If you’ve ever wished for a single ingredient that’s cheap, safe, multi-purpose and effective around the home, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate or “bicarb”) is about as close as you’ll get.
You probably already have it in your kitchen cupboard for baking and in many natural cleaning recipes, it plays the key role. In this post, I’ll walk you through why baking soda works so well, how to use it safely and give you two recipes you can try this week: effervescent toilet tablets and a bathroom cleaning paste.
Why baking soda works
Baking soda is a mild alkali and abrasive. Its superpower is neutralising odours by absorbing odour causing molecules and you can use it to scrub surfaces without scratching them. It’s pH of 8–9 results in a much gentler product than commercial cleaners on many surfaces – but still effective when used wisely.
Ways to use it
Recipe 1: Fizzy toilet cleaner tablets
There is no greater satisfaction that dropping one of these into the toilet bowl and watching it fizz – odd but true!
You’ll need:
• 3 parts baking soda
• 1 part citric acid
• 25 drops of essential oil (optional) – you can choose which fragrances you prefer. Lemon, eucalyptus or peppermint are my favourites.
• A few drops of water (to make the mixture just damp)
• Silicone moulds or ice cube trays
• Glass jar with lid for storage
1. Mix the baking soda and citric acid in a bowl.
2. Add essential oils and stir, pressing to break any clumps.
3. Lightly mist the mixture so there is just enough moisture so the mix holds shape. Avoid over-wetting.
4. Press firmly into your moulds.
5. Allow to dry for 24 hours until solid.
6. Pop out the tablets and leave for another 24 hours to finish setting.
7. Store in a sealed glass jar and use as needed – I recommend at least once or twice a week.
When needed, simply drop a tablet into the toilet bowl. Let it fizz for a few minutes (I clean the rest of the bathroom and then come back to the toilet last) and scrub with the toilet brush.
Don’t have time to make tablets? No problem! Using the same quantity guidelines above (3 parts baking soda to 1 part citric acid), mix in a bowl and put it straight into the bowl.
Recipe 2: Cleaning paste
This is a classic recipe from Krissy Ballinger’s site (krissyballinger.com.au) – a paste you can use on tiles, tubs, sinks and more. I LOVE this one and use it every week to clean my bathrooms and sinks.
You’ll need:
• 140 g baking soda (½ cup)
• 65 g liquid castile soap (¼ cup)
• 2 tbsp fine salt
• ~30 drops of essential oils (e.g. lemon, clove)
• (Per use) 1 tsp hydrogen peroxide 3% (optional – I use water!)
1. Mix the baking soda, castile soap, fine salt and essential oils into a jar or container until well combined.
2. For each use, scoop ~1 tablespoon of the paste into a bowl and add hydrogen peroxide (or water), mixing to a creamy consistency.
3. Apply to the surface (bath, sink, shower tiles, event he shower screen) and scrub with a cloth or brush.
4. Rinse with water and polish with a dry cloth.
If your paste feels too dry, add a little more liquid castile soap. The hydrogen peroxide gives a gentle disinfection boost but is optional. Use fine salt rather than coarse — coarse salt might scratch delicate surfaces.
A quick note on safe and effective use
• Test on small areas first, especially if surfaces are delicate. I would avoid using it on marble, granite and waxed wood.
• Store your homemade cleaners in airtight jars or containers to avoid moisture or clumping.
• Keep out of reach of children, especially recipes with citric acid or essential oils.
• Label everything clearly so there’s no confusion with other powders.
Why these work and why you’ll love them
• Minimal ingredients, big impact: Baking soda and one or two supporting ingredients is often enough to tackle many cleaning tasks.
• Refillable, zero-waste: Use recycled jars, avoid single-use plastic bottles.
• Gentler on skin & environment: Less harsh chemicals means fewer irritants, fewer fumes, safer use in homes with kids or pets.
• Cost-effective: Baking soda is affordable and the recipes stretch far. I only make these recipes once a month, if that.
At Sugarbush, I believe in doing less, better. These baking soda recipes sit nicely alongside my skincare formulations: clean ingredients, no needless extras and always with purpose.
If you’re curious about skincare and bath products made with similar care (no fillers, no unnecessary chemicals), I’d love for you to explore the range on my website. You’ll find beautifully simple formulations you can trust.
