There’s a little orange box sitting in millions of American kitchens that costs just a few dollars.

Most people use it for one or two things. Maybe you add a teaspoon to a batch of cookies.

Maybe you stick an open box in the refrigerator. Then it sits there.

But plain baking soda can replace or supplement several household products you may be buying separately — and some of them cost considerably more.

If you’re looking for small ways to trim your household spending, here are five places to start.

1. Stop Buying Expensive Sink and Tub Scrubs

Walk down the cleaning aisle and you’ll find a separate product for almost everything.

• Sink cleaner.
• Tub cleaner.
• Tile cleaner.
• Stovetop cleaner.

You may not need all of them.

For many washable household surfaces, a simple paste made from baking soda and a little water can provide gentle scrubbing power.

Sprinkle some baking soda onto a damp sponge or make a paste, gently scrub the area and rinse thoroughly.

It can be useful for grime on certain sinks, tubs and other compatible surfaces.

A word of caution: Baking soda is mildly abrasive, so check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before using it on delicate, coated or easily scratched surfaces.

2. Freshen Carpets Without Buying Carpet Deodorizer

Have a rug or carpet that’s starting to smell a little stale? Before buying a dedicated carpet deodorizing powder, check the pantry.

Baking soda can help absorb odors. Lightly sprinkle it over a dry carpet, allow it to sit for a while, then vacuum thoroughly.

That’s it. If you have pets or children, keep them away from the area while the powder is down and make sure it’s fully vacuumed afterward.

It’s a remarkably simple use for something you may already have in your kitchen.

Baking Soda has more than 100 uses around your home, learn more in the Baking Soda Secret,. Get Your FREE Copy of The Baking Soda Secret + 3 Bonus Guides Today.

3. Skip the Pricey Refrigerator Deodorizer

This may be the classic baking soda trick — but it’s still worth remembering. Food odors can accumulate quickly in a refrigerator.

Instead of buying a specialty refrigerator deodorizer, an inexpensive box of baking soda can help absorb unwanted smells.

Place an open box in the refrigerator and replace it periodically according to the package directions.

You can use the same idea in other odor-prone areas where appropriate.

It’s not glamorous. But that’s precisely the point. Why spend more for a fancy version of something a basic box of baking soda may already do?

4. Use It to Tackle Stubborn Pots and Pans

Burned-on food can make it tempting to reach for a specialty scouring product. Try the inexpensive option first.

For compatible cookware, baking soda and water can be made into a paste and used to help loosen stuck-on residue. Letting the mixture sit before gently scrubbing may make the job easier.

Again, check your cookware manufacturer’s instructions first. Abrasives aren’t appropriate for every finish, and you don’t want to damage an expensive pan in an attempt to save a few cents on cleaner.

But for the right cookware, this is one more job that may not require its own bottle of cleaning product.

5. Freshen Smelly Shoes

You could buy shoe deodorizing sprays and powders. Or you could try something that’s probably already in your pantry.

A small amount of baking soda can help absorb odors inside shoes. Let it sit overnight and thoroughly shake or remove the powder before wearing them again.

For an even less messy approach, put baking soda into a small breathable sachet or pouch rather than pouring it directly into the shoe. It’s especially handy for sneakers and other shoes that tend to develop odors.

The Real Savings Come From Buying Fewer Products

Will baking soda single-handedly transform your retirement budget? Of course not.

A few dollars here and there isn’t going to make anyone rich. But there’s a bigger money-saving idea hiding inside that little box.

Look underneath your kitchen sink.

How many bottles are there?

One for the sink.

Another for the tub.

One for odors.

Another for scrubbing.

Another for the refrigerator.

Another for stains.

Individually, none seems terribly expensive.

But multiply that across every specialty product you buy throughout the year and the total begins to look different.

Sometimes saving money isn’t about finding a cheaper product.

It’s realizing you don’t need to buy the product at all.

Think That’s All Baking Soda Can Do?

These five ideas barely scratch the surface.

In fact, there are so many practical uses for baking soda that we put together an entire physical book about them.

It’s called The Baking Soda Secret.

Inside, you’ll discover dozens of surprising ways to put that inexpensive box to work around your home and in your everyday routine — including uses for cleaning, laundry, deodorizing and much more.

And right now, we’re doing something unusual.

We’re giving the book away FREE.

This isn’t an eBook or a PDF.

We’ll mail you a real, physical copy that you can keep in the kitchen, put on a shelf and reach for whenever you need it.

You simply cover the small shipping cost.

And your order also includes 3 bonus guides at no additional cost.

If you already have a box of baking soda sitting in your kitchen, you may be surprised by how little of its potential you’re actually using.

→ Get Your FREE Copy of The Baking Soda Secret + 3 Bonus Guides

You just cover shipping while copies are still available.