Have you ever opened your pantry, seen a box of baking soda and thought, “What doesn’t this stuff do?” From baking cakes to freshening up your fridge, baking soda can do it all! But did you know that this amazing but underrated product is also one of the best natural cleaners out there? Yes, it is.

In the past, I have spent way too much on cleaners containing tons of chemicals until I discovered that a single box of baking soda can do the same job. Baking soda is not only a powerful cleaning tool but also the most cost-effective product on the market. Moreover, it is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and it works miracles on grime, grease, gunk, and odors.

So, today I’m going to share my top 10 baking soda cleaning hacks that can shine up your home without any toxins, nasty fumes or expensive price tags. Let’s get started!

Why is Baking Soda a Powerful Cleaner?

Scientific evidence has proven that baking soda is not just a “great natural cleaner” but it’s actually one of the best overall cleaning products there is. It has the remarkable ability to balance pH no matter where you use it. Moreover, it also has some unique physical properties that allow it to outperform very expensive cleaners in many situations. Let’s see how:

1 – Safe & Non-Toxic (No Harsh Chemicals)

Unlike many commercial cleaners, baking soda is safe for kids & pets, eco-friendly (no toxic runoff), and hypoallergenic (great for sensitive skin). Since it is non-toxic, you can safely ingest in small amounts if you accidentally consume the product.

It won’t harm you or your children and will not irritate anyone’s sensitive skin like most other cleaners. Moreover, when you clean with baking soda, it will not cause pollution or affect water in our rivers/oceans because it breaks down naturally.

2 – Super Affordable (Cleaning on a Budget)

In 2022, the average expenditure on cleaning supplies and laundry in the United States of America was 169.83 U.S. dollars per consumer unit. It may sound surprising but it is true. Cleaning agents are emptying your pockets on a daily basis without getting noticed.

On the other hand, one box of baking soda costs only a few pennies per use and can easily replace dozens of expensive cleaning products because it can be used as a floor cleaner, a more environmentally-friendly bathroom cleaner, an odor eliminator, and a fabric freshener.

3 – Odor Neutralizer (Not Just a Cover-Up)

People don’t know that most air fresheners just mask smells, but baking soda eliminates them. Here’s how:

Acid-base reaction: Most of what we consider bad smells are just acidic compounds that baking soda can neutralize.
Absorbs airborne molecules: The porous nature of the powder traps problematic odor particles.
Long-lasting: Unlike a lot of air freshening sprays that last just an hour, baking soda keeps the smell away for several hours.

So this is why just a simple box works better than those fancy odor absorbers in your fridge. It is actively changing the chemistry of the smelly compounds. Now let’s discuss the top 10 baking soda cleaning hacks that can make your life easier every day.

Top 10 Baking Soda Cleaning Hacks

Baking soda isn’t only for baking, it is an all-natural powerful cleaner that removes grease, eliminates odor, and leaves your home sparkling clean without any harsh chemical cleaners. Here are the top 10 baking soda cleaning hacks that can help you capitalize on this cheap pantry staple, whether you want to clean your kitchen, or deodorize your fabrics. So, let’s begin

1. Shiny Sink

Is your kitchen sink looking grimy, dull or giving a bad odor? Don’t get worried because this fizzy baking soda takes only minutes to leave it sparking and looking nearly new. Here’s how you can do it:

Mix ¼ cup of baking soda + ½ cup of white vinegar + add 3 drops of lemon essential oil.
Pour the mixture down the drain and watch it fizz, because the chemical reaction helps loosen the grime and fights the odor-causing bacteria.
Give it a few minutes while the bubbles do their thing, and scrub the basin with a sponge or brush.
Then rinse with hot water to finish with a sparkling and deodorized sink.

This lemon essential oil adds antibacterial power, and the citrus scent location will leave your sink smelling fresh and clean.

2. Soft, Fresh Towels

Even after washing your towels, if they feel stiff, rough, or smell musty, it is usually due to either detergent residual or bacteria build up. To rejuvenate unattractive towels, add ½ cup of baking soda directly to the rinse on your washing machine. Baking soda will help dissolve residue and eliminate odors.

To make your towels as fresh as possible, do not use fabric softener, and instead, line dry them in the sun. The sun kills bacteria and dryness gives your towels a fluffy feel and fresh smell. Try it today, you will be amazed how much one wash can do.

3. Bye-Bye Soap Scum

Soap scum on your shower tiles and glass clings to your shower like glue and removing it can take a lot of effort. Here are two simple steps you can take to get rid of the soap scum forever.

First of all, mix together 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 teaspoon of dish soap in a bowl and create a cleaning paste. This concoction will help to lift the soap scum away and sanitize the surface without damage.
Next, apply the paste to the soap scum areas.
Let it sit for 10 – 15 minutes, then wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

4. Degrease Your Stove

A stove is undeniably the most used item in every household. Because of its frequent usage, grease can accumulate quickly on a stove. To break through grease, just follow the following steps.

Take 1 cup of baking soda, ½ cup of white vinegar and a squirt of natural dish soap in a bowl.
Now, make a fine paste out of the ingredients.
After that, apply it to the stove grates, stove burners, and greasy areas.
Let it sit for a few minutes.
Now scrub in a gentle manner.

This method not only cleans your stove but it deodorizes it too. Try this and get ready to make your next masterpiece on a neat and clean stove.

For an added boost to cut through tough grease and improve the smell, use a few drops of consumable lemon essential oil.

5. Odor-Free Mattress

Let’s be honest, mattresses are great at soaking up old sweat, dust, and odors and most of us do not clean them because it feels like a huge task that could be tiring and time taking. So, if you want to freshen up your mattress easily, do these two things only.

Just sprinkle lots of baking soda on your mattress.
Once you are done, leave the baking soda mixture on the mattress for at least an hour, or overnight if the mattress can be left alone.
After this, just vacuum the mattress thoroughly.

Although it’s a simple trick, it does wonders because the baking soda will soak up moisture and help neutralize odors over time. This can help you sleep better everyday.

6. Easy Oven Cleaner

If you have been postponing cleaning your oven because of noxious fumes or the idea of scrubbing, this natural cleaning method might be the best alternative.

Just create a thick paste with 3 tablespoon baking soda, 4 tablespoon liquid dish soap, and half cup water.
Apply generously to the inside of your oven, especially the greasy spots or burnt food.
Let the mixture sit for a minimum of 4-6 hours, or overnight for tough pieces of food.
Now wipe the interior using a damp cloth or sponge.

This method easily lifts baked-on food without scratching surfaces. So, avoid using harmful chemicals and try this today.

7. Fresh-Smelling Carpet

Carpets can hold onto all kinds of odors from pets, spills, and life. Before you reach for a store-counter carpet powder infused with a bunch of synthetic fragrances, check out this easier method of deodorizing a carpet.

First of all, mix 2 cups of baking soda and 10 drops of your favorite essential oil.
Secondly, sprinkle this mixture evenly over your carpet.
Thirdly, allow it to sit for about 20-30 minutes to absorb bad odors.
Lastly, vacuum thoroughly, and instantly, your space smells cleaner and fresher.

By using this method, you can get a clean carpet in no time that too without wasting money on an expensive carpet cleaner.

8. Natural Air Freshener

Are you sick of air fresheners made with chemicals? You can make a simple odor absorber at home. Just follow the following steps:

Grab a small jar, fill it half way with baking soda, and 5-10 drops of essential oil of your choice.
Now cover the jar with a breathable fabric or piece of paper with holes poked in it.
Finally put it anywhere you need odor control, bathrooms, closets, in the vicinity of the trash, or even in your car.

The baking soda will absorb the bad odors, and the essential oil will infuse the air with a gentle scent. You can replace the mix every couple of weeks for continual freshness.

9. Grill Cleaner Hack (Clean with Baking Soda)

The end of a BBQ doesn’t have to be a hard clean-up. Here’s a fast and natural way to clean a grill:

First of all, sprinkle a good amount of baking soda directly onto the heating grates while they are still warm (not hot).
Now with the help of a stiff brush or a scrubbing pad, scrub the char and grease residue.
In the end, rinse or wipe down with a damp cloth, and your grill will be ready for your next cookout.

10. Toilet Bowl Bomb (Made With Baking Soda)

We all know that cleaning toilets isn’t the most enjoyable of tasks. So, if you want a clean toilet all the time, just follow the following steps and prepare this ‘baking soda toilet bowl bomb’. You’ll thank me later.

Just mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup citric acid.
When it’s mixed well, mold it into small balls and store it in an airtight container.

When your toilet needs a refresh, just drop a ball (or “bomb”) into the bowl. It will fizz, clean, and deodorize in a matter of minutes. After it fizzles away, just flush, and enjoy your sparkly clean toilet without scrubbing it one bit.

You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance.

Additional Tips for Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of the simplest and most cost-effective natural cleaners, but if you learn how to store and combine it properly, it can be even more effective. Whether it is used to clean and scrub your kitchen sink or freshen up your carpets, it only takes a few good habits to make a big difference in effectiveness.

To avoid moisture exposure, store your baking soda in an air-tight container, and it will be more potent and last longer.
Mark a separate jar, so you know it is for cleaning, and won’t mix it up with your cooking & baking jar.
Combine with vinegar for a fizzy reaction, which is great for degrading dirt, soap scum, and build up.
Use lemon juice for added natural whitening to cleaned surfaces, and combined with baking soda, it also helps tackle possible grease.
You can add essential oils; tea tree, lavender, or another citrus oil for added natural antibacterial benefit & a pleasant natural scent.

By choosing your combinations wisely and storing properly, you will always have a great cleaning agent when you need it.

Conclusion – Clean with Baking Soda

To sum up we can say that baking soda is a cleaning powerhouse. If you want to use it correctly, just keep in mind the top 10 baking soda cleaning hacks mentioned above and you’re good to go.

Using baking soda as a cleaning agent seems like a tiny change but it has great benefits for your health, bank account, and mother earth. Best of all? You probably have a box in the pantry right now! Go get it, try out some of these hacks and see just how many uses baking soda has.

Enjoy your (healthy) cleaning!

10 Smart Ways to Clean Your Home with Baking Soda