Are you living in a baking-soda-less household? Not cool. Baking soda has been rocking the cleaning world since before the Pyramids were built – so it’s got some serious street cred. For example, did you know it can un-funk vintage furniture, polish your silverware and absorb nasty smells? If you don’t have any baking soda handy, here are five reasons you should change that right this instant:

baking soda

1. Odor domination. You’ve probably heard that placing baking soda in your fridge combats strong smells, but that’s not the only funk it can handle! Sprinkle baking soda in the toilet before you go out of town, pour it down the drain to de-stink a smelly garbage disposal or even add some to your fabric sofa cushions to get rid of pungent smells.

2. Fire prevention. If you’re cooking greasy food on the stove, a box of baking soda could save your life (or maybe just your curtains). If grease spills onto your burners and catches fire, pouring baking soda on the flames will squelch them before things get out of control! Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. To be extra safe, always keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen to deal with serious problems.

3. Stain destruction. Baking soda is a stain’s worst nightmare. Rub this cleaning agent into wine, vomit, coffee or pet stains to remove the problem. You can clean any surface with baking soda – including kitchen and bathroom counters – by sprinkling baking soda on a damp cloth and scrubbing.

4. Pest prevention. Do you have a problem with cockroaches in your home? Baking soda to the rescue! Yes, this product can even help repel cockroaches. Mix together 1/3 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of sugar. If you have extra, you can store it in a sealed jar, just make sure you label it! Fill small dishes (the caps of gallon milk jugs work well) with the solution and place them under the sink or wherever you suspect a problem.

5. All-natural awesomeness. In case you haven’t caught on yet, baking soda is kind of the Ryan Gosling (read: the best) of green cleaning products. Using baking soda is just as effective as store-bought options, but you’ll avoid the dangerous chemicals that are found in many household cleaners. Tip: If you’ve fallen head-over-heels for baking soda like we have, consider buying it in bulk to save even more money. Baking soda doesn’t spoil, so storing it for a long time won’t diminish its cleaning power.

Information brought to you be BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.