Are you on the lookout for all-natural cleaning solutions? Then baking soda and baking powder are two of the best solutions available out there to consider. Most homeowners in NSW prefer to use them for their residential cleaning tasks. But what is the best option out of these two for cleaning? In this article, we will compare baking soda vs baking powder for cleaning. Then you can decide what you should be using for your cleaning needs.
Table of Contents
What is Baking Soda?
The chemical composition of baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. This is a white-colored crystalline powder, which offers excellent alkaline properties. You can consider this as one of the most versatile leavening agents. In other words, it is possible for you to use the alkalinity of baking soda for multiple cleaning tasks. They include:
- Removing stains from the carpets
- Removing mould at home
- Deodorising the home
- Cleaning the electric hob and many more
What is Baking Powder?
Some people think that baking powder is the same thing as baking soda, but that’s not. Baking powder is made by mixing an acidic agent with baking soda. In most instances, people mix cream of tartar with baking soda to make baking powder. This reduces the abrasiveness of baking soda.
You cannot just use baking powder for cleaning. Instead, you will need to mix it with water and create a paste. However, the alkaline and acidic elements of baking powder will react against each other. As a result, you will not be able to use it as a good cleaning agent as baking soda.
What is the Best Cleaning Agent?
Now you have a clear idea of what baking soda and baking powder are all about. As you can see, baking powder is not as effective as baking soda. Hence, you should never confuse yourself and buy baking powder. Instead, you need to go ahead and buy baking soda from a cleaning agent at all times.
Baking powder is not capable of helping you tackle dirt grease, or grime. It is not in a position to absorb unpleasant odours or kill germs as well. But it offers some mild cleaning properties. This means that you will have to use a higher amount of baking powder for cleaning. In other words, you may have to use four times as much baking powder to clean than baking soda.
On the other hand, baking soda is an excellent cleaning agent. It is versatile and you can use it for many different purposes. The deodorising properties and grease-cutting ability are impressive. Baking soda also offers excellent surface compatibility. Due to this versatility and eco-friendliness, baking soda is something that you should have at home. When there is an accidental spill or any other cleaning needs, you can simply use it.
Exploring the uses of Baking Soda
Now you know what baking soda is capable of offering. With that in mind, let’s explore some of its uses.
Using baking soda as a natural deodoriser
Do you get an unpleasant smell from your damp shoes? Or do you want to get rid of the bad odour coming from your garbage bin? Then baking soda is the best option available out there to consider. You may use baking soda for naturalising odours without a doubt in mind. It is capable of neutralising both basic as well as acidic odours.
Using baking soda for kitchen scrubs
The scrubbing power of baking soda is quite impressive. As a result, you can think about using it to remove tough stains in your kitchen. To get the best results, you will need to make a paste by mixing some water with baking soda. Then you can use this non-abrasive paste to clean any kitchen appliance. They include cookware, stainless steel sinks, and anything else. You can use baking soda to clean the stovetop as well.
Using baking soda as a bathroom cleaner
Baking soda is an effective household cleaning agent. If you are looking for green cleaning alternatives, it is a perfect option. Cleaning a bathroom can be quite challenging even with chemical cleaning agents. However, a paste made out of baking soda can help you overcome that challenge. You can freely use it to clean the bathtubs, toilets, and even your sinks. Hence, you may add it to your list of multi-purpose cleaners for the bathroom as well. After removing grime from bathroom surfaces, you can make all the surfaces shine with this cleaner.
Using baking soda as a carpet cleaner
Your carpets are expensive. That’s why you should be extra careful with what you select to clean carpets. Baking soda is a great carpet cleaning option that you can consider without a doubt. All you have to do is sprinkle some baking soda onto your carpet. After allowing it to sit for around 20 minutes, you can vacuum it. Then you can remove all sorts of household odors trapped in the bathroom. This is one of the baking powder uses as well. If the odour is not so strong, baking powder may also help you.
Using baking soda to polish non-sterling silver
If you are seeking natural cleaning products to polish non-sterling silver, baking soda would be a good choice as well. Instead of using chemical cleaners, you can proceed with washing silver jewellery with baking soda. All you have to do is make a paste of baking soda with water and apply it to silverware. Then you can wipe it with a piece of damp cloth. This is one of the best ways to make your silverware look new again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use baking soda to unclog a drain?
Among the cleaning hacks that baking soda offers, drain cleaning is quite impressive. However, baking soda alone may not be able to help you clean a clogged drain. You will need to pour white vinegar along with it. After about 20 minutes, you may pour hot water into the drain. The chemical reaction created by it can effectively break up clogs. Both these products make excellent DIY cleaning solutions. It can help you save a lot of money in the long run as well.
Where should you not use baking soda?
As you can see, you can use baking soda on many different things. It can help you to get rid of unpleasant smells without side effects such as health concerns. You won’t find any harsh chemical ingredients in baking soda for humans. However, it may not be the ideal cleaning solution available for all applications. Here are some of the situations where you should not use baking soda.
✓When cleaning aluminium cookware
Baking soda is capable of oxidising aluminium. Hence, you should not use it to clean aluminium cookware. If you do, you will not be able to get aluminium cookware to last longer with discolouration.
✓Antique Silver
Baking soda is only capable of polishing non-sterling silver. It can be too harsh on antique silver. If you use it, you will end up scratching the surface.
✓Delicate surfaces
Make sure not to use baking soda on any delicate surface for cleaning. That’s because it is a mildly abrasive cleaning agent. If you are not sure, it is a good thing to test the baking soda solution on a small patch. This is something to keep in mind when trying to clean your carpets effectively.
✓Certain types of wood
Some wooden floors and furniture can get damaged from baking soda. No matter what, it is better to dilute baking soda well before applying it to furniture.
Is it okay to use baking soda in laundry?
Among baking soda uses, laundry work holds a prominent place. You just need to add a small cup of baking soda into the washing machine before you let it rinse. Then you can soften the fabrics and brighten their colors. On top of that, baking soda can also help you with getting rid of all sorts of unpleasant odours in clothes.
Can I mix lemon juice with baking soda?
If you want to make baking soda even more effective, you may consider mixing it with lemon juice. That’s because of the powerful chemical reaction that citric acid can create. You can use this solution to get rid of stubborn stains or strong odours from your living space.
Final Words
Now you know the difference between baking soda and baking powder. If you are looking for an all-natural cleaning agent, you should stick to baking soda. It can deliver amazing results in terms of cleaning.
Similar to using baking soda for DIY cleaning tasks, it is also worth hiring an expert cleaning service. This is where we at Affordable Cleaning and Gardening Services can help you. We provide professional cleaning services with all-natural cleaning agents. When you are not capable of getting the results you want with DIY cleaning tasks, simply contact us.
