Baking Soda Recipes by Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast
Keeping Your Home Fresh & Clean with Baking Soda
In this article, you’ll find various recipes that will help you clean your house without using all of the expensive cleaners you’ll find in the retail market. Not only will you save money, but there are also other benefits. The more natural cleansers are better for the environment, they are less likely to cause sensitivities or allergies and most of these recipes do the job just as well (or better in some cases) as the expensive products you’ll find on the shelf at your local supermarket.
Drain Cleanser
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar (white)
a pot of boiling water
First pour the baking soda down your drain. Then pour down the vinegar. You will notice that the mixture bubbles, this is normal. Cover the drain with a lid or the stopper and let the mixture set for 10 minutes. Once the mixture has set for the allotted time period, take off the cover and follow with the boiling water.
*Notes on this recipe - Use this recipe before trying other methods. Don’t use it after already using a commercial drain cleanser as there may still be chemicals present in the drain. This method is mainly preventative. It prevents clogs if used with some regularity (I use it on my drains once a month or so), but it won’t take care of extremely clogged drains. You can try it on drains that have small clogs, but it may take more than one application before you see a clean drain. If you are trying to unclog a drain, this method is best when used with other methods such as a plunger or plumber’s snake. I’ve also noticed that it seems to work better on hair clogs rather than clogs caused by hard deposits.
Toilet Cleanser
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup of vinegar (white)
Pour in the baking soda and then pour in the vinegar. Use a toilet brush to ensure that the mixture reaches all areas of the toilet bowl, including underneath the rim. Let the mixture set for 10 to 15 minutes and then scrub with the toilet brush. The mixture may bubble slightly. I’ve noticed that this is very good for rust deposits in a toilet, but you still have to make sure that you use the cleanser on a regular basis for it to be effective.
General Cleanser
baking soda
warm water
Mix baking soda and water together until they form a paste. Dip your cleaning cloth into the mixture and use to clean items such as countertops, appliances and tabletops. Once finished, rinse off with clear water. You can also use this same mixture for cleaning bathtubs, showers and white sneakers (tennis shoes).
Fresh Carpet Mix
2 cups of baking soda
1-2 drops of essential oil
Mix the baking soda and the essential oil drop/s together. Be sure that it is very well mixed. Since you will only be using one to two drops of essential oil, the mixture does not get much damper than regular baking soda. Simply sprinkle the mixture on your rugs and carpets. Let set for a few minutes and vacuum up the mixture. You can replace the essential oils with different ingredients if you wish, but will have to adjust the amounts. You can use extracts such as vanilla, lemon or orange. With the extracts, your mixture will be “clumpier” as you will need more to get the same amount of scent. You can also use dried potpourri or dried flowers with a scent. If you will be using a dried material, it will be easier to use if you put the mixture in a blender (or coffee grinder) first. This will insure that you have no large pieces to vacuum up (and it’s cheaper to use the expensive products than to replace your vacuum). You may also use plain baking soda if you wish.
Brass Polish
baking soda
lemon juice
Mix the baking soda and lemon juice together until you get a fairly thick consistency. Rub onto the brass item and let set for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse mixture off with warm water and use a soft cloth to remove all water. Buff gently with the soft cloth.
Silver Polish
1 T. baking soda
1 T. salt
1 piece of aluminum foil
water
Fill a pot with water. Bring to a boil and add salt, foil and baking soda. Soak silver item in this mixture for 5 to 10 minutes. Let item cool and remove all water from item with a soft cloth. Buff gently with cloth. May take more than one application and should not be used on silver items that already have a protective coating in order to lessen the effects of oxidation as it will remove the coating in some cases. If it does remove the coating, the silver will be harder to clean the next time.
Laundry Whitener and Refresher
1/4 cup baking soda
Add baking soda to your regular load of laundry. You use the baking soda in addition to any laundry detergent. Though this recipe calls for 1/4 cup, you can often get away with using less. In most cases, 1/8 cup will work just as well. I generally use this in light colored loads. The baking soda will help brighten and whiten your laundry. Another benefit is that your clothes will smell fresher.
Scouring Powder
-Use baking soda instead of scouring powder to clean surfaces
Litter Deodorizer
-Add a layer of baking soda to the bottom of your litter pan to keep it smelling fresher.
Best Wishes,
Rachel Sanfordlyn Shreckengast
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