Baking soda for home care and cleaning
Baking soda is a universal household remedy and an environmentally friendly and inexpensive alternative to many conventional household products.
The following are simple recipes for versatile applications and everyday use.
Preparation of a simple cleaner, scouring paste or scouring powder from baking soda
Cleaner
To make a simple all-purpose cleaner, dissolve 2 teaspoons of curd soap in 500 ml of warm water and then add 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Mix everything well and pour into a simple spray bottle once it has cooled. This cleaner can be used in the kitchen, bathroom, for floors and furniture, as well as in the cellar, garage and car.
Scouring paste
For stubborn stains, we recommend making a simple biodegradable scouring paste from baking soda. Simply mix bicarbonate of soda with a little water to form a homogeneous paste. Apply this paste to the soiled areas and leave to work for a while. Then wipe off with a wet cloth. Treat very stubborn stains with a brush and the baking soda scrubbing paste.
Scouring powder
Scouring powder made from baking soda, citric acid powder and cornflour is even more effective. Mix 50 g of baking soda with a tablespoon of citric acid powder and a teaspoon of cornflour in an empty screw-top jar - and you have a biodegradable scouring agent.
The scouring paste or scouring powder can be used to clean burnt pots and pans, ceramic hobs and ovens, tile joints, porcelain, acrylic glass, chrome or stainless steel.
The scouring paste or scouring powder should not be used on mineral surfaces such as marble or stone, or on high-gloss coatings, as these materials can be easily scratched.
Examples of use for cleaner, paste and powder
Removing limescale with vinegar and baking soda
Limescale builds up on objects that repeatedly come into contact with hard water. Electric kettles and coffee machines, dishwashers and washing machines, toilets and showers are particularly affected.
To remove limescale from stainless steel sinks, taps or tiles, we recommend using scouring paste or scouring powder made from baking soda. Simply treat the limescale stains with it, whereby you should test the compatibility of the object to be treated.
We recommend using vinegar and bicarbonate of soda for heavily stained objects, e.g. a kettle: add half a cup of vinegar and half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to the container. Then fill up with water and switch on. Then pour the hot cleaning water into the sink and rinse the kettle thoroughly several times with tap water. As a side effect, pouring away the bicarbonate of soda and vinegar solution also cleans the drain at the same time.
Clear blocked drains
Pour about a cup of baking soda into the drain and then a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain with a damp cloth and leave to soak for 5 - 10 minutes. Baking soda and vinegar react with each other because baking soda is alkaline and vinegar is acidic. Then pour in a pot of boiling water. This method cannot be used to remove every type of blockage, as the mixture cannot dissolve hair, for example, but only reduces the dirt around it so that the "clog" can slip through the pipe.
Eliminating unpleasant odours in the refrigerator, dishwasher or washing machine
Unpleasant odours in the fridge can be neutralised with baking soda. Put 50-100g of baking soda in a small bowl and place it in the fridge. After about a day, the odours will have disappeared as the sodium bicarbonate absorbs them. Then dispose of the baking soda or replace it if necessary.
Dishwashers can be freed from unpleasant odours and cleaned with baking soda. Add 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda to the rinsing chamber and a little vinegar to the rinse aid container. The baking soda acts as an alkali and the vinegar as an acid. This combination cleans the machine and regulates its operation.
Washing machines should be cleaned regularly, otherwise odours can build up and even be transferred to the laundry. Place 50 g of baking soda in the main wash compartment and 50 ml of vinegar in the fabric softener compartment. It is important that the baking soda and vinegar are poured into the different compartments, otherwise a reaction will occur prematurely. Now run your machine through at least 60 degrees without washing.
Baking soda prevents the freezer compartment from icing up
After you have defrosted the freezer compartment, dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a litre of water and rub it into the freezer compartment. This will prevent it from icing up again.
For cleaning heavily soiled surfaces or burnt pots and pans
Food residues in burnt pots are difficult to remove and require a lot of scrubbing. Boil a tablespoon of baking soda in 1 litre of water in the burnt pot. The food residue can then be easily removed.
Cleaning the oven
Take the baking soda paste, apply it to the desired areas in the oven and on the glass and leave it to work for several hours. Then simply wipe out the oven with a little water. In the case of very heavy soiling, a second application of the baking soda paste helps, which is thoroughly rubbed off and removed after a contact time of several hours. Adding vinegar can also help to remove burnt-on stains. The baking soda and vinegar react with each other and foam up. After some time, the stains can now be easily removed with a scouring sponge.
Dishwashing liquid made from baking soda
Dishwashing liquid is easy to make from baking soda. Take 15 g of finely grated curd soap or curd soap flakes and dissolve them in 500 ml of boiling water while stirring. After cooling, add 4 teaspoons of baking soda and stir well. The finished washing-up liquid can be stored in an empty washing-up liquid bottle.
Making fabric softener
Baking soda can be used as a fabric softener. Simply add 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda directly to the detergent and wash the laundry as usual. This makes fabric softener superfluous.
Removing stains from textiles
Take 2 tablespoons of baking soda and mix with a little water to form a paste. Then rub the stain with this bicarbonate of soda paste and leave it to work for approx. 12 hours. Then wash out with lukewarm water. Stains on clothing: after rubbing in the bicarbonate of soda paste, leave to work and then put the clothing in the washing machine as usual.
Removing odours from textiles
Many textiles are not washable, such as sofas, car seats, chairs and bedspreads. Over time, they can absorb unpleasant odours from the environment or from liquids. You can remove these unpleasant odours with baking soda. Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a litre of water and pour this mixture into a spray bottle. This makes it easy to spray textiles and the baking soda neutralises the unpleasant odours.
To remove unpleasant odours from clothes, simply add a tablespoon of baking soda to the detergent in the detergent compartment for the main wash cycle of the washing machine and wash the laundry as usual.
Shoe deodorant against bad odours in shoes
Sprinkle baking soda powder directly into the affected shoes and leave it to work overnight. In the morning, simply shake the excess baking soda powder out of the shoes. The unpleasant foot odour has disappeared from the shoes and you can wear them as usual. You can repeat this procedure as often as you like.
Cleaning trainers and trainers
Cleaning trainers and trainers often involves a lot of scrubbing, as many models cannot be washed in the washing machine. Baking soda is particularly suitable for cleaning light-coloured soles. Put half a teaspoon of baking soda on a damp scouring pad and rub it into the outer sole of the trainers. If necessary, leave the baking soda on for a while. Then simply wipe off with a damp cloth.
Cleaning soft toys / cuddly toys
Most cuddly toys cannot simply be put in the washing machine as they are easily damaged. Sprinkle the cuddly toy with baking soda and leave it on for 15 minutes. Then brush out the baking soda with a brush. The cuddly toy is then clean again and smells good.
Cleaning mattresses and removing odours
Baking soda can be used to remove stains and bad odours from mattresses. First vacuum the mattress thoroughly with a hoover to remove fluff, hair and dander. If you are primarily interested in a good odour, spread approx. 500 g of baking soda on the mattress and leave it to work for approx. 12 hours. Then simply vacuum up the powder. If the mattress is to be cleaned more thoroughly, e.g. because it has stains, the baking soda powder is rubbed into the mattress with a damp brush. Leave to work for approx. 12 hours and allow to dry. Then vacuum up the powder residue.
Cleaning carpets
Carpets can lie in the home for years and absorb not only dust but also odours from the environment. You can remove these unpleasant odours with baking soda so that even older carpets smell fresh again. Spread approx. 20 g of baking soda per square metre on the carpet, rub it in with a soft brush and leave it to work for approx. 24 hours. Then vacuum the baking soda with a hoover. Stains and traces of dirt in the carpet can also be treated with baking soda. Sprinkle the soiled area with baking soda, rub the baking soda powder well into the carpet and leave it to work for at least 5 hours. Then vacuum.
Cleaning windows
Dissolve a tablespoon of baking soda in 5 litres of lukewarm water and clean the window panes with it.
Cleaning toilets with vinegar and baking soda
Baking soda is an excellent toilet cleaner. It dissolves unsightly encrustations and neutralises unpleasant odours. Pour half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar into the toilet, followed by a litre of boiling water. Then immediately close the toilet lid, as the acid in the vinegar will react with the alkaline solution in the baking soda. Flush the toilet after about 10 minutes. As a side effect, you also clean the drain so that no further unpleasant odours can arise.
Washing shower curtains
Shower curtains get dirty very easily, limescale builds up and dirt sticks to them and mould can even form. The shower curtain is washed in the washing machine without further washing. Add 50g of baking soda directly to the drum and normal detergent to the compartment and 50ml of vinegar instead of fabric softener to the softener compartment. Wash the shower curtain at 30°C. Baking soda increases the effectiveness of the detergent, softens the water and has an anti-fungal effect. After washing, hang the shower curtain up to dry, pulling it as far apart as possible to prevent creases from forming.
Bleaching joints
Tile grout discolouration cannot be cleaned or bleached with normal cleaning agents. However, baking soda can be used to clean tile joints very well. To do this, take the baking soda paste with a creamy consistency, spread it on the joints using a toothbrush and leave it to work for a few hours. Then moisten the toothbrush, wipe the dirt out of the grout and rinse if necessary. However, baking soda is not suitable for cleaning silicone joints. You should also not use baking soda on natural stone or marble tiles, as it can dull or scratch them.
Removing adhesive residue
Residues from labels, price tags and stickers are often very difficult to remove. Baking soda is a gentle option for removing adhesive residue. Cut a lemon in half and place a teaspoon of baking soda on the open lemon half so that you can use the lemon half as a kind of sponge. Now rub the lemon half over the glue residue and then rinse with a little water. For wooden furniture from which you want to remove sticker residue, you can use a mixture of cooking oil and baking soda. Mix the two in equal parts and apply the paste to the adhesive residue. Leave it to work for approx. 40 minutes and then wipe off the residue with a sponge.
Baking soda against unpleasant odours in the hoover
Put a teaspoon of baking soda directly into the dust bag and then vacuum as usual. The baking soda neutralises the odours in the hoover.
Cleaning coffee pots and teapots
Tea and coffee deposits in cups and pots are stubborn and difficult to clean as it is difficult to get into the pots. Put a tablespoon of baking soda in the pot to be cleaned and fill it up with hot water. Leave the baking soda solution to work for a few hours and then clean the jug with a bottle brush. Afterwards, rinse the jug with cold water.
Cleaning the ceramic hob
Food always burns onto the ceramic hob. Take a baking soda paste made from two tablespoons of baking soda and three teaspoons of water and spread it on the ceramic hob. Leave the bicarbonate of soda paste to work well, which can take anywhere from a few minutes to two hours, depending on the degree of soiling. Then remove the residue with a damp cloth and polish the ceramic hob with a dry cloth.
Polishing cutlery
To clean tarnished silver cutlery, you need a bowl of water, some aluminium foil and some baking soda powder. First place the aluminium foil in the water bath and place the cutlery to be cleaned on the aluminium foil. Then sprinkle some baking soda over the cutlery, which should be completely covered with water. After about two minutes, the cutlery can be removed from the silver bath. This will remove most of the discolouration. Finally, polish the cutlery with a soft cloth to remove any water deposits and make the cutlery shine.
Silver bath for jewellery
To clean tarnished silver jewellery, line a small bowl with aluminium foil and fill it with warm water. Then place the silver jewellery in it and add two tablespoons of baking soda. After about 10 minutes, the jewellery is free of stains and can be dried. Then polish the jewellery with a soft cloth and the old shine is restored.
Cleaning brushes and combs
Accumulated hair, dandruff and grease can be easily removed by placing the brushes and combs in a water bath with baking soda. Simply leave to soak and then rinse.
Cleaning the car
For stained seats, spread baking soda on the car seats and work the powder in with a moistened sponge. Treat the stains more intensively with circular movements. Leave the baking soda on for several hours until the car seats are completely dry. Then vacuum up the baking soda residue with a hoover. This also removes unpleasant odours from the interior. Car windows can be cleaned with baking soda. Put baking soda on a sponge and clean the windows with it, then rinse with clear water and rub dry with a leather cloth. Baking soda should not get on the car paintwork as it can damage it.