How Does Baking Soda Get Rid Of Odors So Well?

You've likely heard that putting a box of baking soda in the refrigerator will neutralize any off-putting odors inside. Have you ever wondered, though, how a simple white powder can be so powerful? The answer lies in its composition.

Also known chemically as sodium bicarbonate, the elements that make up baking soda are one atom each of carbon, hydrogen, and sodium and three atoms of oxygen. The physical and chemical properties of sodium bicarbonate make it a weak amphoteric base, which means that it can react as an alkaline or acid on a chemical level. As a result, baking soda can change the pH of alkaline molecules from foods like spoiled fish and acidic molecules from foods like sour milk, turning them neutral to eliminate their odor.

In a refrigerator, it can take two days or more for baking soda to absorb unpleasant smells. The stronger the odor, the longer that it will take for the sodium bicarbonate to do its job. If you need to get rid of the smell faster, deep cleaning your refrigerator, can speed up the process.

While the refrigerator is one of the most common places to use sodium bicarbonate for odor control, it's not the only place in the kitchen where it will eliminate nasty smells. For instance, sprinkle a handful in the bottom of your dishwasher between washes. Then, after it removes any odor present, it will add extra cleaning power to your next load. Other options in the kitchen include pouring some down your kitchen (or any drain) with warm water and sprinkling it in between layers of trash or recyclables.

Outside of the kitchen, such as the living room, you might use air purifiers to reduce bad odors throughout your home. However, these devices are best paired with other odor-eliminating solutions like baking soda treatments. For example, you can spread sodium bicarbonate on carpets, rugs, and upholstery. It can even remove pet odors on pet bedding and in litter boxes, as well as act as a dry bath for animals.

Plus, you can drop a handful in your dirty laundry to reduce any foul scents, or add about ½ cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle of your clothes washer for an extra clean and fresh touch. In the bathroom, you can use it for more than just deodorizing the rugs and shower curtain. You can use it as a mouthwash to neutralize bad breath by mixing ½ to 1 teaspoon with 4 ounces of warm water. Using three parts sodium bicarbonate and 1 part water or liquid hand soap, it can get stinky scents out of your skin as well.