Why is baking soda good for cleaning? Baking soda is a great cleaning agent because it dissolves dirt and grease easily in water for effective cleaning. It also deodorizes by changing both acidic and basic odor molecules into a neutral, more odor-free state.
When baking soda is mixed with vinegar, the acid breaks down baking soda, releasing carbon dioxide gas that can help lift dirt from the surfaces being cleaned.
Although mixing vinegar and baking soda is not considered dangerous, you should still avoid mixing these in a container. Vinegar is acidic and basic soda is basic, so the by-products are sodium acetate, carbon dioxide, and water that are not toxic.
The mixture quickly foams up with carbon dioxide gas. If enough vinegar is used, all of the baking soda can be made to react and disappear into the vinegar solution. The reaction is: Sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid reacts to carbon dioxide, water and sodium acetate.
For instance, vinegar is potent at fighting mold while baking soda is great at fighting wine and coffee stains. The former is a better disinfectant but the latter is a phenomenal deodorizer.
For really tough black mold removal, mix two parts baking soda with one part white vinegar and one part water. Stir the mixture until it becomes a thick paste. Spread your mixture liberally onto the surface and let it dry. Scrub away the black mold and stains, and wipe down with water.
It is safe to leave baking soda (and vinegar) to work overnight to unclog a drain. Always flush this mixture down with boiling water—no matter how long you leave it sitting in the drain.
WAIT: Keeping the area damp and covered, allow the baking soda to sit for at least 3 hours, longer if possible. Hint: do this before you go to bed or before you leave for work. VACUUM: Remove the towel and vacuum the area. Repeat this process if you can still see any of the stain.
Anything with deep grooves or cracks. Baking soda leaves behind a white, dusty residue after it dries. Therefore, you should never use it to clean surfaces with deep grooves or cracks because the residue will get left behind and can build up.
Adding a quarter cup of baking soda to a lukewarm bath and soaking for up to 30 minutes may relieve itching, irritation, or infections or just provide a detox. Adding baking soda — also known as sodium bicarbonate — to a bath may help with a range of conditions, such as: eczema. psoriasis.
Bleach and baking soda are valuable in the laundry and are particularly useful in cleaning white clothes. Bleach is suitable for making whites whiter, while baking soda helps make white clothes fresher.
It's the exact same substance, just with a different name. So when you see the words 'baking soda' in an American cleaning recipe then go ahead and use bicarbonate of soda. The results will be exactly as intended.
It's not just for baking cakes! A cheap box of baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda to some) can effectively clean your entire home. It's extremely versatile and can be used as a mild abrasive, scouring agent and deodoriser to dissolve dirt, tackle odours and cut through grime.
'Bleach will kill mold spores growing across a hard surface, but if the mold has extended below the surface, then white vinegar is the best choice,' she says. 'The vinegar will penetrate to kill the mold and mildew at the root, preventing it from regrowing.
Mix baking soda, a few drops of dish soap, and enough water to make a cleaning paste. Apply the paste liberally, let it sit for 20 minutes, then scrub the grout with a toothbrush and rinse.
Combine 1 part bleach with 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spritz the affected area. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes. The mold should start to fade away on its own, but if areas of stubborn mold remain, use a coarse brush (for larger areas) or old toothbrush (for smaller areas) to scrub the mold away.
For most purposes, Harris recommends combining one part baking soda with two parts white vinegar. That combo can cut through grease and lift stains, sometimes better than store-bought cleaners, she says. Important: Never combine vinegar with bleach.
If you've tried using vinegar with no success, baking soda is your next product to try. Baking soda is abrasive enough to remove grime, but won't damage the glass. Take 3 tablespoons of baking soda and mix with water to create a paste.
Teeth Whitening
To whiten your teeth with baking soda, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 3 to 4 drops of lemon juice and make it into a fine paste. Gently brush your teeth with this paste and leave it on your teeth for 2 minutes. Thoroughly rinse your mouth afterward. Do not use this paste more than twice a week.