Baking soda is known for its excellent cleaning and deodorizing properties, but you likely already have several everyday items that can serve the same purpose. So, let’s explore some substitute for baking soda for cleaning.
Before rushing to the store, look in your pantry or fridge. You might be pleasantly surprised by the items on hand that can effectively replace baking soda for a spotless living space.
We’ve compiled a list of 5 convenient alternatives to baking soda that will enable you to start cleaning immediately.
Discover budget-friendly, natural options that tackle dirt effortlessly and leave your home smelling fresh.
Vinegar As A Natural Disinfectant and Deodorizer
Vinegar is a natural powerhouse for disinfecting and deodorizing, making it an excellent substitute for baking soda for cleaning.
Perfect for disinfecting surfaces
It’s impressive how it can effectively wipe out germs, bacteria, and mold—making it a top pick for cleaning and disinfecting kitchen, bathroom, and toilet surfaces.
Plus, if you’re still searching for a great way to clean those glass tiles in your shower, it can be a solid alternative to consider.
If you’re dealing with smelly shoes or a foul-smelling trash can, place a bowl of vinegar inside to banish those unpleasant odors.
Vinegar excels at absorbing and eliminating unwanted smells. Remember to replace the vinegar every few days until the scent completely disappears.
Suitable for the grease and grime
You can create a powerful cleaning paste by combining vinegar and baking soda to tackle stubborn, stuck-on grease and grime.
Apply the paste to surfaces and scrub with an abrasive sponge or scrubber. The reaction between the two ingredients helps lift and remove the dirt effectively. Finish by rinsing the surface thoroughly with water.
Quick cleaning option for your coffee maker
Is your coffee maker in need of a good cleaning? Run a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar through a brew cycle. This process not only disinfects the machine but also helps demineralize it.
Afterward, run 2-3 cycles of plain water to ensure no vinegar residue remains before using the coffee maker again.
An excellent alternative to clean glass
With its exceptional disinfecting and deodorizing abilities, vinegar can handle many of the same cleaning tasks as baking soda. While being eco-friendly.
Mix ½ cup vinegar with 2 cups water for shining glasses or windows.
Spray this mixture onto glass surfaces and wipe them clean with a newspaper or a microfiber cloth for a streak-free shine.
The best part? You likely already have a bottle of vinegar in your pantry, making it a convenient and natural alternative for a safer, greener clean.
Hydrogen Peroxide: A Safer Alternative to Bleach
Hydrogen peroxide presents a natural and gentler alternative to the harshness of bleach when disinfecting and refreshing your living spaces.
Effective and Safe
At a 3% concentration, hydrogen peroxide is generally safe for most surfaces and highly effective at eliminating bacteria, viruses, and germs.
However, it’s essential to handle this substance with care.
Proper Application
It’s best to apply it via spray for optimal results when disinfecting surfaces. Let it sit for a few minutes before you wipe it clean with water.
This method works wonders for sanitizing cutting boards, sinks, countertops, toilets, and floors.
Deodorizing Power
What’s truly impressive about hydrogen peroxide is its dual action. It can disinfect and deodorize surfaces. This is by breaking down odor molecules.
Whether it’s your trash can, kitty litter box, refrigerator, or any area with lingering unpleasant odors, hydrogen peroxide can rescue you.
Eco-Friendly and Skin Safety
If we compare it to chlorine bleach, it is a better option because it is non-toxic and eco-friendly.
Thus causing no harm to surfaces or fabrics. However, it’s important to note that it can irritate the skin.
Therefore, wearing gloves and thoroughly washing your hands after handling is advisable.
Storage and Concentration
When exposed to light, hydrogen peroxide tends to degrade.
Hence, store your bottle in a cool, dark place and replace it every few months. It is to ensure its potency.
While higher concentrations are available for tougher cleaning tasks, starting with the standard 3% solution is recommended before considering 6% or 10% options.
Always follow the recommended guidelines and take the necessary safety precautions.
Hydrogen peroxide can become a potent and natural cleaning staple in your household, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment.
Lemon Juice: Nature’s Brightener and Grease Cutter
Lemon juice is a superb substitute for baking soda for cleaning.
Additionally, it is renowned for its natural brightening and degreasing abilities. The inherent citric acid in lemons works wonders in lifting stains and effortlessly cutting through grease and grime.
Begin by extracting the juice from 1-2 fresh lemons. For tougher messes, undiluted juice works best.
Mix three parts water with 1 part lemon juice for general cleaning and degreasing purposes. Regardless of your choice, the refreshing lemon fragrance is a bonus.
Here are some practical applications:
Tackle Greasy Stovetops and Ovens:
Spray diluted lemon juice onto stovetops, grills, and ovens, then clean them with a sponge or scrubber. The citric acid will assist in loosening cooked-on messes.
Brighten and Deodorize the Garbage Disposal:
Pour 1/2 cup of lemon juice down the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes. Follow up with boiling water. The lemon juice deodorizes and prevents buildup, leaving your sink smelling fresh.
Combat Soap Scum:
Apply undiluted lemon juice with a sponge or scrubber to eradicate soap scum and hard water stains in the bathroom. Scrub thoroughly and rinse with water.
Make Stainless Steel Sparkle:
Spray diluted lemon juice onto stainless steel appliances, sinks, and countertops.
Wipe them clean with a soft cloth to restore their shine. Lemon juice excels at cutting through grease, leaving behind a streak-free finish.
Freshen and Brighten Laundry:
Add 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle when washing whites or light loads.
Lemon juice naturally brightens and deodorizes, leaving your clothes fresh and fragrant. For stubborn stains, pretreat them before rinsing and follow your usual washing routine.
Lemon juice’s natural degreasing and brightening ability and refreshing citrus aroma make it an ideal eco-friendly alternative to harsh cleaners containing bleach or ammonia.
Moreover, since it’s natural, it can be safely used throughout your home.
Washing Soda: A Robust Cleaning Option
Washing soda, a potent alkaline powder, is a game-changer for tackling challenging cleaning tasks around your home.
In contrast to baking soda, which excels in gentle cleaning and deodorizing, washing soda boasts a higher pH level—granting it impressive disinfecting and degreasing capabilities.
A Grease-Busting Oven and Grill Cleaner
Washing soda shines when it comes to breaking down stubborn grease and grime.
Create a paste for a powerful oven cleaner by mixing washing soda with water. Apply this paste to oven surfaces, allowing it to sit overnight.
Prepare a washing soda solution for grills to scrub grates, burners, and drip pans. Rinse thoroughly once you’ve finished.
Unclogging Drains and Refreshing Garbage Disposals
To unclog drains or freshen garbage disposals, pour 1/2 cup of washing soda, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Witness the chemical reaction breaking up clogs.
After 15 minutes, flush with boiling water. In case of stubborn clogs, you may need to combine the washing soda treatment with some plunging.
Reviving and Deodorizing Laundry
Enhance your laundry routine by adding 1/2 cup of washing soda to a regular load. This boost will amplify your detergent’s cleaning prowess, effectively lifting stains and leaving your clothes smelling fresh. Always ensure it’s safe for your fabrics before using.
Effortless Surface Cleaning and Polishing
Craft a versatile cleaning solution by dissolving one tablespoon of washing soda in 1 quart of warm water.
Use this mixture to wipe down and degrease stovetops, microwaves, sinks, and countertops. Washing soda’s potent cleaning ability will swiftly cut through grime, leaving surfaces gleaming.
Prepare a paste with washing soda and scrub using a sponge or scrubber for tenacious messes. Thoroughly rinse after completing the cleaning.
Washing soda offers a highly effective and cost-efficient alternative to harsh commercial cleaners.
Keep a box on hand for all your heavy-duty cleaning needs, but remember to wear gloves when handling it and closely follow all instructions.
When used appropriately, washing soda can naturally and safely clean your home.
Club Soda: A Natural Solution for Shiny Stainless Steel and Spotless Windows
Club soda is an excellent natural substitute for baking soda for cleaning and degreasing. Its carbonation possesses the remarkable ability to lift away dirt and grime from various surfaces.
Restoring Stainless Steel Brilliance
To restore your stainless steel surfaces to their original shine, spray them with club soda and wipe them clean using a soft cloth. The club soda aids in loosening stubborn residue, leaving the surface gleaming.
For particularly stubborn grease and grime, allow the club soda to sit for a few minutes before wiping it away.
Rinse thoroughly with water and use another soft cloth for drying to prevent water spots.
Window Cleaning Brilliance
Club soda is a natural glass cleaner that can make your windows shine brightly.
Its carbonation efficiently cuts through grease and grime on windows, leaving them streak-free.
Generously spray club soda on windows and use either newspaper or microfiber cloths to clean them.
In the case of tenacious, stuck-on messes, let the club soda sit briefly before wiping it away.
After cleaning, rinse the windows with water, and then use a squeegee or a soft cloth to dry and buff them to a sparkling finish.
Deodorizing and Disinfecting Properties
Thanks to its mild acidity, club soda is also a deodorizer and disinfectant. It can be effectively used on countertops, floors, carpets, and any other area that requires a freshening touch.
Allow it to sit for several minutes, then blot the area with a clean, damp cloth to eliminate odors and germs—the club soda aids in sanitizing surfaces.
For particularly stubborn odors like smoke or pet smells, you may need to reapply club soda a few times.
Club soda is an affordable and natural cleaning solution for various areas of your home. Its effervescent quality not only helps remove dirt but also contributes to deodorizing and disinfecting.
The next time you find yourself without baking soda, consider club soda as an eco-friendly substitute for cleaning and revitalizing your home.
Conclusion
It’s remarkable how everyday ingredients like cornstarch, lemon juice, and club soda can effortlessly serve as natural cleaners.
They also make excellent substitutes for baking soda in your cleaning arsenal.
So, the next time you find yourself running low on baking soda, there’s no need to rush to the store.
Simply raid your kitchen cabinets and embark on your cleaning journey with one of these practical alternatives.
Your home will soon gleam with cleanliness, and you’ll take pride in avoiding the chemicals often in commercial cleaning products.
While baking soda remains a great option, you’ll be well-prepared with substitutes whenever needed. Here’s to happy and eco-friendly cleaning!