How to Use Baking Soda As a Green Cleaner

Clean Almost Anything with This Common Cleaning Ingredient

By Karen Peltier

Updated 09/14/17

Cleaning tile grout with toothbrush
Russell Sadur/Getty Images

Did you know that baking soda is much more than an ingredient used for baking? It's also an awesome and super effective green cleaner! Effective at deodorizing, whitening, scrubbing, and more, give it a try today. Here are some fantastic ways to use baking soda to green clean:

  • Banish burnt stainless steel pots and pans. Combat burnt-on foods by simply boiling some baking soda and water in your pan and then letting it cool. Let it soak overnight if necessary. Another alternative is to leave a paste of baking soda and green dish soap in your pan for several hours. Wash your pan well and if anything remains, sprinkle some more baking soda into the pan and scrub away. 
  • Boost your automatic dish detergent. If you've got especially dirty dishes and hard water, don't add in extra detergent. It may undermine your efforts and leave a filmy residue behind. Instead, add a teaspoon of baking soda. It will naturally soften the water and improve how your detergent functions. Check out "Top 10 Green Automatic Dishwasher Tips" for more great ideas.
  • Clean carpets & rugs. Instead of reaching for harmful, conventional carpet cleaners, consider using baking soda as an earth friendly alternative to naturally deodorize and clean your carpets and rugs. Check out this recipe for a safe and effective rug cleaner made with baking soda and lavender. Pet odors, dirt, and stains will be banished for good!
  • Combat smelly odors in dishwashers. If you notice a bad smell in your dishwasher between uses, try sprinkling about 1/2 cup of baking soda into the bottom of it between uses. It will neutralize odors.
  • Deodorize drains & garbage disposals. Sprinkle some baking soda into your drains and garbage disposals and let it sit for as little as a few minutes to several hours. Then pour in some vinegar. Next, run some hot water. Gunk, germs, soap scum ​and grime will be cleaned away and your drains will smell fresh!
  • Freshen the air naturally. Absorb bad odors and impart a light, uplifting scent to your home with a baking soda and lemon room deodorizer. Check out the video "How to Create a Non-Toxic Air Freshener" for details. 
  • Make your laundry detergent work better. Got dingy laundry? Then you might want to consider adding about 1/2 - 1 cup of baking soda to your wash. It will enhance the effectiveness of your laundry detergent by softening the water naturally and as a result, you'll notice you've got cleaner and softer clothes.
  • Refresh your refrigerator cleaning routine. A paste of baking soda and a little water makes cleaning out the fridge easy, safe, and non-toxic. Wipe away with a wet microfiber rag. Rinse well between uses.
  • Scrub without scratching. If you've got delicate surfaces that you need to scrub clean, such as porcelain sinks, try making this aromatherapy cleanser. It's very easy to make and just as effective.
  • Tackle dirty toilets. Sprinkle a little baking soda into your toilet and let it sit for several minutes. Then scrub away grody toilet scum. For extra germ and mold fighting action, pour in some vinegar.