Baking soda is a versatile, non-toxic, environmentally-safe, multi-purpose cleaner.  Also known as bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate, it has been in use for many years.  The latest fads, potions and gadgets that claim to do everything baking soda can do come and go, but it remains a favorite in many households.  When used as recommended, its properties make it quite stable even when mixed with other common household products.  The resulting cleaning solutions can be used in any room and most surfaces in the house.

Baking soda is great for bad or strong smells that you want to get rid of.  Through a chemical reaction baking soda neutralizes odors.  It does more than just temporarily cover up the smell with perfume.  Leave a small amount in an uncovered dish in any room or inside cupboards.

Keep an open box in a refrigerator or freezer.  Sprinkle it on carpets, upholstery, in laundry hampers or soiled bags.  Pour it down drains.

Baking soda is a mild abrasive.  Use it dry or as a paste to scrub and polish dirty pots, pans, sinks and stove tops without scratching.  It can be used on all sorts of cookware including fancy copper pots (mix it with lemon juice to make a paste), porcelain sinks, toilets and tubs, silver, stainless steel, aluminum, chrome, plastic and jewelry.  It can save a burned pot.  Use dry baking soda and a damp sponge, or soak the cookware in a water/baking soda solution before further cleaning.

Baking soda reacts with grease and dirt to loosen their hold on surfaces.  Make a thick paste with water and leave it on oven door stains for about 10 minutes.  Rinse with water.

Clean caked on spills and splatters inside your microwave.
Be extra careful with this method because microwaves can superheat water to the point of exploding.  Dissolve two tablespoons of baking soda in two cups of water.  Place in microwave and make sure you close the door.  Heat on high for NO MORE THAN 3 minutes.  KEEP THE MICROWAVE DOOR CLOSED and leave the mixture and the bowl inside for four or more hours.  Use the liquid mixture to wipe down the inside of the microwave.  USE EXTREME CAUTION.  Super-heated liquids can cause serious burns.


Use a mixture of ¼ cup of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of water to detail the outside of your vehicle including removing grime, sap and tar.


Baking soda can be used as a fire retardant.  It can smother flames and works best for grease fires.  Heat causes baking soda to produce carbon dioxide and water.  The fire needs oxygen to burn and the carbon dioxide suffocates it, while the water cools the burning material so it doesn't continue to burn or re-ignite.  Keep baking soda handy near the stove, in the garage, in a workshop, near fuse boxes or wherever fires are likely. In a pinch, you can use it for an electrical fire, though firefighters recommend a fire extinguisher for that.
 
If you have grease or oil that has spilled on the floor, sprinkle baking soda on the area, let it sit for a few minutes then scrub and rinse.

Baking soda removes stains.  Scrub the bottom of stained tea or coffee pots and cups with dry baking soda.  For stains on clothing, use a paste on the stained area prior to washing.


Give the baking soda paste from one to two hours to work on tough stains.  The baking soda will also deal with the odors that come with sweat, vomit or food stains.  Wash cloth diapers and sweaty work out clothes in baking soda.

Baking soda can safely and gently clean your fresh fruits and vegetables.  Dissolve some in water, scrub and rinse.

Some cat owners put a layer of baking soda on the bottom of their litter pans.  Whether this works well depends on the type of litter used.  But it will certainly help with odors.

Before you put away your camping gear, sprinkle some baking soda to help keep it fresh and odor-free.

At season's end, clean your kids' plastic pool with a good scrub of baking soda before drying and storing.

This list could keep going with more specific tips and tricks.  You can find several lists of all the things you can do with baking soda on the internet.  For now, treat this as an exciting introduction or a renewal of an old acquaintance: baking soda, an inexpensive and green household friend.

Heroes of Green Cleaning takes a look at vinegar in Part 2 and at water in Part 3.