Tricks with baking soda You can never have too much of this fine-grained white substance. It has more functions than a Swiss army knife. It's natural, inexpensive, safe for kids, pets, and your nostrils. And best of all, it actually works. Below is a list of 20 proven, homemade cleaning tricks with baking soda that will transform your apartment into a temple of freshness, without the need for chemical bombs and breathing masks.

20 brilliant tricks with baking soda

The kitchen – the terrain with the most action (and stains)

1. Cleans and refreshes kitchen drains

Baking soda and vinegar boiling point? Almost like a science experiment. First, pour a pot of boiling water down the drain. Then add 1/2 cup of baking soda, wait 5 minutes. Then mix 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of hot water, pour down the drain. Cover (if you can) and let sit for 10 minutes, then pour the pot of boiling water back in. Clogged? Solved. Smell? Fresh.

2. Get rid of odors from your food grinder

If your sink smells like a fishmonger's at the end of a shift, you need ¼ cup of baking soda. Pour it into a grinder, followed by hot water. For extra power, add ¼ cup of vinegar and let it react for a few minutes. Result: no smell, no gag reflex.

3. Deodorize the trash can

Sprinkle baking soda between the layers of waste – it acts as a natural odor filter. When you empty the bin, you can wash it with a mixture of 1 cup of baking soda and 4 liters of warm water. Bonus: it will smell like there were never any garlic peels in there.

4. Does your dishwasher need cleaning? Here's the solution

Empty machine, top rack, cup of vinegar – run a long hot cycle. Then sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the machine and run another short hot cycle. Your dishwasher will be clean, free of limescale and free of damp odors.

5. Refresh the fridge and freezer

Place an open cup of baking soda on a shelf. For a general cleaning, mix baking soda with water and wipe down shelves and drawers. You can also add a dash of vinegar for extra degreasing. Goodbye, mystery stains and the smell of “forgotten food.”

6. Disinfect the cabinet under the sink

If there's a suspicious smell coming from under the sink, place an open box of baking soda there. It absorbs moisture and odors like it's meant to. Change it once a month.

7. Tile and grout shiners

Mix ½ cup of baking soda with a bucket of warm water and wipe down your ceramic tiles. The alkaline reaction breaks down grease, while the baking soda gently polishes away even the most stubborn dirt. Your tiles will shine like new dentures.

8. Oven without burnt marks

Make a thick paste of baking soda and a little water. Spread it all over the inside of the oven, leave it overnight, and wipe it off with a damp cloth in the morning. No toxic fumes, just pure pleasure.

The bathroom – a space where cleanliness is not a negotiable issue

9. Bathtub, sink and tiles without trim

Scrub all surfaces with a damp sponge and baking soda. Baking soda is gentle enough for porcelain, acrylic, and ceramic, but strong enough for soap scum. Do not use on wood or stone – not every surface is suitable for every dust.

10. Cleaning the toilet bowl 

A cup of baking soda in the toilet, then a cup of vinegar. Close the lid and wait 30 minutes, then scrub with a toilet brush. No acid fumes and a shine that's almost unfair to the rest of the bathroom.

11. Floor tiles that scream for cleanliness

A bucket of warm water + ½ cup of baking soda = an all-purpose floor cleaning solution. Wipe, rinse with clean water, let dry.

12. Shower head – save it from calcium

Mix 1/3 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar in a bag, tie it over your shower head, and leave it overnight. In the morning, rinse with hot water and wipe it off. The stream will be stronger, making showering almost a luxury.

Living room – the room with the most “invisible dirt”

13. Fireplace glass without a sooty frame

Crumple up a piece of newspaper, wet it, and sprinkle it with baking soda. Use it to gently rub the glass on the fireplace. Then wipe with a clean, damp cloth. The result? A view of the fire without gray filters.

14. Footsteps on the parquet floor? No more.

Use a damp sponge and a pinch of baking soda to remove black shoe marks. The parquet will be grateful. (If it could talk, it would say thank you.)

15. A carpet that doesn't stink of the past

Sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the carpet, leave for 15 minutes, then vacuum thoroughly. For stains: first blot the stain, dry, then add baking soda and vacuum again. Also solves the consequences of children, dogs and poorly coordinated coffee cups.

Laundry room and hallway – the first battle line

16. Shoes that do not require a protective mask

Add a tablespoon of baking soda to each shoe and leave it overnight. It absorbs odors like a magnet. Don't overdo it with leather - once a month is enough.

17. Washing machine without moldy smell

Add ½ cup of baking soda and 1 liter of vinegar to an empty machine. Run the longest hot cycle. The machine will smell like new, with no detergent residue.

Bedroom and closet – the ultimate destination for freshness

18. Refresh a closet or drawer

An open box of soda on the shelf absorbs moisture and musty odors. Replace monthly. Ideal for winter closets that are opened twice a year.

19. Refreshes towels, bedding and sportswear

Add ½ cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle. It helps neutralize odors and softens fabrics that have been through too many wash cycles.

Bonus tricks

20. Cat toilet – less smell, more feline elegance

Sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the litter - it extends the time between cleanings and makes life easier for you (not the cat - she doesn't care).

21. Quickly remove stains from clothes

A paste of baking soda and water works great on oily stains or yellow stains under your armpits. Apply, leave for 15 minutes, wash. Your white shirt will sing your praises.

22. In the car or sports bag

A small open container of baking soda will soak up all the sweat, three-day-old snacks, and “what is that?” smells. It works as a natural room freshener—without the floral pretense.

Finally…

Baking soda is the ultimate cleaning tool. It's your lifelong ally in the war against dirt and odors. You can freshen up your entire home in a day—and still have some left over for pancakes.