Being a mom to girls, I thought I got off the hook for dealing with big messes, smells, and dirt. Girls are dainty, quiet, and clean, right? Well though I have no boy to compare it to, I can confidently say that I was way off. Girls play just as hard, can be just as enthusiastic about messy games, and I might even argue that they can be louder. I mean, have you heard the high shrill of an excited girl? Some days I think I’m raising the next Mariah Carey. I think it’s safe to say that all moms are familiar with grime and strange smells. It just comes with the territory. However, being that these messes are associated with my kids, I don’t feel comfortable using harsh cleaners. I’ve long been a fan of homemade solutions for cleaning my home, like baking soda and vinegar. Recently my natural cleaning power has been taken to the next level with my discovery of ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster.
Don’t be fooled to thinking this is only for laundry use, as it has countless applications that will save your sanity as you try to keep up with the messes your kiddos are making. Today I’m sharing all the details on 4 of my favorite uses for ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster.
Cleaning Children’s Toys
I’m almost embarrassed to show you this, but personally there is nothing I love more than a true before and after. So with that in mind, I give you this: our almost-the-end-of-the-summer water table.
You guys, that is GROSS. There are green splotches and I let my children play in it. I saw this after I dumped out the water and wasted no time cleaning it up to get rid of the evidence of my #momfail.
To Clean Children’s Plastic Toys:
Mix 1/4 cup ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster with 1 quart of water until combined. Soak for 10 minutes, then wipe with a sponge and rinse.
This solution always works wonders for cleaning toys in mass quantities. With cold season sneaking up, it would be a great idea to do this on a weekly basis.
Cleaning a Soiled Mattress
No matter how much a mom believes the overnight diapers’ claim or no matter how confident their children are at being potty trained, accidents happen. That’s why they call them accidents.
To Clean a Soiled Mattress:
First remove the sheets and bedding and wash (see below). Using a mixture of 2 parts water to one part vinegar, spray the stained spot liberally. Allow to sit for 15 minutes to remove the smell. Generously sprinkle ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster until it covers the wet spot completely. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes while the ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster absorbs the moisture and lifts the stain. Then use a vacuum with a hose attachment to vacuum up the residue. Allow spot to dry completely before making the bed. I recommend vacuuming again since any moisture could have dissolved powder.
Cleaning Smelly Sneakers and Cleats
Confession: sometimes Hailey wears her sneakers without socks even though I know this will make her shoes smelly. Sometimes it is just a battle I’m not up for fighting. In those circumstances, I rely on ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster to take care of a parenting shortcut.
To Deodorize Sneakers and Cleats:
Loosen laces on shoes and pull tongue back as far as possible. Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster liberally inside the shoe. Let sit overnight, then turn over and shake well to dump out. Be sure to rinse thoroughly before using, as residue could irritate skin.
Boosting Laundry Results
I don’t like to pick favorites, but this simple solution is truly fantastic!
To Boost Laundry Results:
Add 1/2 cup of ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster into washer with clothes and usual amount of detergent. Your whites will be whiter and your colors will be brighter, plus, everything will smell really wonderfully FRESH! Not the fake-scented-fresh, but just good, solid clean, which I love. I use it daily (please tell me other moms do laundry daily too to try and keep up?!) in my laundry. I keep it in the laundry room, but I also appreciate the easy access for the countless other ways ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster helps me keep a naturally cleaner home. 
The best part is that it’s really reasonably priced. You can find ARM & HAMMER™ Super Washing Soda detergent booster at Walmart and Dollar General for about $4-$6 for a 55 oz box. That’s a whole lot of cleaning power for pennies! No phosphates, no fragrance- just natural clean.
Connect with ARM & HAMMER™ on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Share with me! What kind of messes do you hate tackling the most? Dirt trekked across carpet? Pet stains? The possibilities are endless! Tell me in the comments for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!
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Brandy H. says
I love this, thank you!!! I have already added this to my weekly shopping list! I go for natural cleaners as well, so much safer and I feel better as a mom using them!
When our bathtubs get gross or just have residue build-up we will soak them in a mixture of baking soda, vinegar and dawn dish soap (I want to try with a different soap to see if it works just as well!) for 10-15 minutes, wipe with a sponge and rinse!
Katie says
I love washing soda! I make my own laundry detergent which is 1 cup washing soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 castile bar soap grated. I also add extra to the mix for extra stains, like school clothes.
Cassie says
yes, I everyday . HERE too. LOTS of toddler and cat stains!
Kim says
Wow, didn’t know that was out there. Must check it out! Pet Stains (more specific, cat just ask wet food and threw it up on the nice new light color carpet!) The worse between the stain, smell and texture lol.
Lauren says
Thank you so much for this awesome tip!! We have an English Bulldog so a messy house is inevitable, but this will come in handy!
Jen W. says
Love, love, love Arm & Hammer products. Can’t wait to try this one on pet stains. They are my worst nightmare.
MJ says
I’ve been washing my towels with regular Arm&Hammer baking soda for a while after I discovered that regular detergent and softener leave residues that eventually make your towels smell moldy. I can’t tell you how many towels I threw away because I could not get rid of the mildewy stink! Can’t wait to try this product!
Cristina R Agurcia says
WOah Nelly! Ive already added it to my list for later today! Although, i had never seen this particular product before- i use baking soda for alot of things! Just last month my trader joes whole milk got pinched between the stroller and the other groceries and exploded—– you can imagine the smell! But a good baking soda cleaning and all gone! Magic! Thanks for sharing this- cant wait to try it!
Karla says
Vomit… gag!!!
Sarah says
I love washing soda! I make my own laundry detergent with it and Borax and Fels Naptha grated soap and add doTerra essential oils (OnGuard, Lemon and Wild Orange) – the yummiest and best detergent. I also sprinkle A&H baking soda with essential oils before vacuuming for extra freshness. Happy to hear of the other uses.
Layla says
Pet stains are the worst.
Nicole says
I can’t stand cleaning up dirt and dog hair from our Golden Retriever in the laundry room. Yuck!
Sarah says
I cloth diaper so I’m thinking this will be good for helping to clean the diapers!
ErikaMC says
We don’t have indoor pets anymore but those were the worst to clean up. I also am not a huge fan of cleaning up sand that gets brought into the house – it seems to get everywhere!
Julie says
I have a nice big heavy-traffic stain on the carpet coming into my bedroom that I can’t seem to get rid of. 🙁
Peg rnett says
Did you try this on carpet and if so how did you use it? Thanks
Natalie says
I hate cleaning up food and drink stains! Sticky foods are the worst!
Natalie says
I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/795710713054527488
Nikki S says
The mess I hate cleaning the most is a tie between the build up on the shower and the backseat of my car esp in the fall and spring when I take my border collies hiking. My car smells perpetually like dog. I feel like that commercial for ‘Have you gone nose blind… This is what guests smell….’
Kassie says
With an elderly dog and two toddlers, I’m constantly dealing with….err….potty mess? Anything that will freshen my towels and help my carpet is welcomed!
Katie says
On my list for next week. My kids are The messiest eater so I could use it on there clothes.
Britt says
Worst messes in my life are dog messes! I’ve got a little puppy but he can make some BIG messes
Becca says
This is going to sound crazy, but my boys love eating watermelon and it is so hard to get watermelon stains out. After fighting stains most of the summer we had a new family rule, you have to eat watermelon shirtless!
Will G says
I hate trying to get stains out of carpet.
Will G says
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/willgriesmer/status/795780331609747461
Kathleen says
My two little guys had the stomach bug all weekend-definitely my least favorite thing to clean up! I already use regular baking soda to help clean up potty training accidents but this looks even better!
Emily L says
My least favorite mess to clean is vomit in children’s carseats. Every time it has happened I feel like I would rather toss the seat and buy a new one than clean the old one.
Emily L says
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/eluellwitz/status/795790618748448768
Maggie says
This is such an awesome tip as I am an expecting mother and will use these tips a lot I am sure!
Margo says
Worst thing to clean is the oven!
Lauren says
Pet stains! Yuck!
Cindy says
Toddler food stains!!!! 🙁
Reid says
Pet stains are my least favorite by far.
Brittany says
The hardest messes for me to clean include any stain on my microfiber couch!! It has so many nooks and crannies– it’s never an easy job!
Brittany says
And I tweeted 🙂 https://twitter.com/DelightedMrs/status/796013804622610433
Jen says
Milk stains on the carpet!!! 😦
Beth says
Vomit, human or pet, is so hard to clean up!
Mandi S says
So glad that you blogged about cleaning a mattress! That is the hardest thing to do! May try this method. Thanks so much
Rachel says
The mess I hate cleaning up the most is cat vomit/hair balls. Yuck!
Rachel says
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/RachelGriesmer/status/796398200022245377
Madeline says
Lately I dislike pet fur. It floats around and gets in our food! I finally broke down and bought an air purifier—best purchase ever!
Madeline says
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/796532223063298048
Emily says
I hate tackling set-in stains! It never fails, I find a shirt tucked away in the corner somewhere with food stains that have been there only God knows how long…
Jessie C. says
I dislike cleaning up food and pet stains.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
Jessie C. says
tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/796551019232690178
Susan Smith says
Pet stains are the most difficult for me to clean.
Elena says
I hate pet messes. Pet stains are difficult to clean
Elena says
tweet-https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/797591817621413888
Erika says
For some reason, cleaning our upholstery is my least favorite. The kids make it a challenge!
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
Lisa Brown says
I hate cleaning the microwave: always a mess.
Lisa Brown says
tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/797796491003719680
Julie Wood says
I hate tackling the kitchen messes. Cleaning the kitchen floor, countertops, table and organizing all the mess from cooking is the worst. I spend so much time in the kitchen cleaning every day!
Julie Wood says
tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/797801021833494528
mami2jcn says
I hate carpet stains.
mami2jcn says
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/797830308582354944
Jessica To says
I hate cleaning spots on my carpet that come from food and dirty shoes.
Karolyn says
I am the worst at getting oils out of clothes!
Amy says
Well I have only used it for pH experiments . But now I have all kinds of ideas, toilets first….
Use a bit of it for this experiment your girls will love this.
http://bit.ly/2g7XHfA
julie says
carpet stains because they can be so frustrating
julie says
my tweet is pasted here https://twitter.com/showstopper474/status/798224192210694144
Jessica erbacher says
I hate cleaning the microwave! So nasty!
Elle says
I hate messes on the carpet because it is always an ordeal to get it out and anything in the bathroom.
Elle says
Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/798277597436080128
Mita says
I do not like cleaning the microwave.
Mita says
Tweet https://twitter.com/mitadav/status/798333197117431808
Cheryl B says
I hate tackling grease stains the most.
Layne says
Baby bibs, with a 9mo old doibg BLW we go through a lot and pet messes!
rachel says
Right now it’s potty training messes! Ugh!
Jessica Beard says
I hate cleaning up pet messes and kid puke! The worst ever!
Jessica Beard says
tweet: https://twitter.com/JBeard25/status/798639316746534914
linda says
sports stains are always the toughest
linda says
here is my tweet https://twitter.com/lindilala/status/798763182592430082
Amy Tong says
The mess I hate the most is the sink! They get build ups quick. I love using baking soda to clean up too. I can’t wait to try this one on my shoes! 😉 Thanks for sharing.
amy [at] uTry [dot] it
Amy Tong says
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/799067776031682560
amy [at] uTry [dot] it
Robin says
Scrubbing ceramic tile grout!
Rebecca says
My bathrooms and laundry can get pretty dirty with my boys. I love using vinegar and baking soda to clean smelly odors! They really work.
Rebecca says
Tweet
https://mobile.twitter.com/Michael64263870/status/801168043334373377
Kelly D says
I don’t like scrubbing the soap that builds up in the shower. I always try to find new and better ways to clean our showers quicker.
Kelly D says
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/801559812022661120
Stephanie Phelps says
Oh my goodness I hate to tackle the stains from good ole GA red clay out of the kids clothes!
Stephanie Phelps says
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/801997069510709248
kjasus says
cleaning toilets
kjasus says
i tweeted: https://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/802146612378271744
Anne says
We don’t have kids, but with two dogs and one cat, we have lots of pet-related messes, and I really dislike cleaning them up. Their messes are just gross. I am totally going to try Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda–I think it might be just the solution for me.
Anne says
I shared your cleaning solutions blog post (useful for non-moms, too!) and the Arm & Hammer giveaway on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/802291254763679744
Thanks!
prasert says
pet stains are definitely the hardest for me
Elizabeth pergande says
I like to use vinegar as a natural cleaner. truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com
Kerry says
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/803003685852823552
michael says
anything that involves cleaning the bathroom is tough for me
Rebecca Graham says
Wine stains are a hard one to clean for me.
Elizabeth pergande says
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/802960023047589888 tweeted
maria cantu says
Bathroom messes.
Ellie Wright says
I hate cleaning up after my husband, the mechanic, the most. The shower walls always have greasy hand prints after he’s done.
Ellie Wright says
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/803728430734839808
Donna says
Pet stains were always tough to deal with!
angie lilly says
Honestly and grossly, it is cleaning up cat poop. My cat, Meeko, bless his heart, had a subtotal colectomy earlier this year and developed Short Gut Syndrome afterwards and rarely makes it to the cat box for #2. Always for #1, thankfully. bleh. But he is my child of choice, so he is worth it. hahaha!
angie lilly says
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/803983833175560192
Cynthia C says
Cleaning the shower is the worst job for me.
Cynthia C says
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/804044101373067264
Denise L says
By far my most hated household chore is cleaning the toilet. Yuck! With two boys/men in the house it’s even worse.
Denise L says
tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/804061240767238149
Margaret Smith says
I have two boys, so stains on their cloths are my worst stains. Thanks so much.
Margaret Smith says
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/804119017569026048
Thanks again
Thomas Murphy says
I hate cleaning up after my dog.
Thomas Murphy says
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/804184958344589318
Betty C says
I have older cats who are starting to have stomach issues. Not much worse than having to clean up cat vomit from the carpet. Thanks for the tip.
Betty C says
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/804257461460992000
Lee says
cleaning up a young puppy is the worst. this should help!
Eugenie says
toddlers or cats? pretty close sometimes.
Tabathia B says
I hate cleaning up my daughter’s art projects and her dog accidents
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Jerry Marquardt says
The kind of messes that I hate tackling the most on carpet are pet stains and mustard. Arm & Hammer would help tackle these.
Jerry Marquardt says
I publicly Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/versatileer/status/804452187640242176
Barbara Montag says
I do not like trying to clean my jeans clean after gardening.
What a mess!
thank you
Barbara Montag says
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/804482123474333696
Soda Kiwi says
TWeet : https://twitter.com/DoncamVline/status/852060213918257152