38 Genius Everyday Uses for Baking Soda That Work
By Mary Hunt
What Is Baking Soda and How Does It Work?
Sodium bicarbonate—commonly known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda—is a naturally occurring compound with the chemical formula NaHCO₃. It’s made up of a sodium ion (Na⁺) and a bicarbonate ion (HCO₃⁻), and it’s harvested from deposits found in the earth, then refined into the familiar white powder we all recognize on the pantry shelf.
What makes baking soda so useful—beyond baking—is its alkaline nature. When it encounters something acidic, like vinegar, lemon juice, or even buttermilk in your biscuit dough, it reacts by producing carbon dioxide gas. Those bubbles get trapped in batter and dough, giving baked goods their lift and fluff. But that same fizzing action makes it helpful in cleaning, too—breaking down grime, loosening stuck-on gunk, and even clearing minor drain clogs.
Baking soda is also mildly abrasive, which makes it great for gentle scrubbing without scratching most surfaces. And thanks to its natural ability to neutralize odors, it’s a go-to deodorizer in fridges, shoes, trash cans—you name it.
Everyday Cleaning Hacks Using Baking Soda
Baking soda is gentle on surfaces but tough on grime. Many of the clever ideas below come straight from our longtime readers who’ve discovered just how far a little orange box can go!
1. Erase Marks on Painted Surfaces
Got scuffs, crayon, or mystery smudges on baseboards and door frames? Just sprinkle baking soda onto a damp non-scratch sponge and gently rub the area. Wipe clean with a dry microfiber cloth. Works like a charm on windowsills and walls, too!
2. DIY Grout Cleaner
Mix baking soda with fresh hydrogen peroxide to create a paste (think pancake batter consistency). Working in small areas, apply to dirty grout, scrub with a stiff brush, rinse, and prepare to be amazed.
3. Refresh a Jetted Tub
To clean those hard-to-reach jets, fill your tub a few inches above them, add 2 cups of baking soda, and run the jets for 10 minutes. Drain, refill with clean water, run again, and drain. The difference? Night and day.
4. Brighten a Stained Sink
Reader Kit sprays hydrogen peroxide into her white enamel sink, sprinkles baking soda on top, and lets it sit. Result? A gleaming white sink, no bleach required.
5. Banish Coffee & Tea Stains
Reader Peg swears by this: dampen the inside of a mug or coffee pot, sprinkle with baking soda, rub with your fingers, and rinse. Stains? Gone.
6. Rescue Burnt Pots and Baking Stones
Reader Teri’s husband turns to baking soda to tackle the messiest pots, pans—even stained baking stones. Just a bit of scrubbing brings them back to life.
7. Shine Stainless Steel Sinks
I use baking soda to clean my stainless steel kitchen sink. It works just as well as store-bought cleanser, minus the harsh chemicals. It’s gentle on your sink and tough on grime.
8. Remove Sticky Glue Residue
Mix equal parts baking soda and cooking oil to make a paste. Spread over sticker gunk, let sit 30 minutes, then rub and wash clean. Reader Linda saves all kinds of containers this way.
9. Deodorize Musty Dishcloths
Reader Irene tosses her smelly dishcloths in the washing machine with baking soda and hot water. After a soak, she washes them as usual. The result? Fresh-smelling cloths—no more funk!
Reader Emily sprinkles baking soda in her Pyrex, adds white vinegar and hot water, and lets it soak for a few minutes. Burnt edges wipe right off with no elbow grease.
11. Tidy Up Blinds and Counters
Reader Rea uses a baking soda paste to remove fingerprints from vertical blinds, clean laminate counters, and even refresh cereal bowls. It’s her all-around go-to.
12. Degunk the Toaster Oven
If you’ve got baked-on mystery gunk in your toaster oven (or any oven), cover the mess with a thick layer of baking soda. Sprinkle on a bit of water—just enough to dampen it, not make a soup. Let it sit overnight, and the next morning? It wipes right off. No harsh chemicals, no scrubbing, no holding your breath from toxic fumes.
13. Restore Sticky Plastic Toys
Old dolls and plastic toys can get grimy. Reader C uses baking soda on a damp sponge to gently rub away stickiness and dirt—perfect for toy box treasures or thrift finds.
14. Remove Scuff Marks from Wood Floors
Skip the vinegar—baking soda gently buffs out scuffs without harming your wood finish. Sprinkle a bit on the mark, rub with a damp cloth, and wipe clean.
Baking Soda for Personal Care and Beauty
Who knew that humble box of baking soda in the pantry could moonlight as a personal care product? Here are tried-and-true ways to keep things fresh, soft, and sparkling—without the long list of ingredients you can’t pronounce.
15. Natural Deodorant (DIY Spray or Paste)
Whether you’re avoiding aluminum or just love a good DIY, baking soda makes an effective natural deodorant.
Deodorant Paste
Mix about 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda with a tiny bit of lukewarm water—just enough to make a thick paste. Apply gently to your underarms with your fingertips and let it dry completely before dressing. It’s simple, scent-free, and surprisingly effective.
Deodorant Spray
Here’s a fresh, non-toxic option you can stash in your bag or bathroom drawer:
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1/2 teaspoon baking soda
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1/2 cup witch hazel (a natural astringent)
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1/4 cup aloe vera gel
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Small spray bottle
Shake it up and spritz lightly, just as you would any commercial spray. Witch hazel and aloe vera gel are easy to find at most drugstores or online.
16. Foot Soak + Exfoliator
A warm foot soak with three tablespoons of baking soda? Heavenly. Add it to your usual foot bath and let tired feet soak it all in. To exfoliate, mix 1 part baking soda to 3 parts water and gently scrub heels, toes, and everything in between. Smooth and happy feet, no spa required.
17. Gentle Skin Exfoliant
Need a quick refresh? Make a simple paste with 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Rub it gently in circular motions on your face or hands to whisk away dead skin cells. Rinse well and enjoy that fresh-faced glow.
18. Manicure Prep
Before polishing up those nails, make a paste (3:1 ratio of baking soda to water) and massage it into your hands, nails, and cuticles. It gently exfoliates while softening your skin, giving your DIY manicure a running start.
19. Toothpaste
If the minty zing of most commercial toothpastes isn’t your thing, baking soda might be a great alternative. Myrna swears by it as her go-to option, and Betty remembers using it as a kid whenever toothpaste ran out—turns out, it left their teeth feeling extra clean and smooth.
It’s not fancy, but it’s a time-tested solution and even gets a nod from dentists for occasional use. Just be gentle—baking soda can be mildly abrasive, so it’s best not to scrub too hard or use it too often.
20. Hair Buildup Buster
Tammy Jo keeps it clever in the shower: “I mix baking soda with my shampoo to remove product buildup. I keep an old Parmesan cheese container filled with baking soda in the shower and sprinkle it into my hand with shampoo every other week. My hair feels squeaky clean!” Such a smart trick, especially if you use a lot of styling products or live in an area with hard water.
21. Soften Hands While Doing Dishes
EC Reader Penny says, “I really hate the dry, cracked feeling I get from hand-washing dishes. So I add a few teaspoons of baking soda to the dishwater—it helps keep my hands soft.” A little bit of baking soda makes that soapy water a lot more hand-friendly.
22. Costume Jewelry Cleaner
“This is not science-backed—just something I’ve always done and it works!” says EC Reader Tracy. Place a few pieces of costume jewelry in a small bowl. Sprinkle baking soda over them and add a bit of vinegar (about a tablespoon or two at a time). Let it fizz, then settle. After about five minutes, wipe everything down with a paper towel and polish with a microfiber cloth. Voilà! Sparkly and fun, especially when the grandkids are around to watch the fizzing action.
How to Use Baking Soda for Health and Wellness
23. Poison Ivy, Insect Bites, and Stings
If you’re heading outdoors—whether it’s a backyard barbecue or a weekend camping trip—tuck this little trick into your mental first-aid kit. A quick paste of baking soda and water can help calm the itch and sting from bug bites, bee stings, and even poison ivy. Just apply directly to the irritated area and let it work its magic.
Why does it work? Baking soda helps neutralize toxins and calm inflammation on the skin’s surface. One reader, Wanda, swears by it for taking the sting and swelling out of bee and wasp stings almost instantly.
24. Heartburn and Indigestion
You don’t need a medicine cabinet full of pricey antacids—chances are, what you need is already in your pantry. Baking soda is a natural antacid that works fast to neutralize stomach acid and ease symptoms of indigestion, heartburn, or even ulcer pain.
To try it, dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/4 cup of water and drink it slowly. Relief can be surprisingly quick—but a little goes a long way. (And as always, check with your doctor if this is a frequent issue.)
25. Prone to UTIs?
If you know the signs of a urinary tract infection before it fully sets in, you might be able to head it off with—you guessed it—baking soda. Stir 1/2 teaspoon into a cup of water and drink. This can help reduce urine acidity, which may ease discomfort and irritation.
Of course, this isn’t a cure—more of a helpful early tip. For ongoing or severe symptoms, be sure to talk to a healthcare provider.
26. DIY Nasal Rinse
Skip the expensive pre-mixed packets and make your own sinus rinse at home. Mix 1/2 teaspoon each of baking soda and salt into 1 cup of warm distilled water. (That’s important—tap water isn’t ideal for nasal use.)
Pour the solution into a neti pot or sinus rinse bottle and flush your sinuses to relieve congestion, allergies, or that dry, stuffy nose feeling. Jennifer, a longtime reader, swears by this trick—and once you try it, you might too.
Household Odor Fighters That Actually Work
27. Freshen Carpets
Carpets tend to hold onto smells from pets, spills, or just everyday life. Sprinkle baking soda generously over your carpet, let it sit for at least 15 minutes—or longer if you can—then vacuum thoroughly. This simple trick absorbs odors instead of just masking them, leaving your rooms smelling fresher.
28. Freshen Up Smelly Shoes
Stinky shoes? Baking soda to the rescue. Sprinkle a generous amount inside, making sure to cover the entire interior. Let it sit overnight (or for several hours), then shake out the powder into the trash. Pro tip: Use your vacuum’s crevice tool to pick up any leftover baking soda—no one wants that powder dusting their socks.
29. Head Off Garbage Can Odors
Garbage cans can be a major source of unwanted smells. To keep odors from building up, sprinkle a small handful of baking soda directly over your trash from time to time. Or better yet, add some to the bottom of the can before putting in a fresh bag. This acts like an odor shield, helping keep things fresher between trash days.
30. Take Care of Smelly, Slow-Running Drain
A smelly drain is no fun, and slow drains can quickly become clogged. Pour about half a cup of baking soda directly into the drain, then follow with an equal amount of white vinegar. Get ready for a bubbly, fizzing reaction—that’s the baking soda and vinegar doing their cleaning dance. Let it sit for a few hours, then flush with a quart or two of boiling water. Not only will the smell disappear, but you’ll help clear out gunk and prevent clogs.
31. Cat Box Freshness
If you share your home with a furry friend, you know the challenge of keeping that litter box odor under control. One reader, Regina, adds a half cup of baking soda to her clumping kitty litter every couple of days when scooping. The result? A fresh-smelling box that keeps the whole house more pleasant.
32. Freshen and Deodorize the Dishwasher
After unloading your dishwasher, sprinkle a bit of baking soda on the bottom and leave the door ajar for a few hours. This simple routine absorbs lingering odors and stops that pesky mildew smell before it starts. It’s preventative maintenance that keeps your dishwasher fresh and ready for the next load. Kathleen swears by this easy trick!
More Surprising Ways to Use Baking Soda at Home
33. Keep Green Vegetables Vibrant
Want your green beans to stay bright and fresh-looking? Add a good pinch of baking soda to the boiling water. The beans keep their beautiful green color, though don’t be surprised if the cooking water turns a little brown. This little trick comes straight from Marg’s neighbor and it’s a simple way to make your veggies look as good as they taste.
34. Flea Fighter for Carpets
If fleas have invaded your carpets, baking soda can help clear them out. Sprinkle it liberally, then leave it on for a day or two before vacuuming. Jessie swears by this natural method—it’s gentle, chemical-free, and really effective.
35. Pretzel Perfection Hack
Traditional pretzels get their signature shine and chew from a quick dip in a lye solution—but lye isn’t something you want to mess with at home. Baking soda is a safer substitute, but plain baking soda doesn’t quite do the trick. Here’s the secret: bake the baking soda first to increase its alkalinity, then make your dipping solution. This step makes a noticeable difference in the pretzel’s texture and color, just like Gina’s discovered.
36. Cut Acidity in Spaghetti Sauce
Try adding just a tiny pinch of baking soda—between 1/8 and 1/4 teaspoon—to about 4 to 5 quarts of homemade spaghetti sauce. This little addition helps mellow out the acidity quickly without losing flavor, saving you hours of simmering. Cristina’s trick for busy weeknights!
37. Smooth Out Coffee Bitterness
If your morning cup sometimes feels a little harsh on your stomach, stir in a pinch of baking soda. It neutralizes the acidity and makes your coffee gentler and more enjoyable, just like Wilma does every day.
38. Velvet Your Chicken for Tenderness
To keep boneless, skinless chicken breasts from turning tough during cooking, try “velveting” them. Toss your chicken pieces with about a teaspoon of baking soda, then refrigerate for 20 minutes before cooking. This technique, popular in Chinese kitchens, helps lock in moisture—even if you overcook slightly, your chicken stays tender and juicy. Sue’s tip is perfect for those of us who tend to be a bit cautious with cooking times.