You may know a few clever uses for baking soda, like keeping it in your fridge to prevent food-stink. Heck, you might even know that sprinkling it on your toothbrush can brighten your smile. But clean your mattress? Your shower curtain?

Whether or not you’re sodium bicarbonate savvy, you’ll be happy to know that baking soda is the jack-of-all-trades of the pantry – and it has many more uses for you to discover.

According to leading brands and trustworthy bloggers, baking soda can solve a lot of stubborn cleaning problems. No, it’s not sorcery; it’s science. The chemical reaction is essentially the same in most uses; baking soda neutralizes acids, which are often the causes of bad odours.

In the Kitchen

Stinky Fridge: The obvious one. Baking soda absorbs food odours, so your produce won’t smell like the adjacent container of leftover takeout. It also works in the freezer.

The Sponge: Sponges get pretty gross, pretty fast. Sprinkle with baking soda to remove odours – or try any of these tricks.

Plastic Containers: For bad stains, soak in 1tbsp baking soda combined with 1 cup warm water.

Fruit and Veg: Rinse with baking soda and water to remove grocery store grime and that awkward wax coating on your apples.

Kitchen Surfaces: Sprinkle on your sponge and wipe surfaces ranging from countertops to appliances and cabinets.

Greasy Dishes: Add it to your dish soap for extra grease kicking action.

Garbage Can: Stinky garbage can also be combatted with the magical pantry powder. You could also just take out your trash.

BBQ: This might not be in your kitchen, but it counts. Pour some baking soda onto your grill brush before cleaning the Q.

Coffee Maker: Add ¼ cup baking soda to 4 cups warm water and soak your coffee pot to remove stains.

Dishwasher: Toss some powder into your dishwasher before running it to neutralize leftover food residue.

In the Bedroom

General Room Odours: This one is great if you have young children or teens. Some baking soda brands have even partnered with paint companies to create paint and primer that deodorizes.

Your Mattress: Get rid of unwanted odours by sprinkling baking soda onto your mattress. Let sit for 15 minutes, and then vacuum!

Pet Bed: Your pet’s bed can benefit from the same treatment as your own bed. Sprinkle with baking soda and then vacuum to remove excess.

Musty Carpet: This, too, can be deodorized by sprinkling baking soda and then vacuuming the rest.

Linens: Sheets and pillowcases can get funky in the linen closet. Just like in your fridge, baking soda can absorb these odours and keep things fresh.

Jewellery: Make a paste with baking soda and water and then wipe your silver with a cloth to remove tarnish.

Stinky Shoes: Sprinkle some into your nasty sneakers to neutralize the offensive gym smell.

Closet: Yes, if your closet has a pungent aroma, baking soda works there too. Maybe launder your clothes, though.

In the Bathroom

Laundry: According to a leading baking soda brand, adding ½ cup to your wash cycle will leave clothes fresh and clean.

Bathroom Mildew: Scrub the corners of your bathroom with baking soda to combat bathroom scum on tiles or countertops.

Shower Curtains: Sprinkle baking soda onto vinyl shower curtains to remove stains. Wipe with a damp sponge.

Clothing Stains: Mix 6 tbsp baking soda with 1/3 of a cup warm water to make a paste. Rub onto stained clothing before laundering.

Clogged Drains: Clear the clogs with a science-fair “volcano” – ½ cup baking soda followed by ½ cup vinegar straight down the pipe. Immediately cover the drain with a dishtowel to prevent a mess.

Whiten Teeth: Baking soda is a great mild abrasive, so it effectively removes surface stains on your teeth when used correctly. Overuse could damage your enamel, so use it sparingly.

Those are just a few. And believe us, there are many, many more uses for this multipurpose cleaning solution.