20 ways bicarbonate of soda will change your life

Nope, it’s not just the teaspoon you put in your cake mixture to make it rise. This little gem can actually be used for a whole host of things. So don’t just leave it in your cupboard and forget about it, put its cleaning power to work! It’s a convenient, eco-friendly and cheap alternative to traditional cleaning chemicals.

What can I clean with bicarbonate of soda?

Clean your washing machine

Put a cupful of bicarbonate of soda with some vinegar into the drum and run it on a hot setting to clean your detergent drawer, remove the grime from the rubber gasket and give the drum a new lease of life again.

Clean your silverware

Hosting a dinner party anytime soon? Bicarbonate of soda is great for making your cutlery shine again and removing any streaks. Dissolve a couple of tablespoons into a bowl of warm water and leave your silver to soak in for 15 minutes. You should be able to wipe the tarnish away but if not, leave it to soak a little longer. You can use this for any kind of silver including jewellery and platters.

Clean your shower

Leftover soap in the shower tray and get a bit gross. Bicarbonate of soda can help you get rid of any mildew and break down the soapy residue. To unclog the drain too, pour a little vinegar down it.

Clean stained plastic food containers

I love to keep old takeaway containers to re-use for lunch and leftovers but getting the stains out can be a challenge. With bicarbonate of soda, all you have to do is sprinkle it on a clean sponge and wipe the stains away. If it’s not working, try and soak it in a solution of bicarbonate of soda and warm water.

Remove bad odour from the fridge

Can’t figure out what’s making that bad smell in the fridge? Or is the smell lingering even after you’ve thrown the culprit out? Leave a small pot of bicarbonate of soda in the fridge to absorb any strong smells.

Cut through greasy pots and pans

Add your pots and pans to the sink. Bring vinegar to a boil in the microwave and sprinkle bicarbonate of soda onto the pans with the boiling vinegar and let it soak for half an hour. Then you can wipe them with a sponge and rinse them to get them back to normal.

Clean your kitchen sink

Lemon is also a great eco-friendly cleaning solution! Sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda onto half a lemon and use it to rub your sink clean – it really works!

Rinse your fruit and vegetables

I rinse all of my fruit and veg, no matter where they come from – for peace of mind. To remove any dirt and the waxy coating, mix some bicarbonate of soda with water. I tend to fill a sink with the solution and let the produce soak before drying and storing it as normal. Discover our top tips to store your food in the fridge for longer. 

Create a multi-purpose spray

Forget filling your basket with chemicals from the supermarket. Use an old single-use plastic bottle and fill it with water and some bicarbonate of soda to create your own multi-purpose cleaning solution. This can be used everywhere – on your worktops, the microwave and stainless steel.

Freshen up your carpets and rugs

Sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda and let it sit for 15-20 minutes before vacuuming it. That’s all it takes!

Magic away doodles on the wall

We’ve all been there. Bicarbonate of soda can help you remove crayon scribbles from the wall so you don’t have to stress. Take a damp sponge, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda on it and scrub the wall gently.

Make your whites whiter

Add 200g of bicarbonate of soda to a full load of washing with your normal detergent to ensure your whites come out looking whiter and your colours look brighter. It works by balancing the pH levels to get clothes cleaner.

Clean your hob

Pour bicarbonate of soda directly onto your hob and let it sit for five minutes. After, wipe it away with a damp sponge and scrub lightly to remove the grime and grease.

Clean smelly trainers

Freshen up your gym trainers by sprinkling some bicarbonate of soda in them overnight and tapping out the next day (or whenever you use them next). You can do the same for your gym bag.

Bin refresher

Before you put your new bin bag in, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda in the bottom to get rid of the awful smell.

Grout cleaner

Lemon juice and bicarbonate of soda can also be used to clean shower grout. Make a paste out of the two ingredients and use a toothbrush to coat the grout lines. Leave the paste on it for 10-15 minutes and then wipe it off with a cloth.

Spring clean your drawers

Between your summer and winter wardrobe rotation, give your drawers a good refresher by filling an old sock or small cloth bag with bicarbonate of soda and placing it in the base to remove the odour.

Freshen up your mattress

Dash some bicarbonate of soda on top of your mattress and let it sit for half an hour, then simply vacuum off.

Create an air freshener

For a natural air freshener in your home, mix water, bicarbonate of soda and your favourite essential oil. The great thing about this is that you can make a new scent each week so you won’t get bored or used to the smell.

Clean your summer BBQ grill

By the end of the summer, your BBQ is going to be pretty messy and full of grime – a sign of a good time. To remove the hassle from cleaning, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda onto your cleaning brush or cloth before scrubbing your grill.

What bicarbonate of soda are we using?

We recently onboarded the Dri-Pak Bicarbonate of Soda to our eco-friendly cleaning portfolio and we are loving it! You can see all of the amazing ways it can be used around the house from cleaning surfaces to giving your jewellery a new lease of life. Ready to use in 100% plastic-free and fully recyclable packaging, this little box will make a big dent in your carbon footprint and reduce the money you spend on traditional cleaning products.

We know there are lots of other uses for bicarbonate of soda so comment below and let us know how it’s changed your life!