The abrasiveness of baking soda can ruin sealants and finishes of wood and even cause staining. Instead, opt for a mixture of dish soap and water to clean any wood surfaces. If you have used baking soda and stained the wood, you will likely have to sand back the area and reseal it to fix it.
Allow it to stay on for at least 6 hours, so that the baking soda has a chance to leach the tannins from the wood. The longer you leave it on, the more noticeable the impact will be.
Baking soda can usually be used on many metal surfaces but take caution with aluminum. You may be able to get away with using it if you quickly apply it and rinse it off. Leaving it on can cause it to oxidize which would change the aluminum's surface color.
Baking soda contains sodium bicarbonate, which is an effective absorbent material. It works by trapping moisture, making it easier to remove. Simply create a thick paste with water and spread it over the affected area. Let the baking soda sit overnight before wiping it away in the morning.
Fixing a baking soda stain
If for some reason you end up with a baking soda stain like in the picture below. Take slices of lemon or grapefruit and put them over the stained area.
Wood Floors and Furniture. Baking soda will cause micro scratches on wood floors and furniture, wearing away the sealant and lending a dull appearance to the wood.
Using a clean mixing bowl, mix together 3 parts warm water with 1 part white vinegar. Soak a clean sponge in this solution and apply the sponge directly to the baking soda stain. Place pressure on the affected area with a dry towel. Repeat steps # 1-3 until the baking soda stain disappears.
Baking soda doesn't do its work all at once, so give it time to neutralize as many odor-causing particles as possible. An hour or so is ideal, and for bad situations, you may just want to leave the baking soda on overnight (as long as it won't get tracked everywhere by pets).
Sprinkle the entire couch with baking soda, and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. (You can leave it there for up to an hour.) Using a brush attachment, vacuum the couch to remove the baking soda. Next, make this simple cleaner to tackle any remaining stains.
The first way to do this is by covering the interior shelves or drawers with baking soda. Baking soda is great for absorbing odors and residue, which is why it is used to remove skin oil from wood furniture as well.
You technically can leave out baking soda in certain recipes (like chocolate chip cookies or pancakes) in a pinch, but you need to understand that your finished product will not be as light and fluffy as the recipe intended. Unless you have no other option, you really should use a leavening substitute.
It's abrasive, which means you have to be careful with surfaces that are lightly sealed or that have a finish that can be worn away (the same way you would be careful with scrubbing too hard with a scratchy sponge). And some metals are more reactive than others, so baking soda can cause discoloration.
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.
Although natural cleaners like distilled white vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda are safe and effective all over the house, they aren't safe for hardwood floors. The same goes for too much moisture.
Make a stain remover by adding enough water to baking soda to create a thick paste. Rub the stain gently with the paste using a soft cloth. Use a damp cloth to wipe up the residue and give the wood a quick buff. Apply petroleum jelly to the watermark and let it sit overnight.
Over time, the amount of lift that it can provide decreases. Once a box is opened, baking soda begins to slowly absorb moisture. Over time, this added moisture reduces the power of the reaction. Exposure to extreme temperatures – cold or heat – can also reduce its efficacy.
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.
A chemical reaction between the vinegar and the baking soda produces bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. The dish detergent in the vinegar helps the bubbles last longer than they would with just vinegar and baking soda.
But common pantry essentials that are often used for cleaning — like baking soda and vinegar — shouldn't be mixed either. Unlike the bleach-ammonia mixture, combining soda and vinegar won't hurt anyone — but don't expect the mixture to do a good job cleaning, either.
If you have ant mounds outside, dampen the mound with water and then sprinkle about 2 cups of baking soda on it. Wait a half hour or so and pour a cup of vinegar on the mound. That combination will kill most ants. You can make a bait with half baking soda and half sugar to control ants and roaches.
White Vinegar
Use a clean damp cloth to wipe the stained area and let it dry for 30 minutes. If the stain is still visible, add a little baking soda to the mix for some scrubbing power and repeat the process. When you're done, wipe the wood with a clean damp cloth to remove residue.
Keep baked soda in a tightly sealed jar to prevent it from absorbing moisture from the air. And avoid touching or spilling it. It's not lye, but it's strong enough to irritate. Baked soda is also strong enough to make a good lye substitute for pretzels.
Potential Health Hazards from Sodium Bicarbonate
Mild irritation, such as redness and slight pain, may result from eye contact. In dry form, it's typically non-irritating to intact skin; however, it can cause irritation to damaged skin when moisture is present.