Baking soda is a versatile ingredient that has many uses besides cooking. It shines when it comes to neutralizing odors and cleaning. This household staple can help remove tough stains, eliminate foul odors, and clean difficult areas like the oven, microwave, and tile grout.

21 cleaning problems you can solve with bicarbonate of soda

1. Stained and smelly plastic food containers

Leftovers have a way of leaving their mark. To freshen your containers, wipe with a clean sponge sprinkled with bicarb. Or erase tough stains by soaking in a solution of 4tbsp of bicarb and a litre of warm water.

2. A foul-smelling fridge

A small pot of bicarb left in the fridge will absorb strong food odours so they don’t linger or affect the taste of nearby foods.

3. Unrinsed fruit and veggies

Mixed with water, bicarbonate of soda can remove dirt and the waxy coating on produce.

4. A filthy kitchen

Nearly every dirty spot in your kitchen can benefit from the bicarb treatment. Mixed with water, use it to clean countertops, stainless-steel sinks, microwaves, range cooker hoods and cooking utensils.

5. Extra greasy dishes and pans

Give baked-on food the heave-ho by boosting the power of your washing-up liquid with bicarb.

6. Stale-smelling sponges

Soak these kitchen staples in bicarb and water to freshen them up so you can use them for a little longer.

7. Musty upholstery and carpets

Deodorise the soft, cushy places around your house by sprinkling with bicarb, letting it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum it up.

8. A smelly pet bed

The same goes for Fido’s favourite spot! Sprinkle, wait 15 minutes and vacuum.

9. Grimy toys

Fight the effects of your little ones’ grubby hands naturally by wiping toys with a sponge dipped in a bicarbonate of soda and water solution.

10. A crayon-covered wall

When your kid’s artistic efforts end up all over that wall you just repainted, scrub lightly with a damp sponge sprinkled in bicarb.

11. Dusty stuffed toy

These cuddly dust-collectors will be easier to clean if you place them in a large plastic bag with 100g bicarbonate of soda – secure the top, take the bag outside, and shake well. The bicarb helps draw out dust. After you remove them from the bag, vacuum any residue away.

12. Dingy laundry

Both whites and colours will come out of the washing machine brighter if you add 200g bicarb to your load. Combined with liquid detergent, it helps balance the pH levels to get clothes cleaner.

13. Mildew in your bathroom

Scrub your tub, tiles, sink and shower curtain with a damp sponge and bicarb. Rinse to reveal gleaming surfaces.

14. A clogged drain

Clear a stubborn drain by pouring down 125g of bicarb followed by 125ml vinegar. Cover with a wet cloth to contain the science fair-like effects (remember DIY volcanoes?). Wait five minutes, and then flush with hot water.

15. Smelly trainers

Freshen up after your spinning class by sprinkling some bicarb inside your shoes – and your gym bag, while you’re at it! Just tap it out before you use them again.

16. Rubbish bin smells

Place some bicarb in the bottom of your bin to fight odours.

17. An oil spill on your garage floor

Got an offending spot on your concrete? Sprinkle over a little bicarb and scrub with a wet brush to make it disappear.

18. A messy BBQ grill

Combat a summer’s worth of grime by sprinkling some bicarb on your grill-cleaning brush before you scrub your grill.

19. Dirty patio furniture

Before you pull out your plastic garden chairs, give them a wipe-down with bicarb and water. And before you put them away at the end of the season, place bicarb inside the cushion pads’ storage bags to keep them fresh.

20. A dank linen closet

Just like in the fridge, an open box of bicarb placed near your sheets and towels can fight musty smells.

21. Dull jewellery

When your sterling silver stops shining, get rid of tarnish by making a paste (three parts bicarb to one part water). Apply it with a lint-free cloth (not a paper towel, which can scratch), and rinse.

***Thanks Good Housekeeping, UK

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