I continue on my quest to share with you easy and inexpensive ways to green clean your home. One substance I'm pretty sure you are familiar with is baking soda. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a natural occurring substance that in addition to being used for baking can be used to clean so many things. Baking soda is non-toxic, affordable, versatile, and easy to find.
A staple in most people's home, I grew up seeing it used mostly to bake, clean teeth (artificial and real), and to alleviate upset stomachs. Oh, but there are so many other ways to use this magical white powder. Why does baking soda work for cleaning? Sodium bicarbonate helps regulate pH; it works as a neutralizer. That's about as scientific as I can get with it, but a real scientist could explain it much better, I'm sure.
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Okay, my darling, are you ready to explore a few of the ridonkulously many uses for baking soda with me? That is a rhetorical question. The answer is YES!
- Refrigerator deodorizer. Basic! I know you know this one, but I gotta mention it. A bowl or box (you have to open the box or it won't work) of it in the fridge will keep the odors away.
- Grease fire extinguisher. If you have a grease fire, don't use water to put it out, use baking soda.
- Clean surfaces. Sprinkle baking soda on wet cloth, wipe, then rinse with clean water.
- Carpet deodorizer. Sprinkle all over the carpet, let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes, and them vacuum it up.
- Silver cleaner. Silver? I have none, but if you do, mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water, rub the paste onto silver, rinse with warm water, and dry with a soft cloth.
- Smoking odors. If there is a smoker in your home sprinkle baking soda on them every time they smoke, it won't help them stop smoking, but they might smell better. I'm kidding.
- Clean children's toys. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 quart warm water, soak the toys, then rinse off with clean water.
- Laundry booster. Add 1/2 a cup of baking soda to each load of laundry in the wash for freshness, softness, brightness, and cleaning power.
The list could go on and on. No, I'm serious, I could be here all day and night telling you the many uses of baking soda, but you get the picture. Use it, this stuff is tops when it comes to green cleaning power, plus it has been around and being used since before my abuela's abuela; it has staying power for a reason.
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