Five Surfaces You Should Never Clean With Baking Soda

Baking soda is a popular household cleaner, lauded for its mild abrasive, odor-neutralizing, and pH-regulating properties. It effectively dissolves grease, removes stains, and combats odors without harming the environment. However, its effectiveness comes with a caveat: certain materials and surfaces react poorly to its chemical composition, leading to wear, damage, scratches, or loss of shine.

According to Martha Stewart's home and garden blog, several items should never be cleaned with baking soda. Its slightly abrasive and gritty nature can scratch glass and mirrors, especially with frequent use. For these surfaces, specialized glass cleaners or a simple mixture of vinegar and water applied with a microfiber cloth are better alternatives. Similarly, wood furniture and surfaces can lose their shine and protective coating, and even get scratched, from regular baking soda cleaning. Gentle dusting with a slightly damp cloth or using dedicated wood care products is advised.

Sealed stone surfaces are also susceptible to scratches from baking soda and can react with its properties, causing long-term damage. A pH-neutral mixture of water and dish soap is recommended for cleaning these. While baking soda can clean some stoves, it's not ideal for glass or ceramic stovetops, as it can leave residue and damage the material. Specific kitchen degreasers or specialized products are better suited. Lastly, the gritty consistency of baking soda can harm sensitive materials like gold or silver jewelry. Using cleaners specifically designed for precious metals is the safest approach to avoid damaging valuable items.