Baking Soda: Your Best Friend for Home Cleaning

A little box of baking soda can go a long way in terms of cleaning your house. The inexpensive cleaning powerhouse can help clean up virtually every area of your home, and the Gladstone movers want to help you learn more about the benefits of baking soda and how it can freshen your home in many ways. Remember to write the date on the box when you buy it, so you know when to swap it and pick up a fresh box.

Use #1: Unclog your drains (and freshen them too!). Pour 1 cup of baking soda in the drain, immediately followed by ½ cup of vinegar and close the drain. Let the concoction sit about 30 minutes, then let hot water run through the drain for 2-3 minutes. Tough clogs may require a second or third dose.

Use #2: Remove stains on the inside of mugs left by tea or coffee. Rub baking soda inside the cup with a wet cloth. Really tough stains may require overnight soaking.

Use #3: Create a shower cleaner. Combine baking soda, essential oil (pick any scent, such as lavender or eucalyptus), and a little bit of vinegar. The combo makes a potent powerhouse for fighting shower stains.

Use #4: Combine again with vinegar and clean your dishwasher. Create a concoction of white vinegar and baking soda and take out the parts that you can slide out. Fill one side of the sink with vinegar and water and soak the interior parts. Look in the dishwasher and scrub baking soda on stains or old food that has collected inside. Reassemble the parts and put them back. Then pour 2 cups of white vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher and run a cycle on Energy or Low wash. Midway through, stop the cycle so that the vinegar can really penetrate germs. After 20 minutes, turn it back on.

Use #5: Clean your outdoor grill. Take off the grates and hose them down, then sprinkle with baking soda. Let it sit and work into the stains, then scrub off the burnt food and other buildup. Once you have gotten the grill clean, make it a habit to clean the grill after each use!

Use #6: Freshen up the fridge. Strong smelling foods such as onions or something that has gone bad can be overpowering in a refrigerator and can also carry over to other food items, souring their flavor. Fight back by putting a box of open baking soda in the fridge to neutralize scent.