Baking Soda: The Awesome Natural Cleaner

Baking Soda is one of my favorite all-purpose cleaners and deodorizers.  I love it because it is safe, natural, inexpensive, and it does not have an artificial chemical smell like a lot of commercial cleaners do.  Here are some of my favorite cleaning uses for baking soda:
Absorbing Odors:

• I always have to have a box of baking soda on hand to sprinkle in my cat's litter box between cleanings.  You can mix some up along with a few drops of essential oil to make it smell even better.  I also sprinkle some in our cat's litter box after the litter has been changed and the artificial scents fly up into the air from dumping new litter in.
• Store some in a decorative box in your bathroom, to help and keep it smelling fresh.  After a couple months when it isn't absorbing odors anymore, sprinkle it into your toilet before you scrub it.  Or use it as a mildly abrasive cleaner on your counter tops or tub/shower.
• Sprinkle it in the bottom of your garbage can under the bag, that way if something spills, it will help to absorb the yucky mess and keep the odors down.
• Baking soda can also be a great carpet freshener.  Mix some up with a few drops of essential oil and lightly sprinkle it over your carpet, let it sit for awhile, then vacuum it up thoroughly.  
• Put some in a little box inside your fridge to help absorb odors.  Then after a couple months, you can mix it will a little water to make a paste and clean your fridge out with it or the top of your oven.
• If you have a really yucky food dish that has been sitting around, first dump it out and sprinkle some baking soda in it.  It helps take away the smell and it also begins to loosen up stuck on food it you moisten it a bit.
• Sprinkle some baking soda in a smelly cooler or lunch box to help absorb the odors.  Then moisten with water, scrub out and rinse clean.
• You can also sprinkle a little in smelly shoes to help absorb odors.

Cleaning:

• Like I already mentioned, Baking soda mixed with a little water and made into a paste, can be a great mildly abrasive cleaner.  It works great for cleaning bathroom and kitchen surfaces.
• I like to use baking soda to help clean some of our produce (such as grapes, apples, and pears).  First I put the produce in a large bowl and add some water, then I sprinkle a little baking soda in, and agitate it really well.
• Use baking soda and vinegar to help clean out your drains.  First pour in some baking soda, then pour some vinegar over that and it will start to bubble and foam.  Cover your drain if you can and then rinse out with hot water.
• If you have really dirty dishes, sprinkle baking soda on them and let them sit for awhile.  Then use the baking soda to help scrub them clean.
• If you run out of toothpaste, you can make a baking soda paste to brush your teeth with.  I know this might not be the most pleasant thing, but if you're desperate it will help!
• Baking Soda is also a great cutting board cleaner.  It helps get rid of any lingering odors as well.

Baking Soda is really great because you probably have some on hand already.  Since I have a small child and pets, it really gives me peace of mind to know that I don't have to worry about any of them getting into it either.