What Leaving Out A Jar Of Baking Soda Can Do For Your Bathroom

The bathroom is where we go to reset and breathe a little easier after a long day. But nothing ruins that mini-retreat like a stubborn, lingering smell. Generally, this comes from the damp scent of mildew, clogged drains, P-traps, or just regular bathroom usage. But who knew fixing the problem would be as easy as cracking open your kitchen cabinet? Baking soda, the humble white powder we usually reserve for cookies, can help remove bad odors at a chemical level. It neutralizes smells rather than layering something "fresh" on top of something foul.

If your bathroom has been feeling a little off lately, using a jar of baking soda as an odor remover might be the simplest fix you're overlooking. We tend to lean on modern fixes, yet half of the time, they end up collecting dust. So, when something as old-school and inexpensive as baking soda manages to outperform the fancy solutions, it's a bit of a revelation.

Most bathroom smells are the result of invisible chemical compounds released from damp items or just everyday use of the toilet. Inadequate ventilation or blocked pipes can make things worse. These smells are typically acidic in nature, which is exactly why baking soda helps. As a naturally alkaline substance, it reacts with acidic odor molecules and neutralizes them. That way, it reduces the sharp smells to neutral, less noticeable ones. Unlike air fresheners, this isn't surface-level masking. That's because baking soda doesn't add anything to the air. All it does is remove what causes the unpleasant odor.

While this is a clever use for baking soda in the bathroom, it doesn't offer a quick fix. You'd have to leave an open jar sitting out and give it at least 24 hours to get going. For stronger smells, the kind that refuse to leave even after a deep clean, it might need a couple of days to work fully. But once it does, the difference is hard to miss. It leaves your bathroom smelling fresh, and you'll stop wrinkling your nose every time you walk in.

Pour some fresh baking soda into a small open container and leave it out where it can breathe. A wide-mouth glass jar generally works great, but you can get more creative. For instance, try a ceramic dish that matches your bathroom tiles or a matte-finish mini planter with a modern look. Even a vintage teacup can add a little charm while fighting odors in the background. The key is to keep the container open so the baking soda can do its job.

If you're dealing with targeted smells, say under the sink or around older plumbing, you can take things a step further. Fill a small muslin bag or a bit of breathable fabric with baking soda and tie it off. Then, hang it near the trouble spot. It may work well tucked behind pipes or in a cabinet where airflow is low and smells tend to sit. Just make sure to swap it regularly. Once a month is a good baseline, but if the odor's stubborn, go ahead and change it every couple of weeks. And avoid tossing the used baking soda. Instead, consider pouring it down the bathroom drain and doing a quick rinse with warm water. This may help clear a clogged drain of minor buildup and freshen up the pipes.