12 Amazing Uses For Baking Soda (you never would have thought of)
Almost every home has a box of baking soda stashed away in a cupboard. It’s like the Clark Kent of the kitchen, humbly waiting to save the day. But did you know this everyday hero has a double life? That’s right, baking soda isn’t just for making your cakes rise; it’s the Swiss Army knife of household hacks!
From cleaning your car to freshening up your smelly gym shoes (don’t worry, we won’t judge), baking soda is here to sprinkle a little magic everywhere.
12 Surprising & Unthought Of Uses For Baking Soda
Ready for a few surprises? Let’s get straight into 12 amazing & unthought of uses for baking soda that will have you saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
1. Brass Cleaner
Over time, brass tarnishes. This is because it reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air. The reaction causes an oxidised layer that makes the brass look dull and discoloured.
Tarnishing can happen faster if the object is handled frequently and for outdoor brass, pollution and salt exposure speeds up the tarnishing process. There are two ways to use baking soda to restore brass to its former glory.
You can make a paste from two tablespoons of flour, one tablespoon of salt and one tablespoon of baking soda mixed together with enough white vinegar to make a thick paste. The paste should be applied to the brass and left for around one to two hours.
After the time has passed, rinse the paste away to reveal bright shiny brass once more.
Or, simply sprinkle baking soda onto half a lemon and rub clean. Then rinse and polish dry thoroughly.
2. Silver Cleaner
Silver might be glamorous, but it’s a bit high maintenance. Tarnish forms faster than your social media feed refreshes. Silver is another metal that tarnishes when exposed to air.
It’s the sulfur present in the air that reacts with the silver to form a dark layer of silver sulfide which we see as tarnish.
To remove this tarnish all you need is our trusty pot of baking soda and some water. Mix together three tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of water to create a paste.
The paste should then be applied to the silver and left to dry. Ensure you get into all of the nooks and crannies using an old toothbrush. Once the paste has dried, polish it away using a soft clean cloth.
The Easy Way To Clean Silver
If the silver is heavily tarnished there is another method which requires less effort. For large silver items that have become tarnished, fill a plastic bucket with hot water and put a piece of aluminium foil in the bottom.
Cover the item that needs cleaning in baking soda and place it in the hot water. Leave it in the bucket for around fifteen minutes before removing it and drying with a soft, dry cloth. Smaller pieces can be washed in an old aluminium tray in the same way.
Although this might seem like magic or alchemy, it actually works due to the way aluminium reacts with the sulfur. But it does make an impressive party trick!
3. Fire Extinguisher
Who knew baking soda was also a firefighter? If you’ve got small flames (think stove mishap, not a campfire), sprinkle baking soda on them. Baking soda creates carbon dioxide (CO2) which makes it a very useful substance to keep close to areas that could potentially catch fire.
It works by essentially starving the fire of oxygen causing it to go out. Simply sprinkle baking soda onto the flames and watch the fire go out before your eyes.
4. Wall Filler
Cracked walls? Baking soda’s got your back, literally. If you have small cracks in your walls you can fill them with a mixture of baking soda and super glue. Simply apply alternate layers of super glue and baking soda.
Keep applying until you have filled the crack. But take care because there will be an exothermic reaction which means the mix will get hot.
5. Door Mat Cleaner
Your doormat might have seen better days (and dirtier shoes). Outdoor or porch door mats can be effectively cleaned using baking soda. Simply sprinkle baking soda all over the mat and then brush vigorously and sweep away the dirt.
Alternatively, sprinkle the mat with baking soda, allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then vacuum to remove the baking soda along with dirt and grime. Who said magic has to be exhausting?
6. Carpet Cleaner & Freshener
Your carpet’s seen it all: coffee spills, pet accidents, and that time you dropped spaghetti. To clean up spills from carpets use baking soda to soak up as much liquid as possible. Leave the baking soda on top of the spillage for around 10 minutes and then sweep up.
Any stains left visible can be tackled with a solution of 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a cup of water. Dab on using a soft cloth and allow to dry before vacuuming the area.
To freshen carpets and remove pet smells or that musty, damp smell that sometimes prevails in old houses, sprinkle baking soda all over the carpet and allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Then simply vacuum to remove the baking soda and the offending smells.
You can even mix baking soda with your favourite essential oils to create a fragrance that you enjoy. But be sure to test in an inconspicuous area first in case the oils stain.
7. Icy Path Clearer
In winter our garden paths can get covered in ice and snow. This can make it very dangerous to walk on. Most households reach for salt to clear the path but salt can cause damage or even death to any plants!
A much safer but just as effective way to clear ice and snow is to use baking soda. Any runoff will not cause any damage to plants at all. Your plants (and future self) will thank you.
8. Paint Brush Restorer
Neglected your paint brushes? Baking soda to the rescue! If you have neglected to thoroughly clean paint brushes used for emulsion and they’ve gone hard, they can often be restored using baking soda. Pour a pint (568 ml) of hot water into a container along with two tablespoons of white vinegar and four tablespoons of baking soda.
Soak the brush for anywhere between one to two hours before rinsing with clean water and watch those brushes spring back to life! (Well, most of them, don’t expect miracles for that brush you left out since 2019.)
Please Note: This will not work on any brushes used for gloss paint that haven’t been cleaned in white spirit first. Only brushes used for emulsion.
9. Air Freshener
Why buy expensive air fresheners when you can DIY it with baking soda? To freshen the air in any room of your home, simply place a bowl of baking soda to which a few drops of your favourite essential oil has been added.
This is a much less expensive way to freshen your home without the use of an overpowering fragrance.
10. Vinyl Chair Cleaner
Vinyl chairs are practical, but stains? Not so much. If you own vinyl chairs and they’ve become stained or marked you can clean them with a solution of baking soda and warm water.
Mix up a weak solution using two tablespoons of baking soda in a pint (568 ml) of warm water. Wipe the surface of the vinyl chairs and then dry using a soft, dry cloth.
11. Remover Of Spills From Books
Spilled coffee on your book? (We’ve all been there.) If you or a family member has accidentally spilled a drink on your favourite book you can alleviate most of the damage using our trusty pot of baking soda. Just sprinkle baking soda onto the wet pages and allow them to dry.
Sunlight is the best way to dry the wet pages (if possible). Your book might still have a faint stain once dry but at least it won’t be ruined.
12. Shoe Deodoriser
If your shoes have started letting your nose know of their presence, it’s time to do something about it. The problem is caused by the feet producing sweat which then creates the perfect environment for germs and bacteria to breed.
It’s those bacteria that create the smell. You can counteract this by sprinkling baking soda into each shoe and leaving overnight to work its magic. For bonus points, add essential oils for a scent that screams “new shoes” instead of “hiking boots.”
This will leave a pleasant smell remaining in the shoes for a few days at least. But it’s the baking soda that absorbs the bacteria and dries out the shoes. It’s this action that really combats the bad aroma.
And As If That Wasn’t Enough…
Here are a few more baking soda gems:
Suede & Fabric Scuff Remover
If you have scuffed suede or fabrics that cannot be washed, simply sprinkle with baking soda to restore them. Test a small area first to make sure you won’t be doing more harm than good.
Then sprinkle the affected area and brush gently to remove grease or dirt.
Aluminium Window & Door Frame Cleaner
Over time aluminium door and window frames can get really dirty. To clean, all you need is a solution of baking soda and white vinegar. Simply mix two parts baking soda with one part white vinegar and apply to the aluminium window and door frames.
Don’t forget to clean the fittings and tracks as well as the frames. Once done, wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Wardrobe Refresher
Wardrobes can often get that musty, damp smell about them. Or they smell of wood which can get transferred onto your clothes. To neutralise these smells simply sprinkle some baking soda all across the bottom of the wardrobe and cover with lining paper.
Or you could just place an open container of baking soda in the wardrobe. But be mindful because an open container can easily get spilled.
Hang Anywhere Deodorising Sachets
To make sachets of deodoriser that can be hung anywhere you feel the need for them all you need is an old pair of tights or socks and baking soda. Just cut off the foot part of a pair of old tights and fill the toe area with baking soda.
Then secure the end and hang using string, cotton or whatever thread you have handy. These can be hung in cupboards, wardrobes, in stairwells, above waste bins or wherever you get bad smells.
You can also mix some essential oils in with the baking soda to transform the area into a sweet smelling success.
Bin Deodoriser
Our rubbish bin often gets that bad smell that’s associated with unclean bins. Even though we only ever put black bin bags into it. This is especially bad during those rare hot spells we sometimes get in the UK.
To combat these bad smells simply wash the empty bin out with a solution of baking soda and water. Swill the mixture all around the bin and allow it to dry in sunlight.
Then, before using the bin again, sprinkle some baking soda onto the bottom to absorb any future smells.
Ink Spill Remover
If you have an unfortunate accident with ink and spill it on a hard floor, baking soda comes to the rescue once more. Mix two parts baking soda with one part white vinegar and apply to the affected area.
Rub gently with a soft cloth until the stain fades away.
Crayon & Marker Remover
If you have over enthusiastic kids who get handy with crayons or markers and your walls look like a work by Picasso, you can restore them to their former glory using baking soda. Just pour one tablespoon of baking soda into a pint (568 ml) of warm water and wipe the walls.
Then rinse away with a damp cloth and stand back and admire your work.
Battery Acid Neutraliser
If you ever have to deal with a battery acid spillage you will need the baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda onto the spill directly to neutralise the acid.
To clean battery terminals just mix two teaspoons of baking soda into two pints (1 litre) of water. Once clean, try smearing a little vaseline around the terminal to prevent further issues.
Car Carpet Deodoriser
Even if you don’t own a dog, your car can sometimes get that wet dog smell. This problem is usually caused by dampness. In most cases it’s just caused by getting into the vehicle on wet days with wet clothes and shoes.
But sometimes it can be down to a dodgy door seal which is allowing water into the cockpit of the car. Either way, you can alleviate the smell by filling the ashtray with baking soda.
Or hanging one of our hang anywhere sachets.
Car Windscreen Cleaner
Car windscreens can get dirty and grimy very quickly at all times of the year. During winter salt deposits from the grit used to prevent icy patches as well as grease are the main problem. While during warmer summer months it’s mainly dead insects that cause most of the problem.
Either way, a solution of baking soda and water can easily deal with the issue. Simply mix a gallon (4.5 litres) of warm water with one cup of baking soda and apply to the windscreen. Rinse off and dry with a soft, dry cloth or chamois leather.
Treating Grease Or Oils Spills
If your garage floor or driveway has grease or oil spills, simply apply baking soda directly to the area and leave it to sit for around an hour. Then brush it away and rinse the area with fresh, clean water.
Over To You
So there you have it: baking soda, the unsung hero of your home. Next time you pick up that box at the supermarket, you’ll know it’s not just for cakes, it’s your ultimate life hack in powder form.
Ready to transform your home with just a sprinkle of baking soda? Try out these surprising uses today and see the magic for yourself!
If you’ve got your own genius baking soda hacks, share them in the comments, we’d love to hear how this humble powder saves the day in your life!
Also, remember to share this with anyone who might benefit from it on your social media!
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