Baking Soda Basics

Mixing your own basic baking soda solution is the first step in limiting your family’s exposure to harmful household chemicals. You can substitute some or all of your cleaning products with this formula and other natural cleaning solutions made from safe, readily available ingredients. Then you will be well on your way to a new green cleaning routine!

Please see the Natural Cleaning Reference Guide for more detailed information on the ingredients mentioned on these pages.

Basic Baking Soda All-Purpose Formula

1/4 cup baking soda

1 quart water

Dissolve baking soda in water, and pour into a spray bottle. This mixture can be used as a general cleaner for all surfaces. Keep some dry baking soda handy in a jar with a shaker cap for jobs that need a bit more abrasive action.

You can use this mixture to clean virtually anywhere in your home, including all kitchen and bathroom counter surfaces, inside the refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher. Always rinse well.

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer!

Use some of your baking soda cleaning solution in a microwave safe cup and microwave on medium for one minute to banish food odors.
Sprinkle dry baking soda on your carpet to freshen, let sit for a few minutes, and then vacuum.
Sprinkle dry baking soda in your tennis shoes to neutralize the odor. You can also fill the bottom of an old sock with baking soda, knot the top and place in shoes to keep them fresh.

Baking soda is a natural drain cleaner!

Measure 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar. Pour the baking soda into the drain first, followed by the vinegar. It will bubble furiously. Follow with two quarts of hot water. Please do not use this method if you have recently used commercial drain cleaners. Eliminating drain cleaners from your home is a giant step toward a greener home, as they are among the most dangerous household chemicals available.

Visit our Essential Oil page to find out how to
boost your cleaning formulas!

The Usual Precautions

Always keep cleaning solutions out of the reach of children and pets, including the safe formulas you mix yourself.

Label and store these mixtures as carefully as you would any other cleaning mixture. Although they are made from safe ingredients, they should be treated with caution.

Always test your mixture on small, hidden areas of all surfaces and carpets to be certain there won’t be any damage or discoloration.

Here is a link to an article in The Journal of Environmental Health which gives frightening statistics on the dangers of common household products.

The author states that anywhere from 3 to 10 gallons of hazardous chemicals can be found in the average home! Exposure to these toxics can cause significant health problems, and common household cleaners pose a significant risk of poisoning. Read the complete Journal article here.

Please visit this lovely site on how to make the switch to natural cleaning. There is great information on how to “make a difference” in a very short time! Make A Difference!

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