17 Nov 2025 6 Things You Should Never Clean With Baking Soda
This pantry staple can be super handy for cleaning—but it shouldn’t be used on everything.
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Key Takeaways:
- Avoid using baking soda on delicate surfaces like glass, mirrors, and stainless steel to prevent scratches and dullness.
- Wood and sealed stone countertops can be damaged by baking soda, stripping their protective finishes and weakening their structure.
- Baking soda can leave residues on kitchen tools and cause discoloration on aluminum cookware, so stick to alternative cleaning methods.
Baking soda is something you probably already have in your kitchen. It’s a natural, often inexpensive, pantry staple that helps baked goods rise. It can also be a key ingredient in DIY cleaning solutions, thanks to its ability to cut through grease and absorb stubborn odors that won’t go away with other products. However, while baking soda might seem innocuous, it can actually damage some surfaces. So, it shouldn’t be used to clean absolutely everything. Not sure what to avoid? Here are six things you should never clean with baking soda.
Glass and Mirrors
Getting glass and mirrors clean can feel challenging, especially if you have young children who love to put their grimy little hands on these surfaces. But Vivian Holguin, people experience leader at Maid Brigade in Manchester Connecticut, says these objects should not be cleaned with baking soda. “Baking soda is abrasive and can leave fine scratches on glass and mirror surfaces, which build up over time, creating a dull, hazy look that reduces clarity and makes the surfaces look worn and reflections less sharp,” she says.
But making your glass spotless is simple. Use a glass cleaner or a vinegar and water solution and a microfiber cloth to lift all of those tiny particles and streaks.
Wood
It’s a common situation: You used a wooden spoon to stir tomato sauce, soup, or stew, didn’t rinse it, and now there’s so much caked-on food that it just won’t come clean. While you’ll likely need a bit of elbow grease and perhaps a scrub brush to remedy this problem, you definitely don’t need baking soda—unless you want to ruin the surface. “Baking soda wears down the protective finish on wood surfaces, making the wood vulnerable to moisture, stains, discoloration, warping, and a dull, worn appearance over time,” Holguin explains.