Why You Should Be Adding Mint And Baking Soda To Your Cleaning Routine

Cleaning the house is not the most entertaining task to tackle, especially for busy adults with limited time to spare. If you're looking for a good cleaning hack, consider some household products you may already have on hand. Using a baking soda and mint mixture in your cleaning routine helps you clean your house with ease by deodorizing textiles like carpets when you vacuum, keeping surfaces clean and smelling fresh, and much more.

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is an essential pantry staple that's often used in cooking and baking. However, it is also a popular cleaning tool because of its ability to absorb smells, and its alkaline pH effectively eliminates acid-based odors so you can get rid of stink fast. Baking soda also works well at removing stains and disinfecting surfaces. When combined with mint, either in peppermint oil or fresh mint leaf form, it can provide a clean surface, fresh carpet, and even keep spiders out of the house. 

Mint is great for cleaning and deodorizing your home. It has antimicrobial properties to keep bacteria at bay and antifungal properties to help with damp areas, like in the kitchen, to keep mold out. Mint can be used as peppermint essential oil or raw leaves. The main difference being the amount of menthol. Peppermint oil has a higher menthol content, so mint leaves won't have quite as strong of a scent as the oil. Using one or the other may depend on your preference for how strong of an aroma you want. 

To clean your house with baking soda and mint, mix baking soda and some water into a paste. Add in ground mint leaves or a few drops of peppermint oil. You can put some of the mixture directly into the garbage disposal to get rid of odor and use it to scrub tubs and sinks. For best results, rinse well with hot water after cleaning.

This paste can also help to safely remove scuff marks from walls and baseboards. Take things a step further and use it as a whole-house freshener by adding the mixture to tiny jars or bowls. Place them in closets or inside drawers to deodorize the small spaces, replacing shoe odors or other smells with a pleasant, minty scent. For a great way to freshen up smelly carpets, blend 1 cup of baking soda with 10 drops of peppermint essential oil and sprinkle the powder on floors before you vacuum.

While baking soda and mint make a powerful cleaning combo, there are some things that you'll want to avoid cleaning with them. Baking soda, while fairly gentle, is still abrasive. It can leave scratches on stone countertops, marble, wood floors, glass, and ceramic stovetops. It will also cause discoloration on aluminum, including aluminum pipes. Pet owners should use caution when cleaning with mint leaves and oils as mint is toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.