How to clean with baking soda

You may have used baking soda – or bicarbonate of soda as it is also known – in cakes and cookies, but you might not know that it’s actually a very versatile tool for the rest of your home too. As natural cleaning products go, there are many different baking soda uses: from cleaning stainless steel to getting rid of bad odours. Let’s find out more about it.

Run out of household cleaners? Try mixing white vinegar and baking soda. Cleaning with this homemade solution is suitable for a number of surfaces and if you can’t handle the smell of vinegar, then you can even add a few rinds of lemon to your solution for a fresh scent.

Baking soda uses: How to use bicarbonate of soda to clean

There are many ways you can use baking soda for cleaning. We’ve put together a list of our favourites so you can tap into its full potential.

• Add a sprinkle of baking soda to your bin or leave a small pot of it in the fridge.

• Whiten clothes. Add half a cup of baking soda to your laundry for added whiteness.

• Buff stainless steel. Wet the surface, sprinkle with baking soda, scrub and rinse clean.

• Clean silver jewellery. Create a paste by mixing with water, rub it on and rinse.

Those are just some of the many ways you of using bicarbonate of soda for cleaning as a single ingredient – but what about if you mix it with other ingredients in your home? Using a combination of vinegar and baking soda for cleaning can open up even more possibilities.

Baking soda and vinegar cleaning methods

When it comes to natural home cleaners, there isn’t a better pair than vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. Both work together to remove dirt, cut through tough grease and get rid of bad odours. For the ultimate natural bathroom cleaner, here’s your go-to recipe:

1. You’ll need baking soda, washing-up liquid (or liquid soap), water and white vinegar.

2. Mix 1 2/3 of a cup of bicarbonate of soda with ½ cup of washing-up liquid.

3. Water down the mixture with ½ cup of water and add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar.

4. Stir the mixture. Pour into a bottle with a cap that closes.

5. Shake the mixture well before using.

6. Pour onto the area that needs cleaning, before scrubbing and rinsing.

When should I use natural cleaners?

Not all situations are right for natural cleaners, and sometimes you may find that your trusted commercial cleaners do a better job in less time because they’re specifically designed to tackle tougher stains and marks. Keep some baking soda at hand in your home – alongside vinegar and a lemon – to give you an emergency cleaning solution for when you run out of your normal products. Or, consider using this method for small cleaning jobs and save commercial cleaners for bigger jobs.

• One of the most popular baking soda uses is as a deodoriser. Put it in the bottom of your bin or the fridge to keep bad smells away or sprinkle in shoes and over carpets before vacuuming up to freshen up smelly fabrics.

• Baking soda and water can make an effective paste for cleaning metals like stainless steel and silver. Try it on cutlery, kitchen appliances, or your jewellery.

• Baking soda has great cleaning powder on its own, and even more if you use it with vinegar! Mix a paste of these two ingredients to fight tough stains and leave a brilliant shine.