If you thought that baking soda is just for making delicious chocolate chip cookies, then it’s time to make use of this affordable, readily available kitchen staple for the rest of your home.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is used to help make baking goods rise. It is a common ingredient in breads, pastries, and other baked goods and is pretty easy to buy. You can buy yourself a box of baking soda at the supermarket with ease. It’s inexpensive too!
Helpful Cleaning Agent
Here at Pristine Home we have listed down the various ways baking soda can do more than just be another ingredient in your next batch of cookies:
In the Kitchen
- Freshen up plastic food containers with baking soda. Sprinkle some on a clean sponge and wipe. If there are food stains that won’t come up, mix four tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water. Leave the solution to “work” on the stain.
- No more foul odours in the fridge. Since baking soda is affordable, we suggest leaving a box inside the refrigerator to help eliminate any offensive odours. Simply cut a small whole open and place it in a corner of the fridge that’s hard for children to reach.
- Store-bought vegetables and fruits are notorious for having chemicals and bugs. Clean them thoroughly with baking soda and water.
- Kitchen countertops will look shiny and new again with baking soda. Directly pour on the stain or grime, or you can mix it with warm water and let the solution sit on the surface for at least half an hour. Make sure to scrub thoroughly with a clean microfibre cloth.
- Cut grease easily on pots, pans, and dishes with a bit of dishwasher soap and baking soda. The abrasive nature of the powder with help remove grease in no time!
- Give sponges a second life. Soak stale sponges with water and baking soda so you can use them longer. However, as a rule of thumb we suggest throwing out sponges every fortnight or three weeks.
In the Bathroom
- Mildew in the bathroom can be unsightly. All you need to do is scrub it with a wet sponge and baking soda.
- Clogged drain? Let baking soda handle it. Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain followed by half a cup of vinegar. Cover the opening with a wet cloth; the vinegar and baking soda will react quite violently (remember DIY volcanoes in elementary school?) Let sit for about five to ten minutes and then pour hot water into the drain.
- Sanitise your toothbrush with baking soda. Soak it overnight in equal amounts of water and baking soda. Rinse thoroughly in the morning.
Other Uses
- Having kids would usually mean their artwork can be found on your walls. As cute as they look, we know you’re dying to clean it up. Scrub away crayons on walls with a damp sponge and a bit of baking soda.
- Give stuffed animals a thorough cleaning. Place all of them in a garbage bag, pour 1 cup of baking soda, secure the top tightly and shake away. The baking soda will help draw out dirt and soil. Make sure you vacuum everything afterwards.
- Make clothes look newer when you add a cup of baking soda to your laundry load, along with your liquid detergent.
- Athlete’s foot? No problem! Sprinkle baking soda in the insides of your sneakers in between uses. Just tap it out whenever you need to use them again.
- Get rid of tarnish on your silverware. Mix water and baking soda and turn it into a paste. Using a clean cloth, scrub tarnish away and you’ll see yourself smiling on its surface.
- Upholstery can smell musty after some time. All you need to do is sprinkle baking soda on the cushions, let it stay for around 15 minutes, and then vacuum it. You can do this to your mattress too in between cleanings.
- White water rings on table services can look hideous. Thank goodness baking soda can do something about it! Mix non-gel toothpaste (make sure it’s white) with baking soda. Wet a piece of microfibre cloth, get a bit of the mixture, and then go to town with the white rings. Wipe off with a dry cloth. You can use your usual polisher afterwards.
For more extensive cleaning, call Pristine Home. We offer all sorts of cleaning services that suit your needs. Our professional cleaners have been trained extensively to handle all of your household items with care. Book your first appointment with us now and enjoy $20 off.
