What is Baking Soda? Uses, Safety, Cleaning & More.

What is Baking Soda?

What is Baking Soda? – Baking Soda is an inorganic salt used in the manufacture of variety of products, ranging from personal care products, detergents, and laundry detergents.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considered baking soda to be a biopesticide. A biopesticide is a type of pesticide derived from natural materials.

Baking Soda other names

According to PubChem (a database by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)) and ChemIDPlus Lite (an on-line database by the U.S. National Library of Medicine), baking soda can also be called the following names:

Carbonic acid, monosodium salt, Sodium hydrogen carbonate, Acidosan, Sodium bicarbonate, Sodium acid carbonate, Bicarbonate of soda, Melon.

Molecular Formula: CHNaO3

Baking Soda as a cleaning agent

Baking soda has a high pH, this makes it one of the most planet-friendly cleaning ingredients, and this is evident in its inclusion in many cleaning products especially the green cleaning ones.

It is a constituent of stain removers, laundry detergents, floor cleaners, cleansers, toilet bowl cleaners, mold control products, air fresheners, carpet fresheners and cleaners, automatic dishwasher detergents, dish washing soaps and many all-purpose cleaners

what is baking soda used for

Baking soda is widely known for its cleaning, whitening, deodorizing and mild scrubbing abilities. Its powdery form also makes it ideal for absorbing greases and spills.

It is further used because of its bactericidal and stain-removing properties as shown in a dental care study which was published in the journal of clinical dentistry and journal of Periodontology. Baking powder was reported to whiten teeth, it will definitely clean other surfaces too.


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Its cleaning ability is known and has been widely reported, it has also been used in many products such as drugs (e.g. skin treatments), personal care products (e.g. bath products, toothpaste, deodorants, cleansers, soap), baked goods, and cat litter.

Additionally, baking soda has also been used to relieve acid indigestion, heartburn, stomach problems. It is also used to lower the pH of a swimming pool.

Product Brands Containing Baking Soda

Baking soda is a constituent of many products. To see if a product contains baking soda, you can search on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Household Products Database, , the Good Guide, or the EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database.

If using the general term does not bring desired search result, considering using one of its other names.

Is Baking Soda safe?

Unlike other chemicals which are constituents of cleaning products, baking soda is safe. It can be ingested as an antacid as reported on the Arm & Hammer baking soda box.

Please note, the directions explicitly stated that baking soda should be dissolved completely in water and should not be taken when you are full.

However, according to the International Chemical Safety Card (ICSC), there is one downside to using baking soda, it can cause eye redness and irritation. You should flush your eyes with clean water severally and see a doctor if it gets into your eyes. Aside from that, baking soda is considered safe.

Any Environmental Effects

There exists no known negative impact on the environment. However, it is mined from trona, which is found in Wyoming, then processed into baking soda. So that’s a form of environmental impact.

What is baking soda has been comprehensively dealt with, you are now better informed regarding this natural super-cleaner for your home.