Life hacks: 7 incredible ways to keep your home clean with Baking Soda
It can be hard to keep your home clean, and keeping a cupboard full of cleaning products well stocked is expensive and time-consuming. But what if there was a way to clean many different parts of your home using just one simple product?
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is something that almost all households will have somewhere in their fridge or in the back of a cupboard. Believe it or not, it is one of the most versatile and effective cleaning tools you have in your home.
Here are some top tips for using baking soda in your home:
Dustbin
If you want to keep your kitchen bin smelling fresh, simply sprinkle some baking soda into the bottom of the bin and put in a bin liner.
This trick also works with sports bags and car boots – anything that is used to hold things and may become smelly.
Marks on the Wall
If you have children or pets, then having marked walls ends up being a given. But they are surprisingly easy to clean and don’t require powerful stain removers – just use baking soda.
Make a paste using 50% baking soda and 50% water, then gently rub it on the mark using a clean cloth or sponge and watch as the dirt gradually wipes away.
Clean the Sink
Add a few tablespoons of baking soda to your sink and drain, then leave it for around an hour. When the time is up pour a jug of vinegar and boiling water around the sink and down the drain, and it should no longer smell or have any blockages.
Whiten Your Grout
You’ll have the cleanest grout around if you use baking soda to whiten and brighten it. Sprinkle it thickly onto the grout line, spray with water and leave it to sit for 10 – 15 minutes.
Use an old toothbrush to scrub at the grout and then wipe away any residue using a cloth. Your grout should be sparkling clean.
Clean Your Oven
The majority of ovens don’t clean themselves, and cleaning them can feel like a long and daunting task that regularly needs doing. Using baking soda you can turn it into a cheap and painless mission.
Spray the inside of your oven with vinegar and then layer baking soda over the top and leave it for half an hour. Once you start scrubbing at the mixture, you will see that all the dirt and grime comes away easily.
Vacuum the Carpets
Sprinkle a box of baking soda over your carpets and then vacuum it all up after half an hour. Not only will your carpets be clean and smell nice, but the baking soda will be good for your vacuum cleaner too.
Transform Laundry
Using baking soda in your laundry will brighten your clothes and also make them smell better. Just add a few scoops into the drum of your washing machine and set it going.
You can also use baking soda to get out any stains you may have – just pre-treat the area with a baking soda paste and leave for a bit, before adding in with the rest of your dirty washing.