By Annie B. Bond, Care2 Executive Editor

The one item that I can't do without when I clean is baking soda. I use it for so many things, if I don't have a box of it around I'll make a special trip to the store 5 miles away just as I would if I were out of a mainstay like milk.

What do I use so much baking soda for? Here are my top 10 uses of baking soda for cleaning in the home:

A commonly available mineral full of many cleaning attributes, baking soda is made from soda ash, and is slightly alkaline (it's pH is around 8.1; 7 is neutral). It neutralizes acid-based odors in water, and absorbs odors from the air.

1. Drain cleaner: Pour one cup down the drain followed by three cups of boiling water.

2. Chemical smells out of clothes: Soak clothes for two to three hours or overnight,...