Environmentally friendly cleaning with bicarbonate of soda

More and more people want to avoid unnecessary chemicals and strong cleaning agents. If you've tried environmentally friendly cleaning with products you find in the pantry, you've probably tried using lemon, vinegar, and acetic acid. This supertrio is well known in cleaning circles and it is usually easy to figure out how to use them for cleaning.

But there is another ace up the sleeve that may require a little imagination to use, but really delivers results. And that is bicarbonate of soda. We will now look at what bicarbonate really is and how you can use it in your environmentally friendly cleaning at home.

What is bicarbonate?

Most people know that bicarbonate is used in baking to make it rise, but what is it really? Bicarbonate and baking powder are not quite the same thing.

Bicarbonate is an ingredient in baking powder, together with acid and starch. You can also clean with baking powder, but it is not as effective as cleaning with pure bicarbonate.

Bicarbonate is a salt of carbonic acid and is usually produced synthetically from table salt and carbonic acid. Although it is made by a chemical process, it is harmless, as long as you do not consume large amounts of it. Therefore, it is suitable for use in cleaning even when you have small children who put things in their mouths.

It is a common misconception that it is always dangerous to use chemicals when cleaning. This depends entirely on what kind of chemicals you use, and many are surprised to learn that bicarbonate is actually a chemical.

Its proper name is sodium hydrogen carbonate and its abbreviation is NaHCO3. Sometimes it appears on ingredient lists under the abbreviation E500. Some may be surprised by this as they have been taught that all so-called E numbers are dangerous, which is not true.

Clean mattresses and carpets with bicarbonate

A classic cleaning tip is to use bicarbonate to clean mattresses and mattress toppers. It is very simple, and all you need to do is sprinkle bicarbonate over the mattress, let it act for a while, and then vacuum it away.

Here it is important that you do not use any water or anything else that is damp. The powder itself is enough to achieve a gentle dry cleaning. If you add moisture, it will not be possible to vacuum up the powder and you will have a hard job removing the paste that forms…

You can use the same method to clean rugs, wall-to-wall carpeting, and other textiles that are not easy to wash conventionally. Your pets' beds are also a perfect application for this practical powder. Bicarbonate not only absorbs dirt but also neutralises bad odours.

Video on how to deep clean your mattress!

Clean tile grout with bicarbonate

Mildewed and dirty tile grout can be a nightmare to clean, but bicarbonate is very effective. Make a paste of bicarbonate and water and apply it to the grout. Let it work for twenty minutes, then use a toothbrush with stiff bristles to scrub away the dirt. The bicarbonate both dissolves dirt and provides a polishing effect.

Clean baking trays with bicarbonate

One of the hardest things to get completely clean at home is baking trays with burnt, carbonised residues stuck on like rock. Here too, you can use the magical combination of bicarbonate and vinegar. Boil vinegar in a pot or in the microwave. Meanwhile, sprinkle plenty of bicarbonate over the tray. Pour the boiling vinegar over the tray and let it sit for half an hour. Then scrub thoroughly with a coarse dish sponge. You may need to repeat this a couple of times depending on how dirty the tray is.

Clean the oven with bicarbonate

The oven itself can also be cleaned with bicarbonate and vinegar. Brush a paste of bicarbonate and water over all the dirty surfaces in the oven and then spray vinegar so it foams. Let it work for half an hour and then wipe off with a sponge or cloth. The advantage of this oven cleaning is that it is completely safe to ingest, which many find reassuring when using it in an oven where food is prepared.

Clean stained cups

We have all experienced light porcelain cups getting stained by those last drops of coffee or tea. Try filling the sink with warm water and a decilitre of bicarbonate. Let the porcelain soak and bleach while you do other things. Then wash as usual.

Clean burnt pots and pans

It can be really difficult to remove burnt food from the bottom of pots and pans. Fill them with warm water, a couple of tablespoons of bicarbonate, and a splash of vinegar and let sit overnight. In the morning, it will be much easier to wash them. Just remember not to soak cast iron pots overnight as they may start to rust.

Clean fruit and vegetables

Fruit and vegetables should always be rinsed, even if bought organic. Who knows where vegetables have been and who has touched them. If you want to be sure they are completely clean, you can place them in a bowl of water with a couple of tablespoons of bicarbonate that dissolves dirt. Then rinse with clean water. This does not affect the taste and is not harmful to health in any way.

Clean walls and floors from crayon

If the children have accidentally drawn outside the paper (or done so quite deliberately), bicarbonate can be the saviour. Start by warming the area with a hairdryer to melt the wax from the crayons. Then sprinkle the powder on a damp sponge and scrub away the artwork. Finish with a clean damp cloth.

How to remove crayon marks from walls!

Freshen up teddy bears and soft toys

Not all toys can be machine washed, and even if they can, sometimes they need a little freshening up from time to time. Dip a sponge in a mixture of bicarbonate and water and then wipe the toys as well as you can to combat bad smells and bacteria.

Remove bad odours from shoes

Bicarbonate is perfect as a shoe deodorant. Sprinkle some powder, let it act for a while, then shake it out. If you want to be sure you have removed it all, you can vacuum the inside of the shoes.

Further reading tips

If you are interested in learning more about environmentally friendly cleaning, we warmly recommend our post 5 tips: How to clean environmentally friendly.

And hey, don't forget that if you ever need help with home cleaning in Stockholm, you are welcome to contact us for a free meeting.