Baking Soda Cleaning Hacks

Our cleaning hack advice for using baking soda 



Cleaning products can certainly damage the contents of your wallet, especially because you seem to need a different cleaner for every square foot of your home these days. However, we’re big fans of utilising the cleaning properties of items we already have in our homes. One of them is baking soda. It’s an incredible natural product that’s versatile and has a wide range of uses. Check out our favourite baking soda cleaning hacks below.

 

Cleaning pots and pans


Baking soda is great for dissolving grease, so when it comes to cleaning food items, it’s perfect. No more filling a pan with water and letting it soak overnight (or a little while longer if you’re honest). Pop your pan on the hob, add some water and turn the heat on. When it’s boiling, pop in some baking soda and let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Remove it from heat and allow it to cool down, come back a couple of hours later then rinse and clean as normal - you’ll have a beautiful clean pot that looks like it’s never been used!

 

Clearing blocked drains

 

Is there a worse job in the home than clearing a blocked drain? The thought of it alone has us reminiscing of the scent from the last time. Yet, for the longer haired folk especially, it’s one of these problems you’ll regularly cross paths with, thanks to hair fall out during a shower. That being said, this method of cleaning can work on any drain. Depending on how blocked it is, determines how much of the process you may need to repeat.

Start by pouring equal parts baking soda and vinegar down the drain. The mixture will bubble, this is normal, don’t worry. Just leave it to work its magic for a couple of hours. Then, boil a kettle and pour the water down the drain. It’ll wash away all the fatty blockages going on but more importantly, it will remove any odours!

Brightening white clothes and your teeth!


Have you been wasting money on brightening toothpaste and stain remover sticks? While we tell ourselves they’re working - we seldom see results. Instead of spending lots of money on those products, why not harness the natural power of baking soda. Sure, the taste isn’t too brilliant, but dipping your wet tooth brush into a pot of baking soda and directly brushing your teeth can make a real difference over time!

The same can be said for your clothes. You can pop some baking soda and warm water onto a white piece of clothing before washing it, or pop a scoop of baking soda in your washing machine alongside your detergent. It will help brighten them and remove any lingering odours on sweaty clothing.

Remove pesticide from produce


This might not be one for the squeamish, but it’ll certainly shock you to learn. It’s no secret that we should be washing our fruit and veg before eating them. Grapes, strawberries, apples - the lot. So, fill a bowl with water and pop some baking soda and white vinegar in. The water will fizz but that’s okay. Leave your fruit and veg for a couple of minutes to soak in the water and you’ll see all the pesticide remove. Give your food a quick run under the tap before popping it back into storage - ready to eat!

Restore silver jewellery


This tip will only work for original silver jewellery and ornaments, but it’s a great way to bring some life back into your valuables. Boil two cups of water and mix it with two cups of baking soda. Dip your silver items into the mixture and leave them there for 20 seconds, longer if they’re super tarnished. Then, wrap them in tin foil for 20 seconds. Remove and run under the tap and you’ll see they have the perfect shine! This might leave your hands smelling a bit funky, so grab some scented hand sanitiser to clean your hands afterwards.