We also know baking soda is in many of our favorite recipes. It’s also coming back in style for many more uses around the house, as more people look for non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning solutions. Baking soda is a key ingredient in many DIY beauty and cleaning products, thanks to its gentle abrasiveness, smell fighting properties and ability to absorb oils.What could be safer than a cleaning potion that’s also edible? Below, you’ll find a round-up of ways to use baking soda to clean everything from a clogged drain to a greasy head of hair.Drano is really toxic stuff, and you don’t have to take our word for it—just read the warning labels on the back of the bottle. The next time you have a clogged drain, use this TreeHugger tip and pour a cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of white vinegar down your drain. Then plug the drain with the stopper or a rag and let it work for at least 15 minutes. If the issue isn’t fixed, you can always rinse and repeat with no fear of harsh chemicals backing up in your sink or tub.

I learned this tip for tackling daunting pots from Martha Stewart. Fill your pot with a few inches of water and add two tablespoons of baking soda. Let it simmer for 15 minutes, and then scrape whatever crusty stuff is left off with a wooden spoon.At our sister site MNN, Robin Shreeves tested out a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste that promised to make her heavily stained pots look like new. dyson vacuum cleaner the animalHowever, she was pretty disappointed.pool vacuum cleaners amazonMany bad or musty smells are the result of slightly acidic molecules, which is why baking soda’s pH-balancing properties help clear up odors. novelty tabletop vacuum cleanerKeeping an open container of baking soda in your fridge, cabinets or closet will reduce bad smells.

It’s good to replace the soda about once every six months.You can put baking soda’s smell-fighting properties to work on your bed. Just sprinkle the powder on your mattress and make the bed. When you change the sheets next, vacuum it up. Find more tips to clean your mattress without chemicals here.If your carpet is just a little musty, you can sprinkle baking soda and then vacuum it up (similar to the mattress trick). However, you can also scrub out carpet stains using baking soda and water. After the power dries, you can still just vacuum it up.Your grandmother probably cleaned her oven this way, and it’s time this non-toxic method made a comeback. Mix up a paste of water and baking soda and spread it over the interior of the fridge or oven. Let it sit overnight or for about 12 hours. Then using a spatula, gently scrape off all the dried paste and wipe any remaining residue with a rag.A similar water and baking soda paste also makes a great scrub for all kinds of surfaces around the house.

Use it to clean tiles, marble, counter tops and linoleum floors without harsh chemicals.Get more green tips on cleaning grout at Mother Nature Network.Just sprinkle, scrub and flush. Baking soda’s abrasive qualities are great for cleaning porcelain.This mixture works as a mild bleaching agent.We all know baking soda is great for cookies, but it’s used in a lot of DIY beauty and personal-care recipes. Here’s a homemade deodorant that really works.I’m not saying this is better than hand soap, but it works just as well. Buying gifts for women has never been an easy task. There are so many options, sizes, and colors. And after spending four hours in a crowded mall, it’s easy to doubt your choice and whether they’ll even like it. But this year, it doesn’t have to be hard. Here’s a list of the perfect Christmas gifts for the women in your life. Every woman needs an apron because every woman cooks, and no woman wants to dirty her blouse while she’s doing it. But don’t just buy her any old apron.

Get her favorite print, make sure it has multiple pockets, and maybe even has a frill or two. It’s late in the game, but you can buy this one now. This is the premiere vacuum cleaner for the premiere woman in your life. The Dyson DC50 Animal Compact Upright Vacuum Cleaner has the most advanced technology of any Dyson, and its microscopic particle-capturing abilities will make any woman happy. And don’t forget that it’s lightweight, coming in at 11.6 pounds. Never visit a dry cleaner again after buying your lady this iron. The Panasonic NI-W950A Multi-Directional Steam Iron with Alumite Soleplate is scratch-proof and self-cleaning. Not only is it one less thing she’ll have to clean, its 10-foot cord will allow her to iron anywhere in the house! She’ll never burn another meal again with this food thermometer! The ThermoWorks Splash-Proof Super-Fast Thermapen is perfect for cooking and gives readings within three seconds. (Maybe she’ll even let you borrow it for your grill work.)

This one’s a given. No lady wants stretch marks. Help her help you and keep the house cleaner with this 12-inch indoor broom, ideal for kitchens.This MIRA Instant On Digital Bathroom Scale with lighted display is the perfect daily reminder for her to keep it slim, and its elegant style will help it fit perfectly in any bathroom. These multi-colored gloves know its not only what’s on the inside that matters. Keep your flowerbeds neat and her hands soft with these nylon knit gloves that “fit like a second skin.” Because how else would she be able to leave the house properly? This full-length mirror will go over well with any woman, and even can be used as storage. Last, but not least, this mixer is the gift every woman wants. Not only is it part of the artisan series, there are over 20 color options and its tilt-head design will surely please any woman. How To Clean Area Rugs Helpful Tips & Videos: Follow these recommended instructions to keep your area rugs looking beautiful for many years to come.

Rug Care and Cleaning Videos Indoor Area Rug Care Vacuuming: Routine vacuuming with a high quality vacuum cleaner is the most important thing you can do to maintain the beauty of your rug. Vacuum thoroughly and frequently with a canister vacuum (preferably one without beater bars). This prevents permanent damage by keeping soil particles from working their way deep into your rug. Rugs placed in high traffic areas of your home or office should be vacuumed more frequently. Never vacuum the fringes of your rug, especially a hand-knotted rug. Cleaning & Removing Stains: Act quickly following a spill to keep a permanent stain from setting into your rug. For liquid spills, use a clean cloth and press firmly around the spill to absorb as much as possible. This can set the stain deeper into the rug, making it harder to remove and increasing the likelihood that it will re-appear. Stains – make a solution of water, white vinegar and mild detergent. Mix and gently apply just the foam that rises to the top of the solution to the stained area.

Finish using a clean cloth to absorb/remove any residue. For harder to remove stains, professional rug cleaning is recommended. A Special Note on Viscose Rugs: Viscose is a one of the oldest man-made fibers, though it is not entirely “synthetic” since it is derived from cellulose. Often referred to as artificial silk, or art silk, viscose has the same soft, luxurious look and feel as silk, but at a much more affordable price. It is a popular choice for many area rug styles because it blends easily with other fibers and it takes well to dyes, especially in displaying and retaining vivid colors. For this reason, special attention is necessary in cleaning and maintaining a viscose rug, or any rug made with viscose highlights. Vacuuming – Regular cleaning using a carpet sweeper is recommended for 100 percent viscose rugs. High power vacuums can be too rough on viscose, but if you do use a vacuum, be sure to set it on a low power setting and disengage the beater bars or set them on a high level.

Removing Stains – Viscose is extremely absorbent so remove stains using only a clean, damp cloth and a mild cleanser when necessary. For especially tough stains make a solution of water, white vinegar and mild detergent. Finish using a clean damp cloth to remove any residue. A small amount of fabric softener sprayed onto to the stained area will help to preserve the softness of the viscose fibers. Shedding: Wool rugs shed as a natural consequence of how they are made; this is especially true of new wool rugs. However, this shedding will gradually diminish and can be reduced by following these simple instructions: Use a high-quality rug pad under your carpet to reduce surface friction that can cause excessive shedding. Vacuum a new wool rug 1-2 times a week for the first few weeks using a low pressure vacuum cleaner without beater bars. Vacuum in the direction of the pile, not against it. Shedding is natural and to be expected of wool rugs, however excessive shedding in high-quality wool rugs will diminish within 4 – 6 months (or less).

Do not pull loose ends; clip them with scissors to remove. Some wool rugs are made using a large loop weave and these loops can come undone. Do not pull “stray” loops, always cut them back with scissors. Flattening and Removing Creases: Packing and shipping of your rug may cause temporary creases or kinks in your new area rug or runner. These surface waves are not imperfections or damage and will gradually recede. You can assist in the process of flattening and removing creases by: Back-rolling or reverse rolling is the fastest and easiest way to remove creases in your area rug or hallway runner. These creases and waves will normally flatten-out on their own so in most cases you can simply allow ample time for your rug or runner to settle. Use rug protectors under the legs of heavy furniture to avoid flattening piles. Avoid Direct Sunlight: Direct sunlight will cause the colors in your area rug to fade over time. Place your area rug away from direct sunlight whenever possible.

The center of a room is a preferable location to reduce the risk of fading. Draw your curtains or lower blinds to shade your rug. Use protective window treatments or window coatings to block UV rays. Indoor-outdoor rugs are made with durable synthetic materials to help them to withstand high traffic, excessive dirt and spills, and the natural elements that can cause damage. However, while indoor/outdoor rugs are constructed to be dirt and stain resistant, they still require regular maintenance to keep them looking their best. Know Your Rug: Every indoor-outdoor and outdoor area rug will be made from different materials or a different blend of materials. So, read the label on your rug and follow the cleaning instructions and precautions provided by the manufacturer Vacuuming and Sweeping: Indoor-outdoor rugs are subjected to excessive dirt, grime and foot traffic and therefore require more frequent and thorough sweeping and vacuuming than indoor rugs. Spill and Stain Removal: Act quickly to soak up the spill and clean any residual staining