There are surprising uses of baking soda from grandma that you may not have realized before. We all love to learn surprising ideas and tricks from our beloved grandparents. Grandma is usually filled with knowledge, especially when it comes to simple, old-fashioned hacks. We bet you had no idea that baking soda was such an all-rounder in the house.
Baking soda has been around for centuries, and it has many surprising uses around the house. Grandma knew that, and we’ve collected 10 of the best uses of baking soda and compiled them into this guide.
We’ll show you how to clean your fridge, scrub your sink and faucets, make a homemade disinfectant spray, and much more.
Surprising Uses Of Baking Soda
Ready to find out surprising uses of baking soda from grandma? Let’s dive in and discover all the above-mentioned tricks and more!
1. Clean and Freshen Your Fridge
When it comes to cleaning your fridge, one of the simplest and most effective solutions is surprisingly baking soda. This time-tested trick has been used by grandmothers across the country for generations, and it remains one of the most effective ways to quickly and easily clean and freshen your refrigerator.
To begin, empty out all of the contents of your fridge and discard any expired or spoiled items. Wipe down the shelves and drawers with a damp cloth to remove any crumbs or spills. Then, create a mixture of equal parts baking soda and warm water and apply it to the shelves and drawers. Leave the mixture to sit for five to 10 minutes, then rinse it off with a damp cloth. If there are tough stains, use a little more baking soda and a scrub brush to give them a deeper clean.
Baking soda has natural deodorizing properties, and it’s great for ridding your fridge of any unpleasant odors. To use it, fill a bowl with baking soda and leave it in the fridge overnight. This will help absorb any bad smells, leaving your fridge smelling clean and fresh.
The surprising uses of baking soda as to clean and freshen your fridge has been used by grandmothers everywhere for generations, and it remains one of the most effective and simple ways to ensure your fridge is sparkling clean and smells great.
2. Make a Natural Carpet Cleaner and Deodorizer
Grandma knew a thing or two about cleaning carpets and making them smell nice – without resorting to harsh chemicals. Using just a few simple ingredients, you can create a surprisingly effective homemade carpet cleaner and deodorizer.
Baking soda is your best friend when it comes to cleaning carpets. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the carpets and use a broom or vacuum cleaner to work it in to the carpet fibers. Leave the baking soda to work its magic overnight and then vacuum it up. This will help to remove dirt, dust and pet hair, as well as freshen up the carpet.
For extra cleaning power, you can add a few drops of essential oils to the baking soda. The oils will help to neutralize any lingering odors, making your carpets smell fresh and inviting.
For tougher stains, make a paste from a mix of baking soda and water. Rub the paste into to the stain and leave it to dry before vacuuming. This method is great for removing red wine and pet stains from carpet with surprizing use of baking soda.
When used regularly, baking soda will help to keep your carpets looking and smelling their best. So, the next time you need to freshen up your carpets, take a tip from Grandma and use the time-tested tricks of baking soda.
3. Scrub Your Sink and Faucets
One of the most surprizing uses of baking soda is as a powerhouse scrub for sinks and faucets. Baking soda can easily remove rust, grime, and other spots lurking in the hard-to-reach areas of your sink or faucet. To tackle a sink or faucet, mix baking soda and warm water until it creates a paste. Then, use a scrub brush or cloth to spread the paste over the entire surface, including the rims, handles, and spouts. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes.
Scrub the surface, then rinse with warm water. For tougher spots, add a few drops of lemon juice or white vinegar to the paste to give it a little extra power. Baking soda is perfect for this task because it’s gentler than other abrasive cleaners, but still effective at removing dirt and grime. Not only that, it won’t damage your sink or faucet. Once you’re done scrubbing, you’ll be left with a clean, shiny sink or faucet.
4. Clean and Remove Stains from Your Dishes
Grandma’s time-tested tricks for cleaning and removing stains from dishes just might surprise you. Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent that is safe to use on a variety of dishes from pots to pans and from mugs to teacups. To use baking soda for dishes, simply add a few tablespoons of baking soda to warm water and use it as a soak or scrubbing agent.
Soda is also great for getting rid of hard-to-remove stains. Sprinkle baking soda directly onto the stained area of the pan or dish and scrub off the stains with a scrub brush. For tougher stains, you may want to let the baking soda and water solution sit on the stained area for a few minutes before scrubbing it off. This will give the soda the time it needs to really work its way into the stain, making it easier to remove.
Another surprizing use of baking soda is to make your dishes sparkle. After cleaning your dishes, apply a thin layer of baking soda to the wet surface of the dish. This will help to shine the dishes and make them look like new. Baking soda really is a versatile and effective cleaning agent!
Keep in mind that baking soda should not be used on aluminum, nonstick, or cast iron surfaces. In those cases, you should use a gentle, non-abrasive cleaner to prevent scratching the surface. With these tips, you’ll be sure to have clean and stain-free dishes for years to come!
5. Remove Soap Scum and Mildew
It’s no surprise that soap scum and mildew can be difficult to remove without special cleaners, but one of grandmother’s most surprisingly effective tricks is the use of baking soda. Baking soda makes an effective mild scouring powder for removing soap scum and mildew from surfaces like showers, faucets, and bathtubs.
Grandma knew that baking soda was one of the best tricks out there for removing soap scum and mildew. With this surprisingly powerful use of baking soda, you can get your bathroom looking as good as new!
6. Keep Produce Fresh and Crisp
Baking soda might be the last thing you think of when it comes to extending the life of your produce, but it can be surprisingly effective. While many of us rely on the commercial products available at the grocery store, a pinch of baking soda might be the simple and natural solution to keeping your fruits and vegetables crisp and fresh.
To use baking soda for this purpose, simply mix a cup of baking soda into a sink or basin of cold water. Submerge your produce in the water for about five minutes and then rinse them with clean water. The baking soda helps remove soil and surface impurities and helps to neutralize the ethylene gas that can be released by ripening fruits and vegetables.
You may notice a difference in the appearance of the fruits and vegetables, with colors looking brighter and fresher. You might also notice that some fruits, such as avocados, will resist ripening longer when treated with baking soda.
Grandma’s surprizing use of baking soda is a time-tested trick for keeping produce fresh and crisp. It’s also an affordable and natural solution for extending the life of produce and preventing food waste.
7. Make a Disinfectant Spray
Grandma had a simple solution for keeping her home safe from germs and bacteria, and it only requires one ingredient — baking soda. A surprizing use of baking soda is to make a disinfectant spray to sanitize surfaces around the home.
To make the solution, mix one teaspoon of baking soda with one cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients thoroughly. Once mixed, spray the solution on hard surfaces and wipe off with a damp cloth. The solution is safe to use on all hard, non-porous surfaces.
The baking soda solution is an effective disinfectant and kills 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, according to recent studies. It is also non-toxic and won’t leave any chemical residue on surfaces or in the air, making it a great alternative to store-bought disinfectants.
Grandma knew the power of baking soda long before the scientific studies were conducted. Now, you can use her time-tested trick to keep your home clean and disinfected.
8. Make a Natural Antibacterial Cleaner
Grandma knew better than anyone a few simple tricks that could be used to make natural cleaners. Baking soda may just be one of the simplest and most surprising uses of baking soda. By combining baking soda with water, you can make an incredibly effective natural antibacterial cleaner.
To make the cleaner, you’ll need to mix half a cup of baking soda with one and a half cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake the solution until both ingredients are adequately mixed. Spray the solution on surfaces that need to be disinfected and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Scrub the surface with a damp cloth or sponge to remove dirt and grime. Rinse the surface thoroughly with water and it’s ready for use.
This natural antibacterial cleaner is an excellent choice for kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Not only is it effective in killing germs, but it’s also safe to use on surfaces such as counters, sinks, and toilets. And, because there are no harsh chemicals, it’s safe to use around children and pets.
So, the next time you need to clean up a mess, reach for that box of baking soda in the pantry and get to work. Grandma never steered us wrong!
9. Make a Natural Fruit and Veggie Wash
More of our surprising uses of baking soda continues with this hack to make a delicious and healthy fruit and veggie wash. By combining baking soda and water, you can create a natural and effective way to get rid of dirt and other contaminants. This wash can be used to make sure your family’s fruits and vegetables are free from bacteria and other impurities.
To make a fruit and veggie wash, start by mixing together one-part baking soda and three-parts water (for example, one tablespoon of baking soda mixed with three tablespoons of water). Give the mixture a stir and then use it to wash your fruits and veggies. For tougher grime, you can try adding a bit of white vinegar to the mix. This solution can be used to soak vegetables or lightly scrub tougher residues.
Baking soda is highly effective at removing dirt, wax, and even pesticide residue from fruits and veggies. The abrasive nature of baking soda also makes it great for scrubbing away tough bits of dirt. Additionally, baking soda is hypoallergenic and safe for all skin types, so it won’t irritate your hands.
When you’re finished washing your fruits and vegetables, rinse them off with cold water, and then pat dry with a paper towel. Your produce will be clean, healthy, and ready to eat. This time-tested trick of using baking soda to create a natural wash is perfect for keeping your fruits and veggies safe and contaminants-free.
10. Clean Your Jewelry
Did you know that you can use baking soda to clean your jewelry? This is an incredibly surprizing use of baking soda and yet it has been a time-tested trick used by many generations of grandmas.
To clean your jewelry with baking soda, pour a small amount of baking soda into a bowl and add some water to form a paste. Next, take an old toothbrush and gently scrub your jewelry with the baking soda paste. Leave the paste on the jewelry for a few minutes, then rinse with warm water and wipe with a soft cloth until completely dry.
This trick is especially useful for removing sweat and lotion residue from rings and bracelets, as well as for removing tarnish from silver jewelry. However, be sure not to use the baking soda paste on soft stones like pearls and opal, as the scrubbing can damage them.
To really shine up your jewelry, after the baking soda cleaning is complete, you can also use a jewelry polish designed specifically for the metal you are cleaning. Just be sure to never use the same cloth on both silver and gold as it can cause tarnishing.
Overall, this simple and straightforward trick has been a time-tested way to keep jewelry looking its best, and it is easy to see why it has been a favorite among grandmas everywhere.
Conclusion
Grandma’s time-tested tricks are an incredible resource for us to use to help keep our homes clean and healthy without relying on harsh chemicals. Baking soda is a potent and safe cleaning agent, whether you’re trying to remove odors from your refrigerator, loosen soap scum, or make a natural cleaner for your dishes. With its natural qualities and versatility, it has been used for decades as a go-to product for a variety of cleaning and deodorizing tasks. By following Grandma’s lead and incorporating baking soda into our everyday cleaning repertoire, we can all ensure that our homes remain a safe and healthy environment, free from harsh chemicals, for our families and all those who enter our homes.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. If you have specific healthcare concerns or questions about the products displayed, please contact your licensed healthcare professional for advice or answers.
