This household staple is known and rightly valued for its ability to tackle dirt around the home – from your kitchen floor to your bathroom sink – and beyond. The list of things you can clean with baking soda is seemingly endless – whether you’re using baking soda to clean windows or as a way to tackle pests (such as using baking soda to kill ant infestations) but for all its versatility – there are some items to avoid using baking soda on. This is what the experts urge us not to clean with baking soda – and what you should use as an alternative.
5 things to avoid cleaning with baking soda – and what to use instead
‘Although baking soda may appear to be the ideal natural cleaner, it can harm a variety of surfaces,’ warns Jack Williams, the CEO and founder of Handyman Reviewed (opens in new tab). ‘Baking soda’s primary component, sodium bicarbonate, is the reason it has been used for generations as a natural cleaning agent worldwide. [It] has the potential to harm some materials through unintended chemical reactions.’ These are the main surfaces and furnishings to avoid using it on.
1. Quartz or marble countertops
When it comes to kitchen countertop ideas, few materials rival the beauty of quartz or marble. So, it is inevitable that you will want to do everything you can to accentuate and maintain their aesthetic. And while baking soda may seem like the most obvious solution, Jack warns against using the pantry staple. ‘Never clean marble countertops with baking soda. This could damage or wear down the sealant over time, causing it to lose its shiny sheen,’ the expert says. ‘Additionally, since natural stone such as marble, quartz, or any other type is an expensive material, any damage may be expensive to restore.’
2. Dinnerware with a gold finish
Dinnerware with a gold finish is an investment piece. However, baking soda is the quickest way to threaten its beauty. ‘Avoid using baking soda when cleaning plates or silverware that have gold trim,’ Jack says. ‘Gold (and ancient silver) are very soft metals that can not withstand baking soda’s abrasiveness. It won’t just scuff up the finish; it may make the plating completely disappear.’ Similarly, as the expert suggests, it is better to avoid using it on silver, too. ‘Even though baking soda can remove tarnish from silverware quite rapidly, using it isn’t always a good idea,’ he cautions. ‘When cleaning ancient silver, baking soda is considerably too abrasive, dulling the metal and leaving scratches on the surface. Additionally, using baking soda may hasten the corrosion of the silver.’ Dish soap in warm water should do the job, without damage.
3. Hardwood
When cleaning wooden furniture and floors, it is perhaps inevitable to look to baking soda. However, it’s a no-no. ‘Avoid using baking soda if you want a shiny, wooden floor,’ Jack says. ‘Baking soda will only harm or deform the hardwood since it is too harsh on the wood sealants used on wooden flooring or furniture. Stay with the tried-and-true method of soapy water.’ And Jack is not alone in his sentiments. Harry Virk, the CEO of CleaningPro (opens in new tab), adds wood is too delicate a material for baking soda and so should be avoided. ‘The latter fogs up your furniture and can cause permanent streaks,’ he says while sharing his cleaning tips. ‘To clean them, use wax instead.’ We like Feed N Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner (opens in new tab).
4. Items with large cracks or grooves
Baking soda tends to leave behind a dusty, white residue once it dries, meaning it can do more harm than good on some certain surfaces. The experts warn that much of these include many of your home office ideas – including keyboards, mice, TV remotes, and cane furniture.
5. Aluminum
‘Baking soda can be used to scrub most metal surfaces; however, aluminum cookware needs to be treated carefully,’ Jack warns. ‘Aluminum pots and pans will start to oxidize if baking soda is used often on them, which results in color change.’ If you still want to clean your metal cookware with baking soda, the expert suggests making sure to rinse it off right once to avoid any discoloration. Instead, try Star Brite Aluminum Cleaner and Restorer (opens in new tab).
