12 Ways Baking Soda Can Clean Your Home Naturally

Cleaning with baking soda. 1 of 13

12 Ways Baking Soda Can Clean Your Home Naturally

If cleaning your home is at the top of your weekend to-do list, then you know how important it is to have a cache of go-to products. But the next time you find yourself with empty cleaning bottles or surfaces that just won't stay sparkling, consider going the DIY route. Why? All you need is baking soda to get the job done. Its stain-fighting and deodorizing powers can tackle anything from laundry to tile floors with ease — and do so with all-natural ingredients. Here are 12 ways to incorporate baking soda into your cleaning routine. Soon, baking soda will be your weekend MVC: most valuable cleaner.

Image Credit: eHow Washing soda. 2 of 13

Your Laundry Room Staples

Do you feel like you're always buying expensive washing soda? Next time you run out, think about DIYing your own with baking soda. It's totally affordable, easy to make and the best thing in your stain-fighting arsenal.

Image Credit: Jessica Kielman laundry 3 of 13

Your Funky Laundry Loads

If you've ever come face-to-face with a basket of sweaty workout clothes or the aftermath of a dog bath, then you know that it takes a little more oomph in your laundry routine to get that load smelling clean again. If you read up on these tips for the best-smelling laundry, you'll turn to the power of baking soda every time.

Image Credit: eHow Iron. 4 of 13

Your Work Wardrobe

When it comes to getting the wrinkles out of dress shirts and freshening up a skirt hem on a weekday morning, your iron is your best friend. Next weekend, give it some help with a baking soda treatment. Round up baking soda, vinegar and a little bit of tap water.

Image Credit: Jessica Kielman Dishwasher. 5 of 13

Your Trusty Dishwasher

Cleaning inside your dishwasher should be at the top of your monthly chores list. Instead of going to a store for a cleaning product, make your own natural cleaner at home. Pro tip: buy or find an extra spray bottle top to screw onto your vinegar bottle.

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Your Stinkiest Garbage Cans

Baking soda can really work miracles — you can even deodorize your trash cans with just a few sprinkles. Read up on a few tips for keeping your garbage odor-free and your can clean.

Image Credit: eHow Before and after photos of cleaned cabinet. 7 of 13

Your Kitchen Cabinetry

Grease stains are pretty much the worst. They can make kitchen cabinets look old, and a quick wipe down doesn't really do much to refresh them. Here's the solution: employ the help of a few basic cleaning agents, and your cabinetry will look brand new.

Image Credit: Debbie Williams Dishwashing detergent. 8 of 13

Your Party Cleanup

An awesome birthday or holiday party is a ton of fun, but the aftermath of glasses and food-smeared dishes isn't. When you've loaded it all into the washing machine, throw in some homemade dishwashing detergent. Make enough to last for the next few parties, and every shindig will have the easiest cleanup.

Image Credit: Jessica Kielman Ingredients for drain cleaner. 9 of 13

Your Smelliest Drains

Yep, even sink drains can have questionable odors that can take over the entire house. Thankfully, baking soda makes for the easiest fix. It takes care of the stench in just under an hour, and you can feel better about using natural products in your pipes.

Image Credit: Michele Andersen Toilet bombs. 10 of 13

Your Bathroom Cleaning Routine

If cleaning the toilet is the least favorite item on your weekend to-do list, you're gonna love these cleaning bombs. Make an ice cube tray's worth of bombs for the easiest bathroom cleaning ever. Keep them in an airtight jar underneath the bathroom sink or in the cabinet to always have them handy.

Image Credit: Jessica Kielman Ingredients for floor cleaner. 11 of 13

Your Dirtiest Floors

Can you remember the last time you gave your tiled kitchen or bathroom floors a good scrub? Yeah, we can't remember when we did our own, either. Luckily, this recipe for a baking soda-based floor cleaner will come to the rescue. You can even throw in a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a personalized scent.

Image Credit: Jessica Kielman Deodorizing a mattress. 12 of 13

Your Freshest Mattress

Baking soda + your vacuum = the best-smelling mattress ever. Make a recurring date in your calendar to flip and deodorize your mattress every six months. Drifting off to dreamland will be even better when you know your mattress is clean.

Image Credit: Jessica Kielman a dirty grill 13 of 13

Your Cool Weather Chores List

Now that your grill is in hibernation after its summer heyday, you can use the downtime to clean it out with — what else? — baking soda. Give the grates a good scrub, and don't forget to rinse out the insides. Now that you've learned about the easy and natural ways to clean your home, go find a big box of baking soda and get to work!

Image Credit: eHow