20 Crazy Ways to Use Baking Soda (That Don't Include Baking)

Baking soda is a household staple, whether you bake or not. Want to get sauce stains out of food storage containers? Use baking soda. Want to clean burnt-on grime from your stovetop? You guessed it: baking soda. You can even kill weeds with baking soda. Check out these 20 ways to use baking soda around the house that don't include baking.

Replace expensive store-bought dry shampoo with this DIY version you can make for pennies! Mix equal parts corn starch and baking soda in a bowl. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil, mix well, then funnel into a salt shaker. Sprinkle mixture onto your roots and work into your scalp using your fingers to freshen up your hairstyle on the go.

Make your own chalk paint at home using paint from leftover projects. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda and three tablespoons cold water in a small bowl. Pour one cup latex paint into a disposable container, then slowly mix the baking soda solution into the paint, stirring well. Use immediately, discard unused paint.

Did the kids' creativity leave its mark on your walls? No worries! Simply make a 50/50 paste of baking soda and water, then scrub the paste onto the wall using a rag and good old-fashioned elbow grease. The marks will disappear before your eyes without ruining your paint. Tip: Put down a towel or drop cloth to catch any drips.

Before you toss those stained food containers, try a baking soda hack. Make a paste of equal parts baking soda and water, spread evenly inside the container and let sit for 24 hours. Wipe clean with a wet sponge to reveal clean, stain-free food container.

Nails looking yellow? Is your sunless tan a little streaky? Mix a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice with one tablespoon baking soda in a small bowl and let it fizz. Once the bubbles die down, apply the mixture to your nails or tan lines and let sit for 10 minutes. Scrub with a nail brush or washcloth to reveal shiny nails and a streak-free tan.

Flowers looking sad? Replace dirty water with clean and stir in a teaspoon of baking soda. Cut flower stems at an angle and arrange them in the fresh water. Blooms should perk back up within hours and last for a few days longer.

Polish those pearly whites with your own baking soda mixture. Mix one tablespoon coconut oil, one tablespoon baking soda and half a teaspoon hydrogen peroxide in a small, resealable jar. Once mixed, add a few drops of food-safe peppermint essential oil. Brush with this mixture two to three times a week to whiten teeth and freshen breath. Discard after two weeks.

Say buh-bye to harmful chemicals and make your own natural air freshener with ingredients you likely already have at home. In a small bowl, mash together one tablespoon baking soda and 10 drops of your favorite essential oil with a fork. Funnel this mixture into a spray bottle, then top with purified water. Shake well and spray for long-lasting freshness.

Clean that nasty cutting board in a snap. Sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda all over the board, then spray evenly with white vinegar. Let bubble for 5-10 minutes, then wipe with a cloth dipped in clean, cold water. Rinse with warm water and let air dry.

Give your shower a deep clean with this easy DIY solution. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon dish soap in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray shower tile generously, let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe away grime with a wet washcloth.

Pet odors, dirt and light stains on carpet are annoying, but they don't always justify getting your carpet professionally cleaned — especially if you have baking soda on hand. To freshen up your carpets and rugs, simply sprinkle baking soda onto the affected area, then lightly spritz with warm water. Once the area has fully dried, vacuum up the baking soda, removing the smells and stains with it.

Say no to harsh chemical weed killers and get rid of sidewalk weeds for good using a natural alternative. Generously sprinkle the weeds with baking soda, then clean up the excess by sweeping it into the crack around the weeds' roots.

Nobody likes a stinky fridge. Get rid of unwanted food smells and neutralize your fridge’s odors by placing an opened container of baking soda in the back of your fridge. Sodium bicarbonate balances pH levels by buffering acidic alkaline substances in the air. Alternatively, you can also create a paste of warm water and baking soda to remove stuck-on food residue and other gunk from all the fridge surfaces.

Is your stainless steel sink looking dull? Shine it up with baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda onto the walls and base of your stainless steel sink and buff it back to life. After buffing, rinse the sink with warm water. This natural alternative will also help you avoid harsh cleaning powders that might scratch the surface.

If you've given up on cleaning your ceramic stove top, we urge you to give it one last shot. A paste of warm water and baking soda spooned onto a stovetop will help loosen and lift baked-on food and grease residue with the help of a sponge. Finish by wiping the mixture off with a warm cloth.

Front-loaders look great, are more efficient and use less detergent than a traditional top-loading model, but they’re also prone to smelling funky over time. Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda into the detergent cup, then run the washer on a wash cycle with hot water to cut the soap scum and deodorize the machine. Cleaning your machine will help it run more smoothly and smell better.

If you're like us, a simple rinse of fruit and veggies with warm water just isn't enough. To thoroughly remove dirt and chemical residue, put your fruit or veggies in a large bowl and cover it with warm water. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda for every 2 cups of water used and let the produce soak for approximately 15 minutes to ensure all the bacteria and pesticide residue are removed.

Here's a baking soda cleaning hack that's as fun as it is effective. Lay tarnished silver on tin foil, then boil water and add 1/2 cup of baking soda. Pour the mixture over the tarnished silver sitting on the aluminum foil and watch the reaction take place. Warm water + baking soda + aluminum foil = a chemical reaction that causes the silver sulfide (tarnish) to change back into silver, freeing the sulfur atoms to migrate and attach instead to the aluminum foil.

No, the build-up on your grill grates isn't "seasoning." Make a baking soda paste and scrub it onto damp grill grates, let it sit for 10 minutes, then use a scouring brush dipped in warm water to wipe the grates clean. Rinse and let dry before returning to the grill.