In case you didn’t know, baking soda does so much more than enhance the flavor and texture of your homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Right up there with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, baking soda is one of the most helpful household cleaning agents. You may have heard about placing a box of baking soda in your refrigerator to absorb foul food odors, but that is only the beginning! When it comes to all-natural cleaning solutions, baking soda takes the cake. The list below outlines 14 different ways on how to clean with baking soda. If you’re ready to embrace a greener cleaning routine, this is a great place to start.

14 Cleaning Tasks, Tackled with Baking Soda

1. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the bottom of your vase to keep fresh cut buds beautifully blossoming.
2. Place an open box of baking soda in the back of your linen closet to eliminate odors and mask mustiness.
3. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda across the surface of your mattress to absorb excess odors, dirt, and moisture.
4. Prior to vacuuming your home, shake a sprinkling of baking soda onto carpets and rugs to absorb lingering odors from pets, kids, and everything in-between.
5. Dip a clean sponge in baking soda, then use it to remove stains on your walls (including those pesky crayon stains!) and clean your furniture.
6. Add ½ cup of baking soda to your rinse cycle to thoroughly clean, refresh, and fluff old linens and towels.
7. After cleaning and sanitizing your trash cans, add a few pinches of baking soda to the bottom of the basket to continuously absorb garbage odors.
8. Combine three-parts baking soda with one-part water to create a thick, deep cleaning paste. Use a clean cloth to rub the paste onto sterling silverware, silver-plated flatware, and dishes – you’ll be amazed by the shine!
9. Apply baking soda to a damp, clean sponge, then use it to wipe down the interior and exterior of your microwave; stains and odors disappear like magic!
10. Get your patio furniture sparkling clean by scrubbing lawn chairs with a wet sponge, coated in baking soda. Bonus tip: every few weeks, sprinkle a dusting of baking soda under chair cushions to keep odors at bay.
11. Soak pet toys in a deep-cleaning mixture of warm water (one quart) and baking soda (four tablespoons) for 15 minutes, then rinse with hot water to kill hidden germs.
12. Eliminate grease and restore shine to dingy dishes by adding two heaping tablespoons of baking soda to your regular dish detergent.
13. With warm water running, sprinkle about ½ cup of baking soda in your sink to deodorize drains and clean the garbage disposal.
14. After removing stains or cleaning up spills on your carpet, rugs, or furniture, apply a generous sprinkling of baking soda over the recently soiled spots to prevent odors from re-surfacing.