From cleaning to removing odours, baking soda is a miracle product with many uses.
Baking soda has antibacterial, pH-regulating properties, is safe to use around pets and kids and has countless uses around the house. Yet despite being a traditional and non-toxic product, many parents still don’t know about the many uses of baking soda. When you are a busy single parent juggling kids and full-time work, it is easy to turn to harsh, toxic products to clean your home, for example – just think of bleach – simply because they are cheap and convenient to purchase, and you know how to use them.
Yet there are products equally inexpensive and readily available, but safer around children and pets, naturally occurring and much more environmentally friendly. Baking soda is one of these miracle products, which is all of the above AND more effective than most cleaning agents found in supermarkets. It is also a simple, effective, and inexpensive staple in many families’ kitchen cupboards and can be purchased just about anywhere. In this article we want to show you some of the many uses of baking soda, so you will never need to buy toxic supermarket products again for use around the house:
Baking soda in the kitchen
Cleaning can feel like a chore when you are a busy single parent, and it is easy to let grime build up in frequently used areas such as the kitchen. This is one area where baking soda is useful: as a powerful and extremely versatile cleaner that can be used to get rid of the icky grease that builds up in any family kitchen.
Cleaning kitchen counters and tapware
There is no easier way to clean your kitchen worktops than with baking soda. Start by dissolving a couple of teaspoons of baking soda in a bowl. Then dry any wet surfaces and wipe any bits of food from your kitchen counters before scrubbing more aggressively with a sponge or a brush. This will get rid of any built-up debris, dirt, grease, oil, and grime. If you have chosen tapware that is easy for everyone to operate, including children and older family members then chances are, it gets a lot of use. By dissolving 3 to 4 teaspoons of baking soda with 1 cup of water you can remove limescale build up, grease from sticky fingers and hard water stains making your taps sparkle again. Baking soda is perfect for the kitchen and the many messes that come from daily use.
Sparkling cookware
Did you know that the best way to remove burnt food from pots and pans is with baking soda? Simply scrub the pan with a brush and sprinkle some baking soda into the pot or pan. Leave it to sit overnight, and in the morning your pot will look brand new, clean, and shiny. If you need to get grease off your oven racks, try making a paste out of baking soda and water, applying it and leaving it overnight before scrubbing it off the next day. There is no need to purchase new pots and pans because of built up grease! Baking soda will help save you money and time as it will leave your cookware looking new again.
Shiny kitchen appliances
Baking soda is also perfect for cleaning your kitchen appliances when they have started to look manky. Sprinkle a little baking soda on the inside of your oven or microwave and let it sit for a while before wiping it off. This will remove any unwanted build up that may have accumulated over time and make them look brand new again. You can also sprinkle some baking soda over the top of your stove to remove the smell of food residue and make your stove look shiny and brand new.
Baking soda for your skin
Whilst you shouldn’t replace your skincare routine with baking soda, it can help to achieve some surprising results. Mix it with water to make a paste and use it as an exfoliating and antibacterial scrub against acne and oily skin. Make a paste of one part baking soda and two parts orange juice and apply to your face as a mask and you can achieve a healthy glow in 15 minutes. If your kids suffer from eczema, stir a quarter of a cup of baking soda into a full bath with warm water.
Baking soda for upholstered furniture
Upholstered furniture is susceptible to the build-up of dust, hair, and other particles. If used frequently, sofas and chairs can start to feel grimy and old. Baking soda is the perfect way to freshen them up. Remove any build up of dirt with a brush and a sprinkling of baking soda. By dusting your upholstery with baking soda, you can remove dirt particles more easily leaving your furniture nice and clean. Just make sure to test the fabric first before using baking soda on them. Some materials may be too delicate for this cleaning method.
Baking soda for pet odour
Baking soda can even get rid of persistent pet odour. By sprinkling baking soda onto your pet’s bed, you can draw out and neutralize any smells. After a few hours – make sure to keep your pets away during that time – you can hoover the bed to remove the baking powder and any fur. If your pet bed is machine washable, you could even add a cup of baking powder to the laundry water, together with a mild detergent. Baking soda will keep your pet’s bed clean and odour-free for a long time. Finally, baking soda can also be used to remove the odours left behind by invasive pests that may have found their way into your home. It may be used as part of a mice extermination process for example, as it can help to both remove odours from areas they’ve contaminated and discourage them from returning to their nesting areas.
Baking soda for brightening up your laundry
Baking soda is a gentle yet effective detergent for getting rid of those difficult stains in your laundry. Add a cup of baking soda to your laundry to help remove stains and soften fabrics. Baking soda is perfect for white fabrics because it helps brighten and whiten them. Just be sure not to use too much as this may leave a white residue on your clothes, which in rare cases can irritate sensitive kids’ skin. Keeping white clothes, especially school uniform, looking bright and fresh can be difficult. This is where baking soda is an easy and skin friendly solution to keeping your clothing looking brand new even after many washes.
Baking soda for a fresh sports kit
Baking soda is a natural antimicrobial agent, so perfect for removing odour from smelly fabrics, such as sports gear. You can add baking soda to your laundry detergent or scrub your gym bag with it to remove any unpleasant smells. A clean and deodorized bag will keep your gym clothes from smelling worse than they did before you cleaned them. Baking soda is also great for cleaning gym equipment, including rackets or helmets that can hold onto odours easily.
Baking soda for carpets & rugs
Baking soda can be used to get rid of odours that linger in carpets and rugs from spillages. Sprinkle some baking soda over the stain and immediately use a carpet suction tool to start sucking up the particles. Once you have vacuumed the stain, sprinkle baking soda on the entire surface and leave it for a few hours before vacuuming again. Rugs tend to be susceptible to the build-up of odour as they are often located in hallways and other areas of heavy traffic. Don’t think you have to throw your old rug because it’s dirty and smelly – with baking soda you can make it look, feel and smell brand new again.
Baking soda really is a miracle in a box (or bag). It is an economical and safe product, child and pet friendly and occurs naturally (but can more often be produced chemically). What better way to protect your family health than using a versatile and non-toxic substance around the house for your daily cleaning? These really are just some of the uses of baking soda. There are so many more that go beyond keeping your house clean and fresh.
About the author:
Single Parents on Holiday is a niche tour operator run by two mums: We offer fully-organised single parent holidays including beach, farm, activity and ski breaks both in the UK and abroad. Quality and service is our motto, so you can be sure to get value for money if you book one of our escorted single parent holidays. If you want to find out who we are, go to our about us page.
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