10 bicarbonate of soda hacks for the home

Bicarbonate of soda in a jar

Bicarbonate of soda also known as baking soda, is more than just a raising agent used in baking your favourite treats. It is a natural kitchen staple with multiple uses around the home, such as deodorising and cleaning.  Take a look at just some of the uses for this incredibly versatile product.

Food baked onto pans?

Baked on food and grease can be a real pain to remove from pans. You can try sprinkling some bicarbonate of soda in hot water, hot water soak your pan and then give it a scrub. You can also boil the solution, let it cool and then scrub away.

Smelly fridge?

Placing a box of opened bicarbonate of soda in the fridge will help absorb any foul-smelling odours. Try and replace this box every 3 months or sooner if your fridge starts to smell. You can also create a paste using a small amount of water to clean away food residue in the fridge.

Bicarbonate of soda in fridge

Stainless steel sink in need of some TLC?

Stainless steel can look the worse for wear and its shine can disappear as grime and food stains build up. Give your sink a quick wash, sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda, use a soft sponge to scrub away the stains and rinse. Your sink should then have a nice shine to it!

Weeds being a nuisance to your patio?

Weeds that grow on your patios and driveways are a bother and look unsightly too. To try and prevent them sprinkle a generous amount of bicarbonate of soda into the area and then sweep into the cracks. The sodium will hamper the growth of the weeds.

Smelly carpet?

Firstly vacuum up your carpet to pick up any lingering dirt and debris. Then sprinkle a generous amount of bicarbonate of soda over the carpet and leave for a few hours, the longer the better so overnight is ideal. Then simply vacuum your carpet again and it should be odour free.

Vacuuming bicarbonate of soda on carpet

Sterling silver jewellery lost its shine?

Wet the silver and create a paste of 3 parts bicarbonate of soda to one part water. Then using a lint-free cloth (soft not abrasive), use a pea sized amount of paste to work into crevices and polish, a soft bristled toothbrush can also help with this. Rinse the silver with water and buff dry with a clean cloth.

Want brighter laundry whites?

Bicarbonate of soda has been known to brighten white clothing and bright colours. Add half a cup of it to your wash when you add your liquid detergent. It also has the added benefit of removing odours from clothing too!

Microwave looking grimy?

Place a microwave safe bowl with two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda and 1 cup of water in the microwave for 3 minutes. Give it another 3 minutes after the solution has boiled to allow condensation to develop, then wipe away the grime. This will also remove odours in the microwave.

Bicarbonate of soda in water

Hairbrushes in need of a deep clean?

Overtime hairbrushes can develop a lot of gunk from natural hair oils and hair products. To get your brushes looking good as new, create a solution of bicarbonate of soda and water and submerge your hairbrush into it. Soak for 30 minutes to an hour and rinse thoroughly in hot water.

Dishwasher not smelling its best?

The dishwasher can get neglected when cleaning your appliances but all that food and grime can develop some very unsavoury odours. Freshen up your dishwasher by placing one cup of bicarbonate of soda into the tray and run a normal cycle.

 

These are just some of the many uses around the home for bicarbonate of soda so it really is more than just for baking! If these hacks surprised you, take a look at what other uses coffee grounds have in our 10 Alternative Uses For Coffee Grounds.

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