13 Surprising Uses for Baking Soda around the House

Baking soda is the best and most versatile tool for keeping your home clean. And it’s cheap!
Written by Brady Klopfer
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Baking soda is your single best weapon for keeping a home clean. And there are far more uses for it than you might think.
Keeping your house clean is
never quite as easy as it seems
. Even if you have tidy habits, it’s amazing how quickly certain elements of your home can start to get grimy, greasy, and dirty. And if you have kids or pets? Good luck.
So, here's the rundown on how you can use baking soda, with a little help from
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Deodorizer

The most magical thing that baking soda does is act as a deodorizer, which is to say it gets rid of bad smells in an almost magical way. Did your cat pee on the rug? Sprinkle some baking soda in it. Your trash can starting to smell funky? Sprinkle some baking soda in it. Having a hard time getting rid of that stale fridge smell? Put some baking soda in a bowl, and let it stay in the fridge 24 hours a day.

Stainless steel appliances

When clean, stainless steel appliances are among the most beautiful things you can have in your home. Unfortunately, it sometimes feels like they never want to be clean.
Baking soda can help with that. Just sprinkle some on the appliance, let it sit, then wipe away with a rag that has water or vinegar on it.
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Stains on the wall

Everyone gets stains on the wall, especially if they have kids. Be it food, hand prints, or just general dirt, it happens. Make a paste out of baking soda and either vinegar or water, and scrub the stain out.

Unclog drains

Remember those baking soda and vinegar volcano experiments we used to do as kids in science class? Those work well in adulthood, too. If you have a clogged drain, pour a healthy amount of baking soda down the drain, then top with a good glug of vinegar.

Clean ovens

This is a nifty trick that many people don’t know about. To clean an oven, make a paste of baking soda and vinegar, then use a brush to lightly apply it to the oven walls. Leave it overnight, occasionally spraying with water to keep moist. Then turn the oven light on for an hour, after which you can wipe it down.

Clean greasy dishes

Can’t get the grease off your dishes? Just apply some baking soda for a few minutes, then use hot water and elbow grease.
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Clean Tupperware stains

Baking soda isn’t just for stains on dishes. Stains on Tupperware are exactly the same, and can be cleaned the same way.

Brighten kitchen counters and sinks

The best way to clean a kitchen counter or sink (or any kitchen surface, really) is to sprinkle baking soda on it, then take a wet sponge to it.

Grout

Similarly, you can easily get that nasty grout clean by covering it in baking soda before scrubbing it away with a toothbrush or grout brush. (Some people also add a little lemon juice to the baking soda when cleaning grout.)

Toilets

No one wants to clean toilets. But it has to be done, and baking soda is the way to make it a little easier. Just sprinkle some baking soda in your toilet bowl before scrubbing with your preferred tool.

Getting rid of mildew

That’s right, baking soda can even get rid of mildew. Just cover mildew with it, leave it overnight, and then vacuum or sweep it away.

Eliminating carpet stains

Baking soda can do wonders to get rid of carpet stains. You’ll want to leave the baking soda on top of the stain overnight, and then clean it the way you otherwise would.

Keeping outdoor furniture clean

It can feel like a daunting task to keep outdoor furniture clean, but all you need to do is occasionally wipe it down with a baking soda and vinegar mixture.
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