Easy & Economical: 5 DIY Home Cleaners Made Of Baking Soda

January 3, 2015

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a versatile ingredient with multiple uses—right from baking, cooking, polishing, to cleaning. Without doubt, it is the most handy product to keep at home. As a cleanser, it is chemical-free and non-toxic. It’s also a pH regulator, thus maintaining the balance between alkali and acidity. Here’s how you can use it as a DIY home cleaner with a deodorizing effect.

1. Dish-Washing Liquid
Does the stubborn grime on your saucepan bother you? Fill it with one quart of warm water and ¼ cup of baking soda, allowing it to soak for a few hours. Next, put it on the burner and bring the solution to a boil. Once it cools, the grime will come off effortlessly.

2. Sponge Freshener
Even after you clean up your kitchen, the foul smell of the sponge can be nauseating. Quickly deodorize it by soaking it in baking soda. You will need four tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in one quart of warm water to disinfect the sponge.

3. Drain Deodorizer
Your sink and tub drains could cause a stench in the bathroom or the kitchen. Use baking soda to get rid of it. Simply pour ½ cup under running water, preferably warm. Doing this will neutralize the odor and will clean the drain as well.

4. Silver Polish
Over time, silverware such as spoons and forks develop a toxic residue. To get their sheen back, use this DIY polish. Mix together three parts of baking soda and one part of water until it forms a paste. Rub it on your silverware and rinse off with hot water. Use a clean towel to polish it dry.

5. Toilet Cleaner
With its cleaning and deodorizing properties, baking soda is a great, economical ingredient to sanitize the toilet. Pour ¼ cup along with a dash of vinegar into the pot. Wait for 30 minutes and then start scrubbing. Flush the toilet clean.