9 Things You Should Never Clean With Baking Soda

From wood and painted surfaces to leather, here are some household items you should never clean with baking soda.

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a common ingredient in pantries for baking cookies or a cake. An alkaline compound, baking soda, is a non-toxic cleaner with a coarseness that works wonders for scrubbing grime, removing difficult stains, and deodorizing stinky odors.

Before you sprinkle baking soda in your bathtub, kitchen counter, wooden tables, or floors, it's important to know what surfaces are safe for baking soda use. Applying baking soda to some surfaces or materials could ruin it, scratch it or lose its hine. "Before you use baking soda, decide if it is the right cleaning solution and if it is safe for the surface, you are using it on," says Angela Brown, CEO of Savvy Cleaner, a training program for house cleaners in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Related: 5 Ways To Use Baking Soda In Laundry

Meet the Experts

• Angela Brown is the CEO of Savvy Cleaner, a training program for house cleaners in Charlotte, North Carolina.

• Marla Mock is the president of Molly Maid.

• Rhonda Wilson is the Quality Lead Cleaner over at FreshSpace Cleaning in Louisville, Kentucky.

Here's what you need to know before grabbing baking soda to clean.

Aluminum

Many types of metal surfaces can handle the coarseness of baking soda, but keep it away from aluminum. If you have hard-to-remove stains or build-up in your aluminum pans or trays, opt for another cleaning agent since baking soda can damage the aluminum. "Aluminum is a soft metal, and using baking soda to clean it can cause a chemical reaction that dulls or discolors the surface," says Brown. "This is known as aluminum hydroxide, forming when baking soda meets moisture or humidity on aluminum."

Antique Silver

Have antique silverware or jewelry that you want to clean so your silver shines? "Baking soda may scratch or damage the delicate surface of antique silver," says Marla Mock, based in Texas and president of Molly Maid, a franchise of independent cleaners nationwide. She says it could take away the protective layers of the silver and cause microscopic scratches in the silver. Make sure you use a silver polish or seek a cleaning specialist to ensure it's cleaned properly. "For jewelry, it is best to go to a specialist who can ensure protective measures are taken before beginning the cleaning process," she says.

Copper Cookware

Similar to aluminum, baking soda shouldn't be used on copper pots and pans if you want them to last a long time. "Baking soda can react with copper and make it tarnish faster," says Rhonda Wilson, the Quality Lead Cleaner over at FreshSpace Cleaning in Louisville, Kentucky. "This can result in uneven discoloration and make it difficult to restore the original shine and color of the copper."

Fiberglass Bathtubs

If you have a lot of grime or a ring of dirt lining the bathtub you may be tempted to use baking soda to make cleaning easier. Hold off on getting out your scrub brush and sprinkling this powder or you risk damaging the surface of your bathtub. "Fiberglass tubs can be scratched with baking soda," says Brown. The last thing you want is your cleaning method to damage your bathtub.

Glass

Baking soda and glass don't go together. Don't use this compound near any glass surfaces, including windows, glassware, or glass stovetops, or there is a risk of damaging them. "Baking soda can be abrasive, potentially causing scratches on glass surfaces," says Mock. "While these scratches may be hard to see at first, they can lead to larger damage over time along with increased dirt and grime buildup in the small grooves of the scratch," she says. Baking soda can damage tinted windows or anti-glare protection, too. "Due to its gritty composition, [baking soda] can ruin the tinting on glass, if it has anti-glare or blue-light blocking properties," says Brown.

Marble Surfaces

Have marble counters in your kitchen or bathroom? Stay clear of using baking soda as a cleaner. The grittiness of this powder can cause the stone to lose its shine or have permanent scratches. "Baking soda acts like a mild exfoliant and can break down the protective coating on marble, causing it to look dull or foggy. It may also leave visible scratches," says Mock. 

Leather Furniture and Clothing

If you have a leather you want to clean, whether it's a couch, armchair, belt, or jacket, don't use baking soda. Leather has natural oils, which keep the material flexible. "If those oils get stripped away, the leather can start cracking and lose its bounciness," says Wilson. "Couches and chairs will get cracks, jackets, and coats won't hang as nicely, and shoes and boots will wrinkle and eventually crack too."

Painted Surfaces

Painted surfaces, like a wall or a painted chair, shouldn't be cleaned with baking soda. There is a risk that sodium bicarbonate can create chips or scratches in the paint or affect the smooth surface. "Avoid using baking soda on painted surfaces, as it can create chips and uneven textures in the paint," says Mock. If you need to clean a painted area of your home, opt for a cleaner designed for paint. "Use a mild, non-abrasive cleaner suitable for painted surfaces to preserve the paint and prevent any damage," she says.

Wood

Keep baking soda away from any wood surface, including wood floors, wooden coffee or dining tables, and cutting boards. "Baking soda is slightly abrasive, and if used to clean wood furniture, especially with a polished finish, it can leave scratches," explains Brown. Antique wooden pieces require more care since they are delicate, says Wilson. She suggests taking caution when you clean wooden surfaces and protecting the original finish, including wooden floors. "Using it on wooden floors with a protective coating can result in damage," says Mock.

Before Cleaning with Baking Soda

Baking soda can work wonders when cleaning and lifting difficult stains. Knowing when to use this product and when it's damaging to a material or surface is important. "While baking soda is a versatile cleaner, it's essential to be mindful of its abrasiveness," says Mock. It's a good idea to do a test with baking soda before applying it to the entire area. "Always test it on a small, inconspicuous area first, and when in doubt, refer to manufacturer guidelines for specific surfaces," says Mock. When you use baking soda to clean, wipe down the area afterward, too. "It's crucial to rinse surfaces thoroughly after using baking soda to avoid any residue," she says.

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