That is why baking powder is an absolute miracle cure in the household

2020-04-06T14:48:29.464Z

Baking soda is often recommended for cleaning the toilet, oven, etc. - but what's inside and why does it work so well? We answer your questions.

A little baking powder makes every cake airy and fluffy. But very few people know that the miracle cure is also ideal for cleaning the household - and that is better and more environmentally friendly than some cleaners from the drugstore.

What does baking soda actually contain?

Baking powder was invented around 1850 - however, it only made its way into the household around 50 years later when August Oetker began to pack and sell the light powder in small bags.

The main components are:

a source of CO2 such as sodium hydrogen carbonate ( baking soda ) or potassium hydrogen carbonate . However, the former is used more often.
Acidifying agents such as tartaric acid, disodium dihydrogen diphosphate or monocalcium orthophosphate
Release agents such as corn, rice, wheat or tapioca starch
Optionally for flavoring, vanillin or ethyl vanillin

When baking soda comes into contact with water, the baking soda and the acid react with each other, releasing CO2. This reaction also occurs in the dough, as a result of which it loosens up. The release agent is there to bind the liquid and thus prevent an early reaction.

But the most important ingredient that makes baking powder an indispensable home remedy is the baking soda it contains . This has been known since antiquity, where it was used for ritual cleaning. Read more about the miracle cure soda here.

These areas of application exist for baking powder

Cook and bake
Clean the household
Neutralize odors
Insect control
personal hygiene

In the following sections, we limit ourselves to the possible applications as a cleaner, insect control and odor neutralizer.

Video: Flash-clean oven thanks to home remedies

Baking soda for cleaning: You can use it here in the household

Toilet : Over time, more and more brown deposits form in the toilet. If you want to get rid of these, just sprinkle baking soda on the affected areas and let it soak in for a while. Then it is rinsed once and the last residues are removed with a brush. Here you can read even more brilliant tips for cleaning the toilet.
Washing machine : Limescale deposits in the washing machine can be easily treated with baking soda. To do this, mix it with a little water to form a paste and pour it directly into the drum or into the detergent drawer. Then switch the machine to 90 degrees - only 60 degrees for older ones - and let it run through. Read more washing tips for the washing machine here.
Oven : Is the oven bursting with leftovers and other deposits? Then mix the baking soda and water into a paste and spread it over the affected areas. After a while, the mass is simply wiped off with a damp cloth - the oven shines like new again - here you will also find other tips for cleaning the oven.
Ceramic hob : Hardly ever cooked - the first incrustations form on the beloved ceramic hob. But that's not all with baking soda: just mix two teaspoons of it with 100 milliliters of water and put it on the hob, wait an hour and then carefully wipe with a dry cloth. Read more tips for your ceramic hob here.
Drain : First remove the drain cover with a screwdriver and manually remove hair and the like from the pipe. A kebab skewer can help here. Then pour a mixture of half a cup of baking soda and vinegar into the drain and cover the hole with a towel. After ten minutes, pour boiled water behind - the drain should be free. Read more about it here.
Joints : Yellowed tile joints in the bathroom have no chance against baking soda. Simply in a ratio of 3: 1 - with baking powder taking up the greater part - mix with water and massage in with a toothpaste between the tiles. The mass should stay there for an hour before wiping it damp with a rag. Optionally, you can also add a little washing-up liquid to the mixture. You can find even more tips on cleaning the joints here.
Grill grate : For the grill season, the grate should be in top shape - and cleaned after each use. Baking powder, mixed with water, helps here: spread the paste over the entire grill rack and wait until it has dried. Then wipe off the grate and hold it over the embers for about 15 minutes before grilling again, so that the very last residues also disappear. There are more tricks for the grill grate here.
Washbasin : You have already learned how to clear the drain with baking soda - but discoloration can also occur over the years, especially with washbasins in the bathroom. Simply sprinkle a sachet of it on the affected area and drizzle some water over it. Leave it on for a while and then wipe it off with a damp cloth or sponge. Discoloration should already have faded. If you need more tips on this topic - along here.
Silver : Baking powder is also suitable for making tarnished silver shine again. Again, simply mix the home remedy with water and lubricate the affected object with it. After some time, the paste is removed with a lint-free cloth. However, it should be borne in mind here that baking soda can grind off the silver - so only use it with robust material. Read more gentle tips for cleaning silver here.

Ants with baking soda no longer stand a chance

Nobody really wants a tangible ant plague in the house - so that the little animals in your four walls no longer have to do anything, you only need to reach for baking soda. For the trick, mix a bag of it with some sugar. Sugar is the attractant that tempts ants to eat the mixture. However, the baking powder contained kills them.

However, experts are now advising against baking soda, as it means a very cruel death for the insects - some would even burst after ingestion. An alternative would be to attract the animals with a medium and simply suck them up.

Also interesting : You have never used aspirin like this - but you should.

Here you use baking soda as an odor neutralizer

As mentioned, baking soda is a major ingredient in baking soda. And this is ideal for getting rid of unpleasant smells of any kind . Possible locations are:

Shoes
dishwasher
Litter box
smelly containers

But these are just a few examples - in general, you can place a bowl of baking soda dissolved in water wherever it smells musty. Or you can mix the baking soda in rinsing water and use it to wash off the affected item - for example, cream dispenser or milk bottles. Keep in mind, however, that baking soda is more expensive to buy than baking soda . That is why you can use this product directly when cleaning.