Baking soda is a handy little powder – it’s cheap, easy to find and can be used in tonnes of different ways.

Plus, it’s not just good for cakes and confections, but for cleaning too.

So, it’s always handy to keep in your store cupboard in case you need a more natural way to give something a good scrub.

Now, keep in mind that baking powder and baking soda (or bicarbonate of soda) are different products.

They might look exactly the same, and they are leavening agents, but baking soda needs an acid – like white vinegar – and liquid to activate when baking powder needs only liquid.

What's your favourite cleaning hack? Tell us in the comments…

However, you’ll need to use three times as much baking powder as baking soda as it's not as strong.

Here are some of the best cleaning hacks you can try with baking soda:

1. Carpets

Baking soda can freshen up your carpets and deodorise them – just sprinkle the tub over the carpet, leave to sit over night and then vacuum away.

Or, make a water and baking soda paste over any heavy stains, leave and then wipe away allowing the area to dry before vacuuming it.

These tips will also work on mattresses and are especially good if your little ones wet the bed.

2. Pans

You’ve scrubbed and scrubbed but your pan still has remnants of food and burnt on pieces littering its once shiny insides.

Annoying!

But, if you fill your pan with water and pop it on the heat with a few tablespoons of baking soda you’ll spot those tough marks lifting off.

If you need a super-boost then chuck in a dishwasher tablet too – they’ll be left gleaming afterwards!

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3. Plug holes

If your drains are smelly, looking tarnished or are just generally in need of de-clogging then grab your baking soda!

Pour half a cup of baking soda – around 200g – down the drain followed by half a cup of white vinegar.

Cover the hole with a wet cloth and leave for five to ten minutes.

Flush the drain with boiling water and your pipes should be back to perfect, reports the Express.

4. Wall stains

If you’ve ever seen fingerprints smeared across your walls or splashes of food you know they can be a nightmare to remove.

Apply a little baking soda to the marks using a wet sponge and you can carefully work the stain out.

5. Sponges

Our washing up sponges can get pretty gross and smelly.

But, instead of throwing them out, give them a new lease of life by soaking them in a litre of water and four tablespoons of baking soda.

Let it sit and after an hour or so squeeze it out and let it dry on the rack.

6. Ovens

Has your oven door collected tonnes of grime?

Ovens can be fiddly to clean as any spillages and spitting food is baked onto the door and floor of your machine.

But, if you mix up a thick paste of baking soda and white vinegar and spread it all around the inside of your oven then you’ll find it comes off much easier.

Just leave it to soak overnight and then wipe with a damp sloth to remove the bicarb.

After that spray on some more white vinegar and wipe away a second time for a squeaky clean result.

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