Did you know that many of the best cleaning substances live in your kitchen cupboard? Staples like vinegar and lemons can have countless applications when it comes to keeping your house spick and span. But baking soda is another item that can be really handy!

Baking soda can trigger a dramatic reaction if you're making a cake, for instance, so it stands to reason that its properties can be useful elsewhere.

For example, if you have a particularly smelly patch on a carpet, or an ashtray with a nasty odour, baking soda can help to remove the worst of it before you clean it conventionally.

Similarly, placing some baking soda in your litter bin can help to prevent or remove nasty smells.

You'll find it a real godsend if you have problems in the kitchen, and not just with smells. Baking soda can, for instance, help to put out grease fires or remove food that has burnt on to pots and pans.

And if you want to give your surfaces a good clean, put some baking soda on a damp cloth and wipe it down.

One of the many advantages of baking soda over other cleaning products is that it isn't toxic - and of course, it's very cheap and can easily be found in your local supermarket.

The fact it has so many applications in every room of the house makes it an item you really can't afford to live without at home. After all, who knows when you'll need it?

This little tip is just one of many ideas we have in mind to make keeping your house clean that little bit easier.

The easiest option of all, though, might be bringing in a professional cleaner; someone with specialist knowledge, expertise and equipment that they can apply in every corner of your home to get it looking its best.