You may already know baking soda as one of the most common household products in existence. However, its name alone describes just a fraction of what it can do. This is because baking soda is one of the most versatile products in existence. Outside of cooking, baking soda is a very potent cleaning agent, with good reason. Applications range from cleaning common kitchen utensils to scouring swimming pools. It is surprisingly effective, coming to be hailed as a miracle cleaner. But what is it that makes it so powerful?
- It is alkaline
The full scientific name for baking soda is Sodium Bicarbonate, or Sodium Hydrogen carbonate. Recalling some of your high school chemistry, this means that it is alkaline or basic.
A lot of dirt is also coincidentally acidic. This means that when baking soda comes into contact with it, a chemical reaction occurs. It is this reaction that is so strong that its bubbles help to lift the dirt off of many surfaces.
It is this reaction that is even relied upon when unclogging blocked sinks. Just pour in a generous amount of baking soda and follow with some vinegar, and watch as the vigorous reaction actually clears away the block!
- It is stronger than normal soap
Baking soda is inherently completely basic. During its manufacture, very little else is added to it. In fact it comes in the form of tiny crystals that dissolve very well in water. This makes it particularly harsh when reacting to dirt. It is very potent without any additives after all. In contrast, normal soap is manufactured with oils and fats, all of which result in the soap being milder in nature.
For many strong stains, baking soda is often more effective because it is not mild like normal soap would be. It could even be said to be chemically abrasive.
- It is physically abrasive
While baking soda is chemically strong, the same can be said for its physical form as well. Ideally when added to just the right amount of water, it will dissolve completely. But limit the amount of water and it becomes a paste full of half dissolved crystals that are physically abrasive.
You can mix a generous amount of baking soda with a little bit of water to make a paste that you can then effectively use to scour the surface with a little elbow grease. On a bigger scale, its abrasiveness can be likened to that of sand which makes a lot of stones by the water smooth.
So instead of spending so much money on extravagant products that promise miraculous stain removal, give baking soda a try. It’s incredibly cheap for the stunning amount of cleaning it is capable of.