When choosing products for use in your home, it's becoming more and more important to consider the impact your cleaning solutions will have on pets, the environment, and visitors to your humble abode. The latter consideration is especially important if you're thinking of putting your house on the market, as buyers with allergies can be very sensitive to harsh perfumes and chemicals. That's why more and more homeowners are using natural cleaning solutions in their homes. We all know that baking soda alone can't sell a house, but it can clean up a multitude of concerns when it comes time to get your dwelling ready to put on the market. Below are several ways you can use baking soda to remedy persistent odors, bathroom grime, and kitchen crud.

If you've got a stubborn smell lingering somewhere due to a superficial spill or a pet accident, you might be able to get rid of it with baking soda. First, moisten the affected area. Liberally sprinkle on baking soda and rub into the dampened spot. Leave it to dry, then vacuum it up. Baking soda also works well to remove odors from a stainless steel travel mug or thermos. Just make a baking soda/water paste, smear it on the inside of the offending vessel, and leave overnight. If you're in the mood for a science experiment, you can even spray on some vinegar to watch it fizz (and take away some odor in the process).

Baking soda works wonders for ridding your bathroom of soap scum. Although it takes a bit more elbow grease that "spray and go" cleansers, the gentle abrasive action of baking soda will leave a smooth, shiny finish without harming your bathroom fixtures. You won't have to suffer through harsh fumes, either. Pour a mound of baking soda onto the side of your tub. Simply moisten a washcloth, bristle brush, or clean dish scrubbie, then dab in your baking soda to coat. Scrub away soap scum and watch the baking soda get dirtier the more you clean (depending on how long ago you washed your tub/shower). Every so often you'll need to re-load your cloth or scrubber with baking soda. When you're finished, simply wash any excess baking soda down the drain.

Maybe you've left a brightly-coloured soap on your bathtub surround and it has dyed the surface of the plastic or fibreglass. Keep baking soda in the bathroom for removing stains that may accumulate around the sink/tub area. Just make a paste and let it dry on the spot. You can even use it in conjunction with vinegar to help clear a moderately clogged drain. Really backed-up drains will require more invasive measures.

No matter how clean it is, your kitchen will benefit from an extra dose of baking soda, and not just in your cookies. Stainless steel sinks can be polished to a brighter-than-new state using a moist scouring pad and baking soda. The dull build-up that forms from day-to-day wear is surprisingly easy to remove with this tactic; you'll be amazed at how much gunk the baking soda aborbs. The same goes for porcelain sinks and coffee-stained mugs. You'll find that baking soda works wonders for baked/burnt-on food. Even the blackest and toughest burnt-on crud can be removed by sprinkling on baking soda, spritzing with vinegar until foamy, and then leaving for a few hours, or overnight. The remains just lift off or are gone with the lightest of scrubs. Perfect for pots and pans or stovetops. Even glass stovetops can be cleaned in this way and polished up with a spritz of vinegar.

Baking soda is great for removing stains, odors, and stubborn baked on food. Regardless of what room in your home needs freshening up, try using baking soda the next time you clean for sparkling hypo-allergenic results. Your house will be free of odors and ready for buyers in no time!