When it comes to non-toxic, environmentally-friendly household cleaning products, baking soda is vinegar’s best friend; cleaning with baking soda is effective, safe, and wonderfully inexpensive. In fact, when purchased in bulk, baking soda is less costly than any of the more specialised cleaning agents on the market intended to do the same jobs and is used by leading cleaning companies such as Choice Cleaning.
Baking soda, also sometimes referred to as “bicarbonate of soda”, makes an excellent multi-purpose cleanser as it is slightly abrasive and a natural deodouriser. Baking soda is easy on the environment due to the fact that it is a naturally-occurring compound, one which is present in many life forms. Most baking soda that is available commercially is made from sodium carbonate, or soda ash, which is dissolved in a carbon dioxide solution to create the white powder we use for cooking and cleaning.
If you’re wondering how to get started cleaning with baking soda, check out the tips below; as you’ll see, this substance can be used in almost every area of the home:
In the Kitchen
As a deodouriser: Place an open container of baking soda in the refrigerator, freezer, or cupboard to keep away unpleasant odours. You should also sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of any waste baskets (and on the bottom on the bags within them) to help mute garbage odours.
As an abrasive: Baking soda, when applied to a damp cloth, can be used on hard surfaces (such as countertops and floors) to remove stuck-on soils. It’s also excellent for scrubbing out the inside of food containers, cleaning utensils, and cleaning and degreasing pots and pans (if you notice lingering smells in food containers, soak them overnight in a mixture of baking soda and water).
In the Bathroom
To fight mould and soap scum: Create a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water, apply it to problem areas, let it stand for at least an hour, then scrub it off, taking built-up scum and mould with it.
To prevent drains from clogging: Pour about 1/4th of a cup of baking soda down drains weekly, then rinse thoroughly with hot water; the natural abrasive action of baking soda will help to remove any scum that is building up in the pipes below.
In Living Areas
As a carpet cleaner and deodouriser: Sprinkle a liberal application of baking soda over the carpets prior to vacuuming; let it sit for at least half an hour (for stubborn odours, leave it on overnight), then vacuum it up.
As a pet deodouriser: Baking soda can both remove pet odours from the furniture (if applied and then vacuumed up as described above) and lessen the smell from litter boxes if dusted over the litter. As cleaning with baking soda is safe, you don’t have to worry about making your pets ill when you use it. In fact, baking soda can even be applied directly to a dog’s fur if your beloved canine comes home wet and smelly; just be sure to brush it out afterward.
In the Laundry
As a detergent: Mix baking soda half-and-half with your favourite detergent to reduce both laundry odours and your detergent’s impact on the environment. Baking soda can also be applied to grease stains prior to washing; pre-treat the stains with a baking soda paste and let them sit for a couple of hours before laundering.