I’m sure you’re all familiar with that little orange box in your fridge, freezer or baking cupboard. Arm & Hammer™ Baking Soda has been helping generations of Canadian families cook and clean for decades. It has SO many uses! In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, I’m sharing 67 Ways to Use Baking Soda that you should know about.
>>We have more housekeeping tips here. <<
67 Ways to Use Baking Soda
1-5 – Baby, baby, baby:
Baking soda is an all-natural cleaning product that’s gentle enough for even the tiniest baby clothes, yet effective enough for big baby odours.
Treat spills on carpets by soaking up as much of the spill as possible. Clean the stain and allow it to dry. When it’s completely dry, sprinkle well with baking soda, let sit for 15 minutes, and vacuum away.
You can also use baking soda to clean baby equipment and toys, and deodorize baby bottles and diaper pails. Use about 4 T. of baking soda in a quart of water. Wash thoroughly and rinse well.
Freshen up stuffed animals by sprinkling on baking soda, letting sit for 15 minutes, and then brushing away.
6-10- Have you tried it in the bathroom?:
It helps remove the dirt and grime from bathroom tiles or no-wax floors quickly and easily. I use a paste made of baking soda and water on scratch resistant surfaces and a solution (as above for the baby items) for more delicate ones.
It’s also effective at cleaning shower curtains, deodorizing drains and wastebaskets, surface-safe cleaning and for septic system care.
Pour about half a small box down a clogged drain and follow with 1 cup of white vinegar. Let sit and bubble up for about 15 minutes. Run hot water down the drain for approximately 5 minutes. If the clog is particularly stubborn, repeat this process but instead of running hot water down the drain, use 2 cups of boiling water. Doing this process once every week or two is a good preventative for clogs forming in the first place too.
11-18 – Not just for cooking in the kitchen:
Yes, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is a staple baking ingredient as it causes dough or batter to rise, becoming light and porous when heated, but it can also be used in the kitchen to clean lunch boxes, microwave ovens, dishes, pots and pans, recyclables, drains and garbage disposals.
To clean your microwave, simply put 2 T. of baking soda in a cup of water and place in the microwave. Heat on high for 3 minutes. Leave in the microwave with the door shut for another 3 minutes. Wipe down the interior of the microwave, dipping a sponge into the baking soda solution if needed. Rinse well.
Did I mention it also removes odours from plastic containers, polishes silver, freshens sponges and stinky sinks, refreshes teapots, cups and mugs and works great as a fruit and vegetable scrub? Sprinkle on some baking soda, and scrub with a damp sponge or old toothbrush. Rinse well.
Of course, it’s also a common deodorizer for fridges and freezers. Changing the box regularly (every 30 days is recommended) helps ensure optimal odour elimination.
19 – 20 – Don’t fret about your floors:
Baking soda can help remove unsightly scuff marks without unwanted scratch marks from tile and no-wax floors.
It’s also great at neutralizing common household odours and freshens stale-smelling air in your home.
21 – 28 – Baking Soda Tackles the greasiest of garages:
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda safely cleans your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats and floor mats without you having to worry about unwanted scratch marks.
It’s also a great deodorizer for car interiors and camper water tanks and tackles oil and grease stains on your garage floor or driveway.
29 – Smelly gear no more:
Use Arm & Hammer baking soda to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment like hockey or camping gear, as well as gym bags.
30 – 36 – Don’t forget to take it outside:
It is a must-have for your next camping trip! It’s a dish and pot scrubber, hand cleanser and deodorant, just to name a few.
It also cleans your plastic and vinyl pool toys as well as lawn furniture when it’s time to bring them out for the summer and works wonders on barbecue grills.
And that’s not all!
37 – 42 – Baking Soda has some great personal uses too!:
Because of the gentle and all natural formula of Arm & Hammer™ Baking Soda, it’s a popular personal hygiene product for many.
It can be used as a body and facial scrub, hand cleanser and a refreshing bath soak. It also helps to fight bad breath and body odour and is great for washing hair.
43 – 46 – Health Care ideas:
Baking soda is a safe, effective antacid. Just follow the instructions on the package.
For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water. Apply to bug bites to relieve itching.
Soak in a mixture of baking soda and warm water for a few days and splinters should pop right out on their own.
Sit in a lukewarm bath with baking soda in the water to soothe a sunburn.
47 – 48 – Using Baking Soda For Household Safety:
I can’t remember a day when my mother didn’t keep a shaker of baking soda on the back of the stove. I’ve always followed suit too. It has come in handy several times when we’ve had stovetop or oven fires. Sprinkle it on to smother the flames.
Baking soda is also a great way to absorb oil/grease spills. This will help prevent any falls on the slippery surface until it can be thoroughly cleaned up.
49 – 53 – Use baking soda as part of your pet care regime:
Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your cat’s litterbox to help absorb odours. You can also sprinkle some on top each time you scoop the box for additional odour reduction.
Sprinkle baking soda over your pet’s stinky bedding, leave for 15 minutes, and then brush away to freshen up. I also use baking soda as a “dry shampoo” in between baths for our dog.
If your pet has an accident on the rug, sprinkle some on it to absorb the urine and neutralize the smell.
Finally, baking soda can come in handy if your dog gets skunked. Mix together 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 tsp of dish soap. Bathe them with this and rinse well. It can greatly reduce the stinkiness! Use the same mixture to clean clothes or bedding that have also been skunkified.
54 – 66 – Assorted Other Great Baking Soda Tips:
Hands all stinky after chopping onions or garlic? Rub with baking soda and water to get rid of the smell.
Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in the water when you are soaking dried beans. This helps make them more digestible (and less likely to cause, ummm, gassiness!).
You can keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to their water.
Equal parts of baking soda and salt sprinkled at the entry points can help keep ants from entering your home.
Seal books in a large plastic container with some baking soda to remove that musty smell.
Clean silver with a paste of baking soda and water. For brass, use baking soda sprinkled on a lemon wedge.
Sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your laundry hamper to prevent odours.
Create a paste of baking soda and water and rub it over the residue left behind by labels or stickers.
Run some baking soda through a regular cycle of your dishwasher. This can help clear out all of the built-up grease and grime.
When packing away your camping supplies like tents and sleeping bags, add some baking soda to keep them from smelling “stale” when you pull them back out again next spring.
Soak combs and brushes once a month in a solution of 1 tsp. baking soda in a small basin of warm water. This will help remove hair product residue. Rinse well and let dry.
67 – My Super Secret Special Oven Cleaning Tip:
You’re not going to believe this tip. It’s so simple but so effective! I like to start by covering the element with aluminum foil to protect it. Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your oven.
Spray with water to make a paste, making sure the entire bottom surface of the oven is coated. Lay a black trash bag (I don’t know why it needs to be black but it does. And I’ve found that the cheaper the bag is, the better it works!) over the baking soda paste and leave it for several hours. It’s even better if you leave it overnight.
Remove the bag and wipe away the baking soda paste with a damp sponge. It generally removes all bits from the oven but if you find you have an especially stubborn one, you can use a scrub brush too.
glass beads says
I love this idea so much! It would work so many places, a kitchen, a bathroom. So easy and so cute! Thanks
Jiya says
LOOKS COOL
Juliee Fitze says
I make a paste and put it on burnt on messes and they come off so easy.
Jenn Beckett jennpup says
I recently learned from my fitness class leader to add one FULL box of A&H to a hot bath PLUS a cup of Epsom salts for a post workout stress release soak. It is amazing! And since a box of Arm & Hammer is so inexpensive, it’s only FEELS indulgent! <3
Jonnie says
I use baking soda in my husbands work boots to control the odour
Glogirl says
My baking soda secret is to add a bit to your facial cleanser to turn it into a gently exfoliating scrub.
ivy pluchinsky says
I use it to whiten my teeth
Florence Cochrane says
I use it on my kitchen sink and pour it down the drain to freshen the trap.
Tina L. says
Using baking soda and vinegar to clear the drains
Tara Betterley says
I actually use it most in my trailer. During the week the trailer is in storage and I need to continually air out the fridge to avoid moisture, odor and mould. I use the baking soda in there and it helps alot.
Rosanne Robinson says
I don’t have a baking soda secret, but do like to use A&H Baking Soda as a freshener in our 2 refrigerators, in laundry to brighten the whites and to clean our ceramic stove top, counter tops, sinks, and mixed with vinegar for drains.
caroline m. says
baking soda is the best non-toxic scrub to shine the tub, I love that it is not detrimental to my family’s health unlike other scrubs
Alex says
mix baking soda with vinegar to naturaly clean everything…
wendy hutton says
I use baking soda in the fridge to keep things fresh also add some to my whites when I wash them to keep them fresh and bright
Maritess says
The secret baking soda use that I just learned from your blog is that it can be used to clean around the car.
Jennifer L. says
My favourite is to use it in the cat litters. It really helps with the smell.
linda says
Like to use baking soda in my Laundry.
Amber Y says
We put a little bit of baking soda into the pot when boiling eggs to make the shells slide off easier.
missbobloblaw says
I love using baking soda to shine up my kitchen sink….& it also deodorizes the drain on the way down!!
Diana Powell says
I keep it open in my fridge . Never have any bad odours !
lori a butler says
it’s not really a secret, but I use boxes in my fridge and freezers
Doreen Lamoureux says
I use it in my bath with Epsom salt. I also love cleaning stained cups and pots.
Ellen says
I sprinkle the bottom of the organics container.
Doris Humber says
I love the idea of using it to keep flowers fresh, I never knew that before.
Jada says
I like using it to calm indigestion.
Linda says
I like using baking soda to wash off chemicals from fruit.
Kelley Moore says
I make a paste to whiten my teeth
Jennifer P. says
My favourite is to use it in the cat’s litterbox to fight odours and stop urine from sticking to the bottom of the box.
Judy Cowan says
I make a paste with water to scrub our white acrylic sink, works great to get rid of stains.
Tania B says
I had never heard this one: You can keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to their water. That is invaluable!
Tara says
My fave baking soda secret is definitely using it in the sink with vinegar!
Asiya says
I use baking soda, vinegar and hot water to unclog my drains and to freshen them.
Josh S says
I use it in my fridge to help with odors
HEIDI C. says
I use it with some water to make a paste to help ease the itch of bug bites,
Courtney says
I use it when boiling eggs to make them easier to peel! I also use it to keep my fridge smelling fresh
Robyn Bellefleur says
I like using baking soda to brush my teeth with twice a week to help keep them white.
Wanda Tracey says
I use Arm & Hammer baking soda in my beans. When I boil them I add a teaspoon of baking soda to them to take the Ooomph out of them.
You know the didley,
Beans,beans the magical fruit, the more you eat the more you toot.LOL Well
now you know my best secret. I love baked beans but I like that I can control the music too. 🙂
Gillian Morgan says
I use baking soda in my cats litter box to keep it fresh longer.
Dave Gibb says
I use it to whiten my teeth
Maria says
I always use it in my laundry
Stephanie says
I keep it in the fridge to eliminate odours!
Rhonda W G. says
Put some in a pretty jar and add a few drops of your favourite essential oil for a room freshener…
Debbie S. says
I guess a lot of people do this, but I love keeping some baking soda in the fridge and especially in the holiday trailer. Works so good to keep odors at bay.
Krista M says
I like to sprinkle it in the washing machine to freshen loads of laundry!
Amy C says
My favourite baking soda secret is that it’s great to use if your teeth hurt.
Erica Seaman says
I add vinegar and baking soda to my laundry wash to give it some extra softness and sparkle.
Ari. Tsu says
Yes, they’re all true ! My Grandma and mom have been using things with baking soda. Me and my kids also. You can use baking soda to clean your scalp and remove hair products and its gentle for babies too. But on your feet, you have to use moisturizer on feet and body becuse it can soften some but also cause little dryness. Baking soda also helps with kidney infection pain. You drink 1/2 teaspoon of it in a glass of water and helps if u add a cup to your bath. It s really an amazing product. But check blood pressure before using baking soda . These are just suggestions on my part . Should always do research before use but its all natural.
Happy Hiller says
Wow! I am impressed! So many ways to use baking soda!