Baking soda is one of the most versatile tools in anyone’s cabinet. While you may just use it for baking, it actually has over 100 uses throughout your home!
Between the baby in my belly & the asthma in my lungs, I love avoiding harsh chemicals whenever possible so I’ve been using baking soda a lot in my daily cleaning. There are multiple uses in every room, from the laundry room to the nursery, but today I thought I’d focus on where I use it most: the kitchen!
1. The microwave: Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge & gently wipe the inside & outside of your microwave.
2. Dishwashers: Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher to absorb food odors that stay behind after the dishes are clean. You can also use it before you wash the dishes to deodorize the dishes themselves.
3. The fridge: one of the easiest uses of baking soda is to stick it in your fridge to keep it smelling fresh & to help keep foods tasting better. Just stick a fresh box in every 30 days & you’re good to go!
4. Greasy dishes: End the battle of grease once & for all by adding 2 heaping tablespoons of baking soda to detergent and dishwater. Soak for 15 minutes and then clean.
5. Sponges: I don’t know about you, but my sponges get nasty fast. Soak stale-smelling sponges in a solution of baking soda {4 tbsp of baking soda dissolved in 1 qt. of warm water} to get rid of the mess.
6. Surfaces: Avoid using harsh chemicals where you prepare your food by using food-safe baking soda! Just sprinkle onto a clean damp sponge or cloth, then wipe clean, rinse, and dry! {For larger surfaces like counters I personally sprinkle the baking soda directly onto the area sometimes. Personal preference.}
7. Clean mushrooms: Soaking mushrooms while cleaning them causes them to retain water, so just wipe them clean with a damp cloth & a sprinkle of baking soda.
8. Produce: Shake baking soda onto wet produce, rub, and rinse to remove dirt, wax and residue from hard-skinned produce. For soft-skinned or leafy produce, sprinkle baking soda in a bowl of water, add produce, agitate & rinse.
9. Tomatoes: If you’re sensitive to the acid in tomato sauce or chili {or pregnant & getting heartburn very easily like me}, add a pinch of baking soda to cut the acidic level.
10. Mashed Potatoes: Throw a pinch of baking soda into potatoes while mashing to make them fluffier.
Baking soda is the perfect tool to keep in your kitchen since it’s perfect for practically everything! You can find uses for it in every room of your home, though.
How do you use baking soda around your home?
Stacie Connerty says
There are so many things that this simple staple at your house can do!!
Lisa says
I had no idea putting baking soda in the fridge would keep it smelling nice!
Janel says
That is an AWESOME tip about mashed potatoes!! Perfect timing too with Thanksgiving almost here.
Andrea says
I love to use baking soda around the house and appreciate your tips. I’ll have to try the laundry detergent sometime. Thanks for sharing!
Beeb says
I didn’t know the tip about mashed potatoes! I also use it in homemade laundry detergent.
brett says
we use so much arm and hammer we buy it in bulk at bjs!!
courtney says
I keep forgetting to add it to my mashed potatoes!
Margot C says
Now this is news to me : 5. Sponges: I don’t know about you, but my sponges get nasty fast. Soak stale-smelling sponges in a solution of baking soda {4 tbsp of baking soda dissolved in 1 qt. of warm water} to get rid of the mess.
I really must do this.
Jackie says
Wow! I didn’t know about that. Thank you.
Kim Henrichs says
I had no idea you could cut the acidity in tomatoes with soda! Definitely trying this.
Susan says
Baking soda can be used for so many things, I love it!
Denise Taylor-Dennis says
I would like to try soaking my sponges in a baking soda solution to get rid of the smell when they start stinking.
Janet W. says
I didn’t realize baking soda had so many uses! I’d love to try it in Mashed Potatoes!
Jenn says
I’d like to try #9. My husband is super sensitive to tomatoes.
Kaci Guisinger Harrison says
#4 Greasy dishes. I had no idea you could add that to dishwater and eliminate grease! That is on my next to do with the dishes! Nice!!
[email protected]
Danielle @ We Have It All says
I actually use baking soda for everything… I even make my ‘shampoo’ with it. My hair is the healthiest is has EVER been, I LOVE that stuff. I use it in my laundry too, it’s great.
Leilani says
We always keep a box of baking soda in our fridge. I never used to do that until I met my husband.
Jeanna says
I’d like to try #2 for the dishwasher!
Kelsey Apley says
We love our baking soda and I agree their are so many uses for it some would be surprised for sure!!!
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
I just started using in the laundry. I like the idea of fluffier potatoes!
Betsy Barnes says
I’d love to try in mash potatoes, always trying to make them fluffier 🙂
Stefanie says
I started to use baking soda to clean this year. It really works!
Lolo says
I have to try it to clean mushrooms, I have never heard of that before.
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says
I never knew that baking soda had so many wonderful uses, how cool!
Laura J says
Oh wow…the Sponges!!! I was just thinking about my sponge earlier and how I needed to get some new ones! I am going to try this! Oh so neat!
meredith says
i would like to use it on my mushrooms! never heard of that.. great idea though!
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy.com says
I absolutely adore baking soda! So cheap and so many uses.
Linda Meyers-Gabbard says
I want to try it to clean produce .
Tina Renee Barker says
I want to try sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher to absorb food odors that stay behind after the dishes are clean. Great idea! I would never have thought of this!!
Amanda Sakovitz says
id like to try it for mashed potatoes
Jennifer Dysart says
I’d like to try #5 and save some sponges!
Mary D says
I’ve never heard of using baking soda to clean veggies, I’ll have to give it a try.
Sarah L says
I’ll do this: microwave: Sprinkle Arm & Hammer Baking Soda on a damp sponge & gently wipe the inside & outside of your microwave.
Bryan E. says
We are going to try this one: Mashed Potatoes: Throw a pinch of baking soda into potatoes while mashing to make them fluffier.
Donna L says
I like the idea of sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of my dishwasher to absorb food odors.
Michele P says
with hubby and I both having GERD and loving tomato products we will have to try it with tomatoes to cut back on the acid! Never heard of that but worth a shot for sure!
Alesha @ Full Time Mama says
Wow, so many good ones I had no idea about! I think in the dishwasher and on produce, though the counters would be good too. Thanks for these tips!!
Patty White says
I’d love to try soaking my mushrooms, had no idea they’d clean them!
Natalie J Vandenberghe says
I wasn’t aware of No. 7 “Clean mushrooms” so I’ll remember that next time I buy mushrooms–thanks for the tip!