Baking soda is cheap, easy to find at your supermarket, and it's a fantastic cleaner for the house. If you're sick of using harsh (and expensive) cleaning products, then try something that's kinder to your internal environment - such as baking soda.

What is Baking Soda Especially Good For?

Baking soda is especially useful for removing smells from various things around the house. It helps to "soak up" the odour, so you can use it in a number of situations. If your rubbish tin begins to smell for example, just sprinkle a little in the bottom to help reduce the smell. If your drains are smelling, you can pour about half a cup of the stuff down the drain along with some warm water. If you like, you can just leave some in an open box in any place where smells might accumulate - such as in the wardrobe or any gear that you might be leaving alone for a while.

Is Baking Soda Good For Scrubbing?

Yes. It's actually a bit of a mild abrasive. For this reason it tends to work quite well in any situation where a little more scrubbing is required. For example, a solution of baking soda, vinegar and warm water can be used to remove soap scrum from the edges of baths or from the shower. Use a rough sponge and the solution (or use the soda straight) to help clean around the edges of sinks, such as in the bathroom or around taps. You will need to rinse it off when you're done. The only real issue is that it's not quite as abrasive as most of the commercial stuff - and so you might need to use a little more elbow grease.

Can You Use It On Floors?

Absolutely. Mix at least half a cup of the powder into warm water and mop your floors with it. Again, you probably will need to rinse your floors when you're done, but it does work, and it does work reasonably well. You can use it on carpets too, but it's best for the deodorising properties that it provides.

There are actually quite a few different ways to clean your house with natural things. So don't spend any more money on toxic chemicals that affect your health and your family's and switch to something cleaner and more natural. If you have any kids that like to play on your floor, I'd urge you to make the change sooner then later. Natural is the way to go!