Clean Green With Baking Soda

Would you like to cut down on using synthetic chemical products to clean your home?  Chemicals used in synthetic cleaners contribute to indoor air pollution.  Studies show that the air quality inside of our homes is often worse than outdoor air, even when we live in areas that have air pollution.

This is because there are so many toxic chemicals used in processing the building materials, the walls, the floor coverings, the cabinets and the furniture in today’s houses.  It’s hard to avoid them, but you don’t have to add to them when you clean.  Just by making a couple of substitutions, you can keep your home a little greener.  And you won’t have to spend a lot of money.

You probably already know that you can use baking soda to keep your refrigerator smelling fresh.  But there are lots of other ways to use this inexpensive but versatile product. Mix it with a little water or vinegar, grab a soft cloth and baking soda can clean a lot more of your house than you ever thought possible.

You can replace chemical scouring powders that you use to clean your counter tops, stove tops, bathroom fixtures, shower tiles, and even your grungy pots and pans.  Use a paste of baking soda and water on a sponge, and then start scrubbing just like you would with a chemical cleanser.   The baking soda will get scum off of your bathroom tiles and even the toughest burned on food off of your pots and pans.  It actually gets the grime up faster than artificial cleaners, and doesn’t leave behind any chemical residues or odors.  This is especially good for kitchen surfaces that come into contact with food that you prepare.

You can replace glass cleaners with a paste made of baking soda and a little white vinegar.  Use a soft cloth or old newspaper.  This trick will make your windows, mirrors and glass-topped tables sparkle, and leave your rooms smelling fresh.

You can even replace your toilet bowl cleaner by adding a little baking soda and vinegar to the bowl.  Stir it up and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.  Then scrub with your toilet brush as usual.  Your toilet will be clean, with no lingering chemical fumes in your bathroom.

It’s no wonder that all of the uses of baking soda are such a well-kept secret.  The companies that make chemical cleansers will lose millions if people realize they’re not needed. But now that you know about baking soda, you can save yourself some money.  And at the same time, you can clean up your indoor air.