Discover 10 surprising household uses for baking soda, from freshening odors and cleaning surfaces to helping with laundry and kitchen messes. Learn what baking soda can safely do—and what you should avoid using it for.
10 Surprising Ways a Pinch of Baking Soda Can Change Your Life
Baking soda is one of the simplest and most inexpensive products found in many kitchens. Although it is best known as a baking ingredient, its mild abrasive and odor-neutralizing properties make it useful for a variety of everyday household tasks.
However, not every viral baking-soda trick is safe or effective. Here are 10 practical ways you can use it around the home.
1. Freshen a Smelly Refrigerator
Baking soda can help reduce unpleasant refrigerator odors.
Place a small, open container of baking soda inside the refrigerator. Replace it periodically, especially if it has absorbed strong food smells.
It won’t replace proper cleaning, but it can help keep lingering odors under control.
2. Clean a Dirty Sink
A small amount of baking soda can act as a gentle abrasive.
Sprinkle it over a damp sink, scrub gently with a sponge, and rinse thoroughly.
It can help remove everyday grime without the harsh abrasiveness of some stronger cleaning products.
3. Remove Odors From Shoes
If shoes have developed an unpleasant smell, baking soda can help absorb odors.
Sprinkle a small amount inside dry shoes and leave it for several hours or overnight. Shake or vacuum the powder out before wearing them.
4. Freshen Carpets
Baking soda can be used to help reduce odors in carpets.
Lightly sprinkle it over a dry carpet, allow it to sit for a while, and then vacuum thoroughly.
Always check the manufacturer’s care instructions first and test a small, inconspicuous area if you’re unsure.
5. Help Clean Kitchen Surfaces
Baking soda can help loosen food residue and grime on some hard kitchen surfaces.
Make a paste with a small amount of water and baking soda, apply it to the area, gently scrub, and rinse.
Avoid using abrasive cleaning methods on delicate or easily scratched surfaces.
6. Deodorize a Trash Can
Even after the trash has been removed, odors can remain inside the bin.
After cleaning and drying the trash can, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda in the bottom to help absorb lingering smells.
Keeping the bin clean is still the most important step.
7. Freshen a Cutting Board
Cutting boards can retain odors from foods such as garlic and onions.
A little baking soda can help with surface cleaning and odor removal. Sprinkle it over the board, scrub gently with a damp sponge, and rinse well.
For food-safety purposes, proper washing and sanitizing are more important than deodorizing alone.
8. Boost Odor Removal During Laundry
Baking soda can help with odors in laundry and is sometimes added to a wash along with detergent.
Follow your washing machine and detergent manufacturer’s instructions, particularly if you have a specialized machine or delicate fabrics.
Remember that baking soda is not a substitute for laundry detergent when you’re trying to remove stains and clean clothes.
9. Clean a Greasy Kitchen Mess
A baking-soda paste can help loosen certain greasy or baked-on residues on suitable hard surfaces.
Apply the paste, let it sit briefly, and gently scrub before rinsing.
For stubborn grease, a suitable dishwashing detergent or dedicated kitchen cleaner may work better.
10. Freshen Household Odors
Baking soda can be useful anywhere odors need to be absorbed rather than simply covered with fragrance.
Small containers can be placed in areas such as:
- Closets
- Cabinets
- Shoe storage
- Near garbage bins
- Other dry, enclosed spaces
Replace the baking soda when it becomes saturated with odors or damp.
Important: Don’t Believe Every Baking Soda Hack
Baking soda is useful, but it isn’t a miracle product.
You should not assume that drinking baking soda regularly will improve your health, cure digestive problems, detox your body, or treat serious diseases. Large amounts can cause health problems because baking soda contains a significant amount of sodium and can disrupt the body’s acid-base balance.
It’s also important not to mix baking soda indiscriminately with other household cleaners. In particular, never mix cleaning products unless the manufacturer specifically says the combination is safe.
The Bottom Line
A simple box of baking soda can be surprisingly useful around the home. Its ability to absorb odors and provide gentle abrasion makes it handy for cleaning, freshening, and deodorizing.
The key is to use it for practical household purposes rather than treating it as a cure-all.
Sometimes the simplest household products really are the most versatile—but knowing their limitations is just as important as knowing their uses.