Baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate) is a cheap, environmentally friendly, safe and ultra-effective alternative to various chemical and perfumed cleaning agents. In fact, baking soda can replace many common cleaning products! Sodium bicarbonate has a mild abrasive effect, is a disinfectant and removes bad odours.
Here you can read all our tips for effective cleaning with baking soda.
What is sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)?
Baking soda , also called sodium bicarbonate, is a salt of carbonic acid. Traditionally, sodium bicarbonate is used as a leavening agent in baking, just like baking powder, with the difference between the two being that baking powder is a mixture of baking soda and an acid. But in addition to being a leavening agent, baking soda is also brilliant for a lot of cleaning tasks.
Are baking soda and bicarbonate the same as baking soda?
Baking soda is called both sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate - and it is therefore the same product. In English, baking soda is called baking soda, so it is baking soda that you are talking about if you come across that term in English or American recipes.
Baking soda for cleaning: Here are our best tips
Bleaching white textiles with baking soda
We love washing our clothes and other textiles with soapberry , which is a completely natural alternative to regular detergent. It is a gentle, environmentally friendly and efficient way of washing, which is also gentle on the textiles and ultimately our skin.
Soap berries are gentle because they only contain soap substances (saponins) and no enzymes, bleaches and other potentially irritating and harsh chemicals. Since soap berries are so natural and gentle, they also do not bleach light textiles in the same way as you might be used to from ordinary detergent for white washing.
If you want to freshen up your white textiles, our sodium bicarbonate is a brilliant and gentle way to do it. Just add ½ dl to the detergent drawer and wash as usual. NOTE: should not be used for delicate materials such as wool and silk.
Washing machine cleaning with baking soda and vinegar
Fill ½ dl of sodium bicarbonate in your detergent drawer and add 1 dl of clear household vinegar to the washing drum. Wash at 90+ degrees or a machine clean program. If you have white textiles such as towels and bedding that can withstand the heat, you can wash them with them - then they will become lighter. Always leave the washing machine's door and drawer ajar when not in use to avoid odors.
Read more about cleaning smelly washing machines here.
Clean blocked drains with baking soda and vinegar
It is super easy to loosen dirt and grease in a blocked drain with a little baking soda and vinegar. Just sprinkle 1 dl of baking soda directly into the drain. Then boil 2 dl of household vinegar - possibly together with 2 dl of water - pour it down the drain and let it soak for an hour. Rinse afterwards with approx. one liter of boiling water.
It takes both dirt and odor down the drain. But depending on how blocked the drain is, you may also need a mop if it's completely crazy.
If you use clear stock vinegar rather than household vinegar, it should not be diluted but simply boiled. It is because ourhousehold vinegar from Care by Nature is 10% acetic acid intended for cleaning that we dilute it with water.
Fortify your cleaning products
If your cleaning agents are not strong enough, you can add some baking soda. Baking soda has an abrasive effect, which is really good for scrubbing off particularly stubborn dirt and grime. Even mild detergents or even just ordinary washing-up liquid can become super effective for cleaning with a little bicarbonate.
Clean the dishwasher
Baking soda is perfect for cleaning the dishwasher, removing bad odors and avoiding limescale stains on your crockery. Simply fill 1 dl of baking soda in the bottom of your dishwasher and run a washing program. Remember to clean the filter at the same time.
Baking soda for cleaning the bathroom
Baking soda has a mild scrubbing effect, which makes it an effective ally in bathroom cleaning. Dip a damp sponge in sodium bicarbonate - e.g. sprinkled on a plate - and scrub the surfaces you want to clean. It can be sinks (ceramics and stainless steel), tiles, joints or bathtubs. Rinse off and dry with a clean cloth.
NOTE: should not be used on polished surfaces.
Cleaning the oven and baking trays with baking soda
Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda in the bottom of your oven and on your baking sheets. Then add washing-up liquid. Use an atomizer to spray water on so that all the powder is moist. Leave it on overnight and remove it the next morning with a damp sponge. Dry afterwards with a clean cloth.
Eliminate bad odors in the refrigerator
Get rid of bad smells in the fridge - mix 3 tbsp. Baking soda with a little water until it becomes a thick porridge consistency and use it with a sponge to clean the fridge. Wipe over with a clean, damp cloth.
Remove bad odor from shoes
Baking soda's ability to neutralize odors also makes it effective at removing bad odors from shoes. To do this, fill the shoes with a good sprinkling of baking soda and let them sit overnight. Then knock the bicarbonate out of the shoes and vacuum them afterwards to get all of it.
Remove moisture and odors from carpets and furniture with baking soda
Baking soda's ability to absorb moisture also makes it effective at removing moisture and odors from carpets and furniture. To do this, sprinkle baking soda on the affected area and let it sit overnight or at least a few hours. Then remove the bicarbonate with a vacuum cleaner.
