Pour baking soda directly onto a grimy surface and let sit for 5 minutes. Wipe with a damp sponge, scrubbing gently. Wipe your stovetop clean with a soft cloth.
MOISTEN: Wet a paper towel or washcloth with hot water, squeeze it so it's damp but not dripping, and cover the stain and baking soda. WAIT: Keeping the area damp and covered, allow the baking soda to sit for at least 3 hours, longer if possible. Hint: do this before you go to bed or before you leave for work.
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the smelly carpet and let it sit as long as possible, ideally overnight, so it can absorb as much of the odor as it can.
Baking soda is good indefinitely past its best by date, although it can lose potency over time. You can use a rule of thumb—two years for an unopened package and six months for an opened package. While old baking soda may not produce as much leavening action, it is still safe to eat.
Add vinegar to baking soda.
Vinegar is an acid, and baking soda is a base. Thus, if you mix them together, you will get an acid-base reaction. Vinegar is probably the most common way to activate baking soda.. The reaction can turn the baking soda into a powerful cleaning agent.
Baking soda can usually be used on many metal surfaces but take caution with aluminum. You may be able to get away with using it if you quickly apply it and rinse it off. Leaving it on can cause it to oxidize which would change the aluminum's surface color.
Baking soda, unlike most commercial air fresheners, doesn't mask odors, “it absorbs them," says Mary Marlowe Leverette, a home economist and blogger. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate in a convenient box) neutralizes stubborn acidic odors -- like those from sour milk -- as well as other funky smells lurking in your home.
Baking soda is probably one of the most useful tools in eliminating odors from your home. Instead of masking odors like air fresheners and candles, baking soda absorbs and neutralizes them. It has a reputation for being one of the best carpet deodorizers.
Yes, baking soda is a good cleaning agent. Baking soda acts as a cleaning agent because it is a mild alkali and can cause dirt and grease to dissolve easily in water for effective removal. Because baking soda is a pure, natural product that is also a food, it is non-toxic, unlike many other household cleaners.
If you or someone in your home is sensitive to any scents, you can still use baking soda to freshen the air. Simply sprinkle a few tablespoons into small, uncovered bowls and place them around the house where they can't easily be tipped over or attract curious children and pets.
Add about 25 drops of your favorite essential oil to 2 tablespoons of baking soda and stir to combine. Lemon and lavender are great choices, but eucalyptus is my favorite because of the refreshing scent. Pour the baking soda and essential oil mix into the water and stir. Then funnel the water into your spray bottle.
Add 1 tablespoon (14 g) of baking soda to a small bowl or dish. Mix 5 to 6 drops of an essential oil into the baking soda with a spoon until they are well combined. You don't necessarily have to add an essential oil to the air freshener. The baking soda will absorb odors to help freshen the air on its own.
Baking Soda + Vinegar
We're calling you out, Pinterest: Although these pantry staples are handy on their own — both baking soda and vinegar can help clean all over the house — you should skip any DIY cleaner recipe that involves this not-so-dynamic duo. "Baking soda is basic and vinegar is acidic," says Bock.
Teeth Whitening
To whiten your teeth with baking soda, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 3 to 4 drops of lemon juice and make it into a fine paste. Gently brush your teeth with this paste and leave it on your teeth for 2 minutes. Thoroughly rinse your mouth afterward.
To that end, when it comes to using baking soda for your toilet, there are two primary purposes: using baking soda to clean and remove stains, and using baking soda to unclog your toilet.
A small bowl of baking soda on an upper shelf will absorb odors without adding any chemical smell. You can also put a few drops of essential oil on cotton balls and place inside a roll of toilet paper which will release the scent every time the roll is turned.
While most people use baking soda to neutralize odors, it is actually activated charcoal that is more effective. Not only is it better at removing odors, but it is also a lot easier to use.
Of course, our favorite way to make your house smell positively amazing is to cook something that fills your home with an appetizing aroma. Stews, braises, and meals in the slow cooker are some of our favorites, but bread, cookies, and cakes — not to mention roast chicken! — will also do the trick.
When it comes to hair care, baking soda can function as a clarifying agent that penetrates the hair shaft, removing dirt, oil, and product buildup. As a result, gray hair becomes brighter, smoother, and less brassy.
A chemical reaction between the vinegar and the baking soda produces bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. The dish detergent in the vinegar helps the bubbles last longer than they would with just vinegar and baking soda.