Baking soda is a natural agent that many people use instead of chemical cleaning products. What to use baking soda for in the household – here is an overview of the most common options.
Sodium bicarbonate is very often used as a cleaning agent. It also has effective uses for cosmetic purposes. We'll show you how baking soda is useful in the household.
How to use baking soda as a cleaning agent
Check out a small sampling of the endless uses for one of today's simplest, most effective, and most environmentally friendly cleaning products - baking soda.
Freshen the refrigerator with sodium bicarbonate
If you have an unpleasant smell in your refrigerator, you can remove it by placing an opened package of baking soda on the refrigerator door. Or you can pour some into a container and leave it right in the fridge. Baking soda will absorb bad odors and your fridge will stay fresh. Two days are enough to “clean” the inside of the device.
Often, the unpleasant smell in your refrigerator comes from the food you store in it. That's why you should first check if something is spoiled, as that would be the most likely cause.
Also interesting:Fridge stinks: How you can neutralize the unpleasant smell in a flash!
Clean and deodorize the dishwasher and washing machine
To deodorize the dishwasher,you can also use baking soda. How do you proceed?
- Open the detergent compartment of your dishwasher. Add a few drops of regular dishwashing detergent like you would normally use for hand washing.
- Then add baking soda until the compartment is full. Then run the dishwasher on the normal program.
- Or, sprinkle 1 cup of sodium bicarbonate in the bottom of your dishwasher and rinse it using the hot water program.
Cleaning the washing machine with baking soda is also very easy. All you need to do is add 1/2 cup of sodium bicarbonate to the detergent dispenser and set the washer to an “empty” cycle. A temperature of 90 °C helps to remove dirt and limescale.
Cleaning the carpet with sodium bicarbonate
If you want to refresh the colors of the carpet, you can use baking soda. It is poured onto the carpet in a thick layer and left for half an hour or an hour. The surface of the carpet is then cleaned by hand with a brush in a circular motion and baking soda is removed from the carpet. Finally, the carpet is vacuumed from both sides with the vacuum cleaner at the highest level.
Make stainless steel sinks shine
Instead of using chemicals that are harmful to the environment and your family, you can clean your sink with baking soda. Sodium bicarbonate is a safe and natural cleaner for your sink. How do you proceed? Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge, scrub the sink, and rinse. It's that simple.
Clean clogged ducts with baking soda and vinegar
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain and then 1 cup white vinegar. Cover the drain and let the mixture sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour. After treatment, flush the drain with 2 liters of boiling water. Applying solutions containing salt, baking soda and vinegar not only unclogs the ducts but also stops the odor from the ducts.
Caution: The combination of baking soda and vinegar causes a reaction that produces bubbles that can spatter.
What to use baking soda for in the home: Shoe freshener
If you have an unpleasant smell in your shoes, you can easily remove it by adding baking soda to the shoes. Leave on overnight. Simply shake out the sodium bicarbonate before putting on your shoes.
Use sodium bicarbonate to clean silver jewelry and cutlery
You can make a simple cleaning product by mixing 1 tablespoon of sodium bicarbonate with 1 tablespoon of warm water and using a soft-bristled toothbrush to add someapply to the jewelry. Gently scrub with the brush in the direction of the braid until the result is visible, then rinse with cold water and let the jewelry or cutlery dry on a towel. Another option:
- First, take a small cooking pot and place a sheet of foil over the bottom. Place the precious metal objects on the foil.
- Prepare the baking soda solution by adding about 40-50 grams of baking soda to 500 ml of hot water. Stir until the baking soda dissolves.
- Pour the resulting liquid into the bowl with the dirty silverware.
- Let everything simmer over low heat for a few minutes.
- The silver cutlery should then be rinsed with clean water and wiped dry to avoid possible staining.
Tip: Use a soft cloth to polish the silver.
You can also use baking soda for cosmetic purposes. That's how it works.
Why wash hair with baking soda
Baking soda cleans hair better than any shampoo, and the result - shiny hair - is visible after just two or three washes. Here is a simple baking soda recipe for shiny hair:
- Take a small bottle and mix 1 part sodium bicarbonate with 3 parts water. The dosage depends on the length of your hair. For example, for longer hair, you can mix 2 or 3 tablespoons of sodium bicarbonate and three times the amount of water.
- You can apply this homemade mixture to dry or damp hair instead of shampoo. Rub it in from root to tip. Leave it on for about 2-3 minutes and then rinse it out.
Foot care with sodium bicarbonate
You can use baking soda to relieve tired feet. It's that simple: put three tablespoons of it in a bowl of warm water and soak your feet in the solution. Adding some baking soda to your warm foot water will not only make your feet softer and more relaxed, but it will also remove any fungal infection.
Use baking soda for facial peeling
There is hardly a gentler facial peeling than sodium bicarbonate. Mix three parts baking soda with one part water and gently massage your face. Then apply a moisturizing cream.
Also read:Cleaning with baking soda or baking powder: Which of the home remedies is better?
