11 Smart Ways to Clean With Baking Soda Around the House

If you have light deposits at the bottom of your kettle, baking soda can help. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda, fill the kettle at least halfway with water, boil, turn it off, and let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes. From there, rinse the container thoroughly and wipe the prongs with a cloth.

There’s nothing worse than a showerhead spraying unevenly, or looking up at your showerhead and realizing it’s just plain gross.

Make a paste with baking soda and water, scrub the nozzles with a sponge, then run hot water to rinse them. If there is a deeper mineral buildup, a vinegar soak can further help.

You’d usually soak cloudy glassware in vinegar to help remove hard-water minerals. That said, if there are stubborn spots, gently rub them with a little baking soda on your fingertip. It’s only mildly abrasive, so it won’t scratch your glassware.

Add a few drops of water to make a paste if you are worried about scratching, then rinse and dry with a microfiber cloth.

You know that burned-on residue air fryers sometimes get? Baking soda can help remove it.

Make a paste with baking soda and a few tablespoons of water. Then apply it with a soft cloth, gently scrubbing away the grime. Finally, wipe again with a dry cloth.

Like air fryers, oven racks can also be cleaned with baking soda. Sprinkle some onto the racks, scrub with a sponge or scouring pad, and rinse well. Of course, if you have a heavier mess, oven cleaning spray is better.

Make a homemade grout cleaner by combining baking soda and hydrogen peroxide until a paste forms. Then apply it to the grout and let it sit for a few minutes; after that, scrub and rinse it off. It’ll require some elbow grease, but it works in a pinch.

Garbage disposals can easily develop odors. After cleaning the disposal baffle and drain area with dish soap, sprinkle baking soda into the disposal to help remove any lingering scents.

You can also add vinegar for a little foaming action, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then run cold water and turn the disposal on to flush it out.

If you’ve got small rust spots, dampen a cloth and dip it in a little baking soda.

Rub the cloth lightly over the stain, wipe the item clean, and follow with a stainless steel polish. Always spot test first and avoid harsh scrubbing on delicate appliance finishes.

As mentioned above, baking soda is mildly abrasive. This means it can help with minor scuffs, stains, and lifting food residue from surfaces and sinks.

Sprinkle a small amount onto a damp sponge, scrub gently, rinse, and dry. One caveat: Don’t use it on extremely delicate finishes and check the manufacturer’s instructions when in doubt.