TL;DR
Get kitchen staples and gadgets delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Good Housekeeping published a guide outlining 11 ways to use baking soda for household cleaning, including deodorizing carpets and mattresses, scrubbing showerhead nozzles and treating light residue. The advice is limited to specific cleaning tasks; it recommends stronger oven cleaner for heavy messes and spot-testing stainless steel.
Good Housekeeping’s home-care experts have outlined 11 ways to use baking soda for household cleaning, including freshening mattresses and carpets, removing light kettle deposits and scrubbing minor grime from appliances. The guide gives specific application steps and cautions, while noting that baking soda is not suited to every surface or level of buildup.
For soft furnishings, the guide recommends sprinkling baking soda over a mattress, brushing it lightly, leaving it for 15 to 30 minutes and vacuuming it up. For carpets, it suggests leaving the powder on for up to 30 minutes before vacuuming thoroughly; an empty vacuum dust cup can help it collect the powder efficiently. These are presented as ways to address stale smells, not as substitutes for washing or professional treatment where needed.
For kitchen and bathroom cleaning, the report says to add 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda and at least half a kettle of water, boil the mixture, switch the kettle off and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Rinse the kettle thoroughly afterward. For showerhead nozzles, make a paste with water, scrub with a sponge and rinse with hot water; the guide says a vinegar soak may help with deeper mineral buildup.
Other recommendations include gently rubbing cloudy glassware spots with a small amount of baking soda, cleaning an air fryer with a baking-soda-and-water paste applied using a soft cloth, and scrubbing light grime on oven racks before rinsing. The report advises using oven-cleaning spray for heavier rack messes. For grout, it suggests a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, left for a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing. It also describes using baking soda to freshen a garbage disposal after cleaning its baffle and drain area with dish soap, and to treat small rust spots on stainless steel.
Where Baking Soda Can Help
The guide offers readers a low-cost household option for a range of limited cleaning jobs, especially odors, minor residue and light surface grime. Its practical value comes from matching a method to the item: a powder-and-vacuum approach for carpets, a diluted solution for kettle deposits, and a paste for targeted scrubbing.
The boundaries matter as much as the suggestions. The report describes baking soda as mildly abrasive, which can help lift residue but also makes surface compatibility relevant. It advises gentle handling of glassware and stainless steel, a spot test for rust treatment, and checking manufacturer instructions for delicate finishes. That keeps the advice from being read as a universal cleaner recommendation.
Products Worth Considering
Vitamix Propel Series 750 Professional-Grade Blender, 4 Programs, Black
Breville Grind Control BDC650BSS Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker – Brushed Stainless Steel
Vitamix 5200 Professional-Grade Blender, 64 oz. Container, Black
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Methods Depend on the Surface
The supplied Good Housekeeping report organizes the advice by household task rather than presenting baking soda as a single all-purpose cleaning formula. Some methods use the dry powder, while others call for a water paste or a solution boiled in a kettle. The recommended contact time also varies: carpets and mattresses are left for up to 30 minutes, while the grout paste sits for a few minutes.
The article also distinguishes light buildup from heavier cleaning. Baking soda is suggested for light kettle deposits and minor oven-rack grime, while the report points readers toward oven-cleaning spray for a more substantial mess. For showerheads, it says vinegar can provide further help when mineral buildup is deeper. The source material does not provide independent test results or comparative measurements for these methods.
““It’s only mildly abrasive, so it won’t scratch your glassware.””
— Good Housekeeping home-care guide
Limits of the Cleaning Advice
The supplied material does not state when the guide was published, identify individual experts by name or report laboratory testing of the cleaning methods. It also does not specify how well the techniques work across different carpet fibers, mattress materials, appliance finishes or types of glassware. Results may depend on the surface and the kind of residue involved.
The source gives no detailed safety instructions for combining cleaning products beyond its named recipes. Readers should follow product labels and appliance manufacturers’ care guidance, and avoid treating the suggested steps as proof that every surface is compatible. The report’s specific cautions include rinsing cleaned items, spot-testing stainless steel and not scrubbing delicate finishes harshly.
Check Care Labels Before Cleaning
The guide does not announce a follow-up test or a new product; its advice is a set of household cleaning suggestions. For readers applying it, the next step is to check the item’s care instructions and test a small, inconspicuous area when the finish is uncertain. Use the stated method and contact time, then rinse or wipe the surface as directed.
For significant buildup or a delicate finish, the report itself points to alternatives in some cases: oven-cleaning spray for heavy grime on racks, and vinegar for deeper mineral deposits on a showerhead. Whether those alternatives are appropriate depends on the item’s manufacturer guidance, which the article does not provide.
Key Questions
How long should baking soda stay on a mattress or carpet?
The guide recommends leaving it on a mattress for 15 to 30 minutes and on a carpet for up to 30 minutes, then vacuuming thoroughly. It says to empty the vacuum’s dust cup before cleaning carpet.
Can baking soda clean a kettle?
For light deposits, the report suggests adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda and at least half a kettle of water, boiling the mixture, switching the kettle off and letting it sit for about 20 minutes. Rinse the kettle thoroughly afterward.
Is baking soda suitable for every surface?
No. The guide describes it as mildly abrasive and warns readers to avoid harsh scrubbing on delicate appliance finishes. It recommends checking manufacturer instructions and spot-testing stainless steel before treating rust spots.
What should I use for heavy grime on oven racks?
The report says baking soda can tackle light grime, but recommends oven-cleaning spray for a heavier mess. Follow the product label and the oven maker’s care instructions.
What does the guide suggest for a smelly garbage disposal?
First clean the disposal baffle and drain area with dish soap. Then sprinkle in baking soda to address lingering odors. The report also suggests adding vinegar, letting it foam for a couple of minutes, then running cold water and switching on the disposal to flush it.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
