Green Cleaning: All About Using Baking Soda In Your Home

When you consider how often you have to clean, it makes sense to avoid exposure to the harsh chemicals some household cleaners contain. One of the most versatile and effective green cleaning products you can use is baking soda. Here's how to get the most out of your cleaning routine with this powerful pantry staple.

• Why It Works
  Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a salt. Like other salts, baking soda is a neutral compound. If you remember high school chemistry, that means it's not acidic. It's the base part of an acid-base reaction. That reaction is what allows the baking soda to be effective at absorbing odors, cutting grease (when combined with vinegar), and general dirt busting.
• Getting Rid of Odors
  There are tons of places where this can come in handy. An open box in the refrigerator absorbs unpleasant smells (just remember to change it periodically). A small bowl of baking soda can absorb general room odors as well. Sponges, carpets, upholstery, mattresses, pet beds, garbage cans, drains, garbage disposals, and shoes can all benefit from its odor-busting power. Sprinkle it on, give it some time to absorb the odors, and clean it up or wash it away. Add it to the litter box to help prevent unpleasant smells.
• Use as a Mild Abrasive
  Have a surface that needs a good scrubbing? Try a baking soda and water paste. The outside of pots and pans, food containers, dishes, sinks, countertops, and the white rings on your coffee table are all good candidates for a thorough scrubbing. Although it is gentler than many of its non-green counterparts, it's still a good idea to test in an inconspicuous area first. Used with vinegar, it's an effective grease-cutting agent.
• Outdoor Cleaning
  Try using baking soda to clean your grill or patio furniture. Baking soda is absorbent, too, so sprinkling some on spilled grease from your grill or an oil stain from your car can make clean-up easier.
• Grout and Tile Cleaner
  Mixed with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda is an effective grout and tile cleaner. The abrasiveness cleans off dirt and soap scum, and the peroxide helps whiten and brighten.
• Clean the Bathtub
  Baking soda can be used anywhere you would normally use a cleanser. Sprinkle it in the bathtub with some dish soap, scrub away the soap scum and rinse.
• Clean the Inside of Your Oven or Refrigerator
  For the oven, sprinkle baking soda inside and spray with vinegar until it foams. This will help cut through grease and burn spills. In the refrigerator, simply mix with water and use a sponge to clean. Rinse off afterward.
• Laundry Stain Remover
  You can use baking soda as an add-in to help freshen your laundry. But it's also an effective stain remover. A mixture of one part lemon juice, one part water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda scrubbed into the fabric can have your white shirts free of sweat stains in no time.

We spend a lot of time making our homes look their best, and green cleaning with baking soda can have your whole home sparkling clean in no time.

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