Natural Cleaning Made Easy: 10 Ways to Use Sodium Bicarb at Home

Natural Cleaning Made Easy: 10 Ways to Use Sodium Bicarb at Home

Looking for a safer, cheaper, and more eco-friendly way to clean your home in 2026?
Look no further than sodium bicarbonate — also known as baking soda. This simple, natural ingredient has been used for generations as a non-toxic cleaning powerhouse. It's gentle, effective, affordable, and versatile enough to replace dozens of commercial cleaning products.

Whether you’re switching to natural living or improving your wholefoods pantry essentials, here’s how to make natural cleaning simple with 10 powerful sodium bicarbonate cleaning hacks.

 Why Use Sodium Bicarbonate for Cleaning?

Sodium bicarb is ideal for natural cleaning because it is:

• Non-toxic & safe for families and pets
• Affordable, cost-effective, and long-lasting
• Eco-friendly, unlike harsh chemical cleaners
• Deodorising — removes unwanted smells
• Mildly abrasive — lifts grime without scratching surfaces
• Antibacterial-supportive when combined with other natural ingredients

It’s one ingredient with hundreds of uses — here are the top ten.

1. Deodorise Your Fridge

Sodium bicarbonate neutralises odours instead of masking them.

How to use: Place an open jar or bowl of sodium bicarb in your fridge or freezer. Replace every 1–2 months.

2. Remove Stains & Smells from Carpets

Perfect for pet odours, spills, and damp smells.

How to use: Sprinkle generously over carpets, let sit for 20–30 minutes, then vacuum thoroughly.

3. Clean Kitchen Surfaces & Worktops

Baking soda’s gentle abrasion lifts stuck-on food and grime without damaging surfaces.

How to use: Mix 2 tbsp sodium bicarb with a little water to form a paste.
Apply with a cloth, scrub lightly, and wipe clean.

4. Unclog & Deodorise Drains

Combining sodium bicarb with vinegar creates a natural bubbling reaction.

How to use:

• Pour ½ cup sodium bicarb down the drain
• Add 1 cup vinegar
• Wait 5–10 minutes
• Flush with boiling water
• Helps remove build-up and bad smells.

5. Make a Natural Bathroom Cleaner

Ideal for sinks, tiles, baths and taps.

How to use:

• Mix equal parts sodium bicarb and water into a paste.
• Optionally add lemon juice for extra shine.
• Scrub surfaces, rinse, and dry.

6. Shine Stainless Steel Appliances

Gently removes fingerprints, grease, and water spots.

How to use:Sprinkle sodium bicarb on a damp cloth, wipe in circular motions, then polish with a dry cloth.

7. Deep-Clean Ovens & Baking Trays

Skip the fumes — baking soda breaks down tough burnt-on grease naturally.

How to use:

• Coat the dirty area with sodium bicarb
• Spray with water or vinegar
• Leave for several hours or overnight
• Scrub and wipe clean

Your oven will look like new without harsh chemicals.

8. Freshen Up Mattresses & Upholstery

Great for beds, sofas, and fabric car seats.

How to use:

• Lightly sprinkle sodium bicarb over the surface.
• Leave for 1 hour and vacuum thoroughly.

9. Clean & Brighten Grout

The paste method works wonders on dull or stained grout lines.

How to use:

• Mix sodium bicarb and water into a thick paste.
• Apply with a toothbrush, scrub gently, rinse, and wipe dry.

10. Make a Natural All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

Perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and everyday messes.

You’ll need:

• 1 tbsp sodium bicarbonate
• 500ml warm water
• 10–15 drops essential oil (lemon, tea tree, lavender) — optional
• Spray bottle
• Shake well before each use.

Bonus: Other Handy Uses

• Clean tea-stained mugs
• Remove odours from shoes
• Polish silver gently
• Clean reusable water bottles
• Freshen sponges & cloths
• Deodorise bins
• Sodium bicarbonate really is one of the most multifunctional items you can keep at home.

 Why Natural Cleaning Matters in 2026

As more people switch to eco-conscious and low-tox lifestyles, natural cleaning ingredients are becoming essential pantry staples.

Using sodium bicarb helps you:

• Reduce household chemical exposure
• Protect the environment
• Save money on cleaning products
• Keep your home fresh and safe
• Support a more sustainable lifestyle

Plus, it pairs perfectly with wholefoods ingredients like sea salt, vinegar, and essential oils for even more DIY cleaning recipes.

Final Thoughts: Make Cleaning Simple, Safe & Sustainable

With sodium bicarbonate in your cupboard, natural cleaning becomes effortless. This single, inexpensive ingredient replaces countless synthetic products — proving that clean living doesn’t need to be complicated or costly.

From the kitchen to the bathroom, carpets to mattresses, sodium bicarb offers a natural solution for every room in the house.