Baking soda is often praised as a miracle cleaner, and while it’s great for neutralizing odors, scrubbing grime, and whitening surfaces, it’s not safe for everything. Because it’s abrasive and alkaline, using baking soda on the wrong materials can cause damage, dull finishes, and even create long-term wear.
Before you grab that box of baking soda, make sure you’re not about to ruin your furniture, cookware, or household surfaces. Here are 10 things you should never clean with baking soda—and what to use instead!
1. Glass and Mirrors
Baking soda’s gritty texture makes it a poor choice for cleaning glass and mirrors. It can leave behind fine scratchesthat dull the surface over time, causing a permanently cloudy or hazy appearance. While the damage may not be noticeable immediately, repeated use can ruin the reflective quality of mirrors and glass tabletops.
What to use instead:
For streak-free shine, use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water or a commercial glass cleaner. Wipe with a microfiber cloth or coffee filter to prevent streaking and lint buildup.
2. Aluminum Cookware
Baking soda reacts with aluminum, leading to oxidation and discoloration. If you scrub aluminum cookware, pots, or pans with baking soda, you might notice black spots or a dull finish forming over time. The reaction can also weaken the metal, reducing the lifespan of your cookware.
What to use instead:
For aluminum pots and pans, use warm water and mild dish soap. If you need to remove stains, try a cream of tartar paste mixed with water, which cleans without causing oxidation.
3. Marble and Granite Countertops
Natural stone countertops like marble and granite have a protective sealant that keeps them looking polished and prevents staining. Baking soda, being slightly abrasive and alkaline, can wear down this sealant over time, making the stone more prone to stains, etching, and dullness.
What to use instead:
Use a pH-balanced stone cleaner or a mix of warm water and mild dish soap. Wipe with a soft cloth and avoid acidic or abrasive cleaners that can degrade the stone’s protective layer.
4. Wooden Furniture and Floors
Baking soda can be too abrasive for wood, especially on surfaces with a varnish or wax coating. Over time, it dulls the finish, removes protective coatings, and can leave behind a chalky residue. It may also dry out the wood, leading to cracks and wear.
What to use instead:
Clean wood furniture and floors with a wood-safe cleaner or a mix of warm water and mild dish soap. For scratches and shine restoration, use a natural wood polish with olive oil or beeswax.
5. Ceramic Glass Stovetops
Ceramic glass stovetops are designed for sleek, smooth finishes, and baking soda’s abrasive nature can create fine scratches over time. These scratches make it harder to clean in the future and can even weaken the glass surface.
What to use instead:
Use a stovetop cleaner designed for glass surfaces or a mix of vinegar and water. Wipe with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth to prevent scratches.
6. Stainless Steel Appliances
While baking soda is sometimes recommended for removing smudges from stainless steel, it can leave behind a dull or streaky residue, and its abrasive texture can cause micro-scratches that make the metal look worn over time.
What to use instead:
For streak-free stainless steel, use a mixture of vinegar and water or a commercial stainless steel cleaner. Always wipe in the direction of the grain using a soft microfiber cloth.
7. Gold and Silver Jewelry
Baking soda is too abrasive for delicate jewelry, especially gold and silver. While it may remove tarnish temporarily, frequent use scratches the metal, wearing it down over time and causing it to lose its shine.
What to use instead:
Use a mild jewelry cleaner or soak jewelry in warm water with a drop of dish soap. For silver, a specialized silver polishing cloth works best to remove tarnish without scratching.
8. Car Paint
Baking soda is sometimes suggested for removing stains from car paint, but it can actually strip the protective wax layer and scratch the clear coat, making your car more vulnerable to sun damage and rust.
What to use instead:
Use a car-specific cleaner and a soft sponge or microfiber towel to clean your car’s exterior. Avoid using household cleaners that aren’t formulated for automotive paint.
9. Your Skin and Hair
Some DIY beauty hacks suggest using baking soda as a facial scrub or shampoo substitute, but this can be harsh and damaging. Baking soda disrupts your skin’s natural pH, causing dryness, irritation, and even breakouts. When used on hair, it strips away natural oils, leading to brittleness and breakage.
What to use instead:
Use a gentle facial cleanser suited to your skin type and a pH-balanced shampoo to maintain healthy hair. If you need an exfoliator, choose one with fine, skin-safe ingredients like sugar or jojoba beads.
10. Upholstered Furniture and Carpets
Baking soda is often recommended for deodorizing upholstery and carpets, but if not vacuumed thoroughly, it can settle into fabric fibers, leaving a chalky residue that attracts more dirt over time. It can also clog vacuum filters, reducing suction power.
What to use instead:
For deodorizing, use an enzyme-based fabric cleaner or sprinkle baking soda sparingly and vacuum thoroughly after 15 minutes. To deep-clean upholstery, use a steam cleaner or professional upholstery shampoo.
