How to Clean Almost Everything with Baking Soda

When it comes to natural cleaning solutions, you can beat baking soda. It's a mild abrasive, making it ideal for scrubbing surfaces without scratching, and when mixed with vinegar, it creates a bubbling reaction that cleans every nook and cranny. Plus, you probably already have a box of it hanging out in your pantry. You can use it to freshen up white sneakers, scrub a stainless steel sink, and so much more. Let's take a look!

Clean a Mattress

To help freshen and deodorize your mattress, sprinkle the top of the mattress with a thin layer of baking soda. Let it sit for five to ten minutes before vacuuming it off using the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner.

Clean Grimy Baking Sheets

They start off so shiny and new. And then, before you know it, they're so dark and dirty! To get your baking sheets looking like new again, you just need hydrogen peroxide and, you guessed it, baking soda. Sprinkle the whole sheet with baking soda and spritz with hydrogen peroxide. Add a few more layers and let things sit for at least four hours or even overnight. Then, chip away at the hardened solution with a scrubby sponge and some water. The stains and grime will come right up as you work.

Whiten Grout Lines

If you have white grout, chances are, it's no longer entirely white. Brighten things up with a paste of two parts baking soda and one part hydrogen peroxide. Apply the paste to the grout lines and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, with an old toothbrush, start scrubbing, paying special attention to the dingiest areas.

Deodorize Pee Smells from Carpets, Upholstery, and More

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and comes in handy when cleaning up pet messes. Your directions will vary based on the job you're tackling, but we've got you covered with clear step-by-step directions. No matter what, be sure to work quickly: Urine is acidic and the longer it sits on fabrics, the harder it is to lift the smells.

Deodorize the Trash

In more deodorizing news, you can also use baking soda to de-stink your trash if you're not quite ready to take the bag out just yet. Simply sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the offending scraps and keep adding trash as usual. Once you've taken the trash out, you can also wash and deodorize the can with a solution of one cup baking soda and one gallon of water.

Freshen Up a Toilet Bowl

Skip the gel and expensive tabs and clean your toilet bowl the DIY route. Once a week, sprinkle in one cup of baking soda and one cup of distilled white vinegar. Close the lid and let the solution do its thing for 30 minutes. Then, just use a toilet brush to (easily) clean away the grime. Flush and continue with your day.

Clean Shoes

Keeping your white sneakers sparkling clean is an ongoing challenge. To clean white canvas shoes, combine one tablespoon of baking soda, two tablespoons of white vinegar, and one cup of water. Use a clean toothbrush or cloth to rub the solution onto your shoes, scrubbing away any visible dirt or stains.

Fix a Scorched Dutch Oven

Even the best home cooks end up with a scorched Dutch oven from time to time. (Thanks for nothing, tomato paste!) To get it clean again, bring four cups of water to a boil over medium heat. Add two tablespoons of baking soda and stir with a wooden spoon. The alkaline pH level of baking soda can help neutralize the acidity of the grease and burned bits, breaking them down. Let the solution simmer, then use the spoon to scrape up any food on the bottom. Dump the dirty water, and wash as usual.

Scrub a Stainless Steel Sink

If your stainless steel sink is coated in layers of grease and grime, baking soda can help. Here's how: Sprinkle the basin with a layer of baking soda, then add a very small amount of water to form a paste. Scrub the sink with the baking soda paste using a soft cloth or sponge.

Revive Splotchy Stainless Steel

If your once-shiny skillets now have patches of burned-on oil, we have an easy fix. Add two tablespoons of baking soda and a bit of water to the pan, stirring to make a paste. Next, ball up a piece of heavy duty aluminum foil and rub it over the surface. The baking soda absorbs the grime and triggers a chemical reaction that transfers the markings from the pan to the foil.

Freshen Up a Stinky Sink Drain

Get in the habit of regularly sprinkling a little baking soda down the drain while running hot water. This will go a long way to keep things fresh, but if you need a deeper clean, pour a teapot full of boiling water down the drain followed by 1/2 cup baking soda. Let things sit for a few minutes and chase it down with a cup of hot water and a cup of distilled white vinegar. Wait again and then flush with one more kettle of boiling water.

Shine Your Silver

To polish silver without all the elbow grease, start by washing each piece with warm, soapy water. In a pot, combine one quart of boiling water, 1/4 cup baking soda, and two teaspoons salt. Line a separate pot with aluminum foil, add the silver and pour in the mixture. Let sit for five minutes and watch as the tarnish falls off. Rinse and dry each piece thoroughly.

Clean Porcelain and Ceramic Dishware

With porcelain and ceramic dishware, baking soda serves as a stain remover. To remove stubborn coffee stains from your favorite mug, mix baking soda with water to form a paste, then use it to scrub away the stains.

Lift Sweat Stains from White Shirts

For stubborn sweat stains on white shirts, follow this advice and saturate the stain with equal parts baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water. Rinse, then toss the shirt into the washing machine with bleach. And be sure to check out our guide to cleaning the most stubborn stains.

Get Grease Out of Your Sofa

If you get an oil-based stain on your upholstered sofa, reach for the box of baking soda. Sprinkle it onto the area and let sit for 15 minutes. Vacuum up the powder before applying a dry-cleaning solvent and allowing it to sit overnight. The next day, apply water, scrub carefully with a toothbrush, and blot with a clean cloth.

Clean the Stovetop

Scrubbing a stovetop is a balancing act: you want a formula that's tough enough to remove stuck-on grime yet gentle enough that it won't scratch the surface. That's where baking soda comes in. Mix equal parts baking soda, mild dish soap, and a few drops of water to form a paste. Use it to scrub cooked-on food on a gas or electric stovetop, let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe it away.

Remove Stains from Plastic Food Storage Containers

Pasta sauce can do some damage to food storage containers! The stains won't hurt anyone (or anything), but if they're bugging you, baking soda to the rescue. Fill the container with baking soda and water. Let it sit and, by morning, the stain should have lifted. Then, wash as usual.

Clean a Dishwasher

To remove buildup from the interior of your dishwasher, mix up this homemade spray. Combine two tablespoons of baking soda and 16 ounces of water in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for two minutes. Carefully transfer to a spray bottle and spritz the inside of the machine before wiping clean with a microfiber cloth. Still have a smelly dishwasher? Try these tips for deodorizing a dishwasher.

Wash the Inside of Your Refrigerator

Baking soda is one of the secret ingredients to clean your fridge with ease. After turning off the appliance and removing the shelves, wash the inside surfaces with two tablespoons of baking soda and one quart of warm water. Then rinse with clean water and wipe dry.

Clean Wood Cutting Boards

Most directions (ours included!) will tell you to use a halved lemon and coarse salt to clean a wood cutting board. And that's great advice, but if you're low on salt, baking soda will get the job done. Use the halved lemon to scrub the baking soda into the board.