Upon editing, I realize that this looks like it's sponsored by Arm & Hammer. It's not. LOL.
I have some apologizing to do to baking soda. She may not be vinegar's BFF, but she's pretty useful around the house. (Just not with vinegar. Please stop doing that.)
Here are some of the practical ways I use baking soda to keep my home clean. (None of which involve vinegar. Stop making use volcano bubbles, guys.)
Keep Carpet Fresh
Sprinkle some baking soda or Arm & Hammer's Carpet Freshener with Baking Soda and let it sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming as normal. The baking soda will help deodorize the carpet and get rid of pet odors and other gross smells.
Trash Cans and Diaper Pails
Sprinkle baking soda or in your garbage can to keep odors at bay. Super simple.
I personally don't usually feel the need to use baking soda in my kitchen trashcan now that I have a Simply Human trashcan that keeps odors in on its own. I have a not-so-secret vendetta against diaper pails, so I use a (slightly smaller) Simple Human trashcan when I am nannying or babysitting from home. Though this trash can definitely keep in most of the stink, I sprinkle in a baking soda and essential oil combo a couple of times a day.
Fridge and Pantry Freshener
Keeping an open box, small bowl, or baking soda based freshening product in your fridge and pantry will help keep odors and strong smells from taking over your kitchen. Now you can buy that stinky cheese worry-free.
Pots and Pans
Cleaning the grim off pots and pans (and even the stovetop!) doesn't have to be an expensive and harsh-chemical filled experience. Make a paste with baking soda and water and scrub onto pots and pans to get off grime buildup.
Baby Bottles
Keeping baby bottles clean can definitely be an odious task—especially if you're cleaning out that bottle that fell behind the couch yesterday. When I first started working in childcare, I boiled (and burned) a lot of bottles in a desperate attempt to keep bottles sterile and fresh. To get set-in formula smells out of bottles, add a tablespoon of baking and some water to the bottle and shake. To keep smells away, add baking soda (or vinegar) to your dishes once or twice a month.
Litter Box
As s lifelong crazy cat lady, I have handled my fair share of litter box drama. Alaska, my current cat, is only 2 years old and her litter box is located upstairs, tucked away from guests and small children. I am also lucky enough to have a dog who thankfully has no interest in her bathroom habits.
But that doesn't mean litter boxes don't stink. Even with daily scooping and monthly deep cleans, Alaska's litter box smelled so disgusting. So I did a quick Google to confirm that baking soda was safe for her delicate skin and fur before mixing it into her litter box in a desperate attempt to stop my nausea.
And guys, it worked. Like it really worked. Baking soda is a super safe additive to your cat's litter, just make sure you don't use too much. Baking soda and can also be mixed with water to form a paste and be used to scrub litter boxes, pet fountains, and bowls for deep cleans.
If you're looking for extra-strong odor control, try Arm & Hammer's Litter Box deodorizer with Baking Soda or their Litter Box deodorizer Spray.
(We actually don't even have a traditional litter box anymore. We purchased the auto-cleaning Cat Genie with washable granules and no longer have to worry about cleaning and bad smells at all. I still sprinkle baking soda in with the washing solution every couple of months.)
Shoe Deodorizer
Let's face it, your feet sweat. I used to throw out my gym shoes every 6 months to get rid of bad odors. Now, I sprinkle baking soda inside my shoes, let it sit for 15 minutes and throw my shoes in the washer. (If you don't want to wash your shoes, vacuum the baking soda out.)
When to Use Baking Soda and Vinegar Together
Baking soda and vinegar might not be besties, but they still frequent the same hangout spots. (Click here to vote in this poll if you want me to stop personifying baking soda and vinegar)
I never mix baking soda and vinegar when cleaning, but there are a couple of tasks where I use them back-to-back.
Laundry
Baking soda may be known for it's deodorizing properties, but it is also a natural whitener and stain remover. I add 1/2 cup baking soda directly into the drum with the detergent to keep our clothes fresh and help remove stains. I put the vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser for descaling and softening. Using baking soda and vinegar in the laundry is not only a great way to keep clothes clean, it also helps you cut down on the amount of detergent you use, while keeping your washer clean.
Cutting Boards
Our cutting boards can get so gross and unsanitary. I send my plastic cutting boards through the dishwasher, but between cutting chicken, sausage, veggies, and fruits—and not always being super diligent with our meat only cutting board—I like to do a monthly deep clean. First, I make a paste with baking soda and water and scrub the baking soda on both sides of each board. I let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes to soak up any unwanted odors. After rinsing off the baking soda, I spray undiluted vinegar all over before washing the cutting boards. This helps keep everything odor and bacteria-free.
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