Baking soda is an inexpensive but effective tool in any home cleaning arsenal, capable of helping to remove stains, remove bad odors and clean in general. You can use baking soda on various surfaces in the house, but it can be abrasive, which means that some materials can become discolored or damaged.
Sodium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate is a chemical compound with the formula NaHC03.
Also known as baking soda, fine white powder is often used as a yeast agent in baking, but more and more people use it at home.
Baking soda can help remove stains, shine surfaces and even remove bad odors.
However, baking soda is not a multipurpose cleaner for all surfaces and, when using it, care must be taken with some effects that it can have.
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With any cleaning product, you must be careful when mixing baking soda, as the resulting chemicals can cause the bottles to explode.
Mixing baking soda with an acid, such as vinegar or lemon juice, can create gases that, if stored in a sealed container, can explode and injure you or anyone around you.
Before using any cleaner on a surface, it is best to check whether it is suitable or can cause damage.
There are several things that should not be cleaned with baking soda, and are as follows.
2. Aluminum cookware
Although many metal surfaces can be cleaned with baking soda, you should never use it to clean aluminum pots and pans.
When sodium bicarbonate comes into contact with aluminum, the alkaline solution of sodium bicarbonate reacts with aluminum.
This can cause the pots and pans to discolor.
Instead, you can use warm water and washing powder or, for any persistent stain, white vinegar or lemon juice works well.
3. Old cutlery
Many boast of the brilliance that baking soda can provide cutlery, however, you should be cautious.
Some experts advise against the use of sodium bicarbonate in antique silver, as the abrasive nature of sodium bicarbonate can ruin the finish.
You should certainly not use baking soda on pieces that contain turquoise or pearls.
4. Ceramic cooker
Although the effects of baking soda on kitchen stains and messes are well documented, you should take note of which stove you have before you choose baking soda.
If you have a glass ceramic stove, the use of baking soda can scratch the glass and even leave a white film that is difficult to remove.
If you accidentally cleaned the ceramic stove with baking soda, try white vinegar to remove the white film.
5. Glass
Designated glass cleaners are always the best when it comes to cleaning windows and mirrors.
The abrasiveness of baking soda can scratch glass surfaces, impairing luster.
If you don’t want to splash on a glass cleaner and use something more natural, a mixture of white vinegar and water will solve the problem.
Use a microfiber cloth for best results when cleaning any glass surface.