Baking soda is a ubiquitous cleaner and for good reason.

But when it comes to cleaning, baking soda has its limits.

Baking soda’s mildly abrasive properties make it less than ideal for cleaning materials that are prone to scratching.

jar of baking soda with wooden spoon on wood countertop

Credit:Getty Images / BURCU ATALAY TANKUT

Read on to find out a few surprising things that should never be cleaned with baking soda.

Getty Images / BURCU ATALAY TANKUT

1.

Baking soda can leave micro-scratches on mirrors and windows, creating a dull appearance and causing irreversible damage.

Instead, use a cream cleanser and/or a scraper to remove cooked-on residue in place of an abrasive powder.

Marble and Quartz

Baking soda’s abrasive properties can cause damage over time to marble and quartz.

Leather

Leather has natural oils thatkeep the material supple.

Instead, choose a non-abrasive, mild cleaner for all painted surfaces.

Copper

Like gold plate and aluminum, avoid using baking soda on copper cookware, including pots and pans.

Fiberglass

If you have a fiberglass bathtub, avoid using baking sodaor any powdered cleanser for that matter.

It might be tempting to use these products because they are effective.

So Baking Soda Is Used For… What?

We’ve given you a lot of baking-soda don’ts.

Beyond cooking with it, you might be wonderinghow youcanuse baking sodain ways that are both safe and effective.

For starters, it’s a terrific freshener.

Sprinkle baking soda on your rugs and carpets.

It will work to absorb smells.

Let it rest on the carpet fibers for 15 minutes or so before vacuuming it up.

you’re free to also sprinkle it in your garbage can or in stinky shoes.

Add it to your washing machine as a laundry booster.

When paired with detergent, it can lift smells and brighten whites.

After you’ve let it rest for 15 minutes or so, pour in some vinegar.

Once the bubbling stops, you’ve got the option to rinse the drain with hot tap water.

it’s possible for you to also use it toclean stained pans!