Whilst bicarbonate of soda can be used in cooking and baking, soda crystals/washing soda can be harmful to your health if consumed. Soda crystals are much more alkaline. This means when it comes to cleaning, this product is much better for removing stains and grease.
For cleaning, use bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) as it's non-toxic easy-to-use and effective at fighting baked on grease and food. The difference between baking powder and baking soda is that baking powder is bicarbonate of soda with cream of tartar added to it, this acts as a raising agent for baking purposes.
Anything with deep grooves or cracks
Baking soda leaves behind a white, dusty residue after it dries. Therefore, you should never use it to clean surfaces with deep grooves or cracks because the residue will get left behind and can build up.
You may wonder about bicarbonate of soda vs. baking soda, but they are simply alternate terms for the same ingredient. If your recipe calls for bicarbonate of soda, it is simply referring to baking soda.
You can use bicarb to wipe away grease marks and water stains on everything from metal to plastic, plus it's highly effective at removing pesky mildew off bathroom tiles and even freshening up musty fabrics!
You can use bicarbonate of soda and vinegar to make a thick paste that will clean any bathroom surface you can think of. Combine a quarter cup of bicarb with one to two tablespoons of vinegar, mix well, and get cleaning.
Separately, both vinegar and baking soda work well for cleaning. Alone, baking soda can dissolve grease and dirt, while distilled white vinegar breaks down minerals without adding any coloring to stain surfaces (as apple cider vinegar might).
Baking soda is strong. In fact, it is about 3-4x stronger than baking powder. More baking soda in a recipe doesn't necessarily mean more lift. You want to use *just enough* to react with the amount of acid in the recipe.
So, yes, you can substitute baking powder for bicarbonate of soda/sodium bicarbonate/baking soda, but you'll need more baking powder, which may affect the taste.
Baking Soda + Vinegar
"Baking soda is basic and vinegar is acidic," says Bock. "When you put them together you get mostly water and sodium acetate. But really, just mostly water." Plus, vinegar causes baking soda to foam up. If stored in a closed container, the mixture can explode.
Make a paste from two parts bicarbonate of soda to one part water, then rub onto dirty grout using an old toothbrush. An electric toothbrush with an old head will also work wonders and save your elbows!
Baking soda and vinegar, when mixed together, can form a chemical reaction that looks sort of like an eruption. This chemical reaction can help clear your toilet and any pipe clogs that you might have.
Some cakes tend not to rise as well if just baking powder is used, often those that contain cocoa powder or bananas such as Nigella's Gluten-Free Banana Bread, so a combination of baking powder and bicarbonate of soda is used to help to give extra lift.
Baking soda and bicarbonate of soda is the same thing! Yes, these are two different names for the same product. In Australia, we tend to use the name bicarbonate of soda (or bicarb soda for short), whereas overseas they usually call it baking soda.
Whilst baking powder may offer some cleaning effect, it really is just designed for baking, and so it is not recommended that you use it for any cleaning purposes.
Does baking soda really help whiten teeth? The very simple answer is yes, however it only whitens teeth by abrading the surface and removing surface stains. This comes with a couple of potential problems: excessive abrasion causing tooth wear.
It is safe to leave baking soda (and vinegar) to work overnight to unclog a drain. Always flush this mixture down with boiling water—no matter how long you leave it sitting in the drain.
For most purposes, Harris recommends combining one part baking soda with two parts white vinegar. That combo can cut through grease and lift stains, sometimes better than store-bought cleaners, she says. Important: Never combine vinegar with bleach.
Baking Soda And Vinegar
Vinegar is acidic and basic soda is basic, so the by-products are sodium acetate, carbon dioxide, and water that are not toxic. The mixing reaction causes the baking soda to foam up and produce carbon dioxide gas.