty smells in your home.
Firstly, though, it’s important to know there are limitations when it comes to baking soda and vinegar cleaning. You can certainly use bicarbonate of soda to remove smells – even just leaving an open container of it in a room will help neutralise odours overnight. More ingrained smells, however, can require a more advanced solution, and bicarbonate of soda (also known as baking soda) can damage some surfaces.
You can easily get rid of odours around the home and in the fridge using bicarbonate of soda (or baking soda). Just place a small container of baking soda in the fridge and let it absorb any bad smells. You’ll need to replace it periodically to get the full effect.
What Works When It Comes to Baking Soda and Odour Removal
Baking soda can be used to get rid of dozens of common household smells. A lot of people will place a box of it in the fridge to keep it smelling fresh in between proper cleans. Here’s a few more helpful baking soda cleaning tips:
Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda straight into a drain and run the hot tap over it for a few minutes. This can help breakup and disperse small, smelly blockages. More serious blockages might require a commercial product. Make sure you always read the safety instructions on the label of products like this.
To get rid of the smell from shoes, sprinkle a bit of baking soda into them. This generally works just as well as commercial odour-removing products. Just let the baking soda do its job overnight and then empty it out in the morning. Be careful if you have sensitive skin, though, because baking soda can irritate it.
If your vacuum cleaner smells, you could fix it by sprinkling a little bit of baking soda on the carpet before you go over it.
You can also get rid of nasty smells from household items just by creating a baking soda solution and scrubbing them down gently. This can even work on stained carpets.
Why Doesn’t Baking Powder Remove Smells?
Baking powder is a very different product to baking soda.
Baking soda – or bicarbonate of soda – can help get rid of odours and clean household materials, and it’s also used in baking and cooking. Baking powder, on the other hand, is different. It’s mainly used for baking, and while it does contain the same main ingredient, it also contains many other ingredients that make it an ineffective cleaner.
Baking soda is a handy household cleaner that can sit alongside white vinegar in your cleaning arsenal. Just using the tips above, you can safely create a better home environment.
Safety Warning
Always use biocides safely, and read the label and product information carefully before use.