5 Myths about Baking Soda – Dispelled

Posted on 05/05/2023

Baking Soda - Hacks and Myths

There are a number of myths circulating the internet about the properties of baking soda, its uses in home cleaning and everyday life. However, you should not believe those myths blindly. Here are the 5 most commonly propagated myths about baking soda – dispelled.

Baking Soda Is the Ultimate Odour Killer

There are many misconceptions about the odour removal properties of baking soda you can hear or read on the internet and be tempted to believe. It is true that baking soda can absorb unpleasant odours to a certain extent, but that does not mean it will totally remove all odours. However, baking soda is still efficient for absorbing cooking odours and removing certain stains.


Baking Soda Will Absorb the Unpleasant Smells from Your Fridge

Another popular myth is that placing an open jar of baking soda into your fridge will eliminate the unpleasant smells from it. This is far from true. Surely, if applied as a paste onto a stain or area, baking soda can remove some odours, but if it just stands in your fridge, it will have no effect whatsoever. So this house cleaning suggestion is just a myth.


Baking Soda Is the Best Teeth Whitener

It is true that baking soda has some whitening properties and can remove stains from your teeth, along with possessing some anti-bacterial properties, but it is not entirely safe to use. Baking soda has abrasive properties and frequently using it to brush your teeth can damage your teeth’s enamel. So, it would be best to avoid this teeth stain removal technique rather than risk your dental health.


Baking Soda Is an Effective Stomach Pain Reliever

Again, this is true to some extent. Baking soda has an alkaline pH and can thus combine with stomach acids and reduce acid burn, bloating and even flatulence. However, excessive consumption of baking soda can have dangerous effects on your health. It can even damage your stomach, so it is best to use prescription medicine rather than resort to such homemade solutions with dubious effects.


Baking Soda and Lemon Juice Can Cure Cancer

This is the most untrue and no doubt most dangerous myth on this list. There is a lot of false information circulating the internet claiming that consuming a combination of lemon juice and baking soda daily can cure certain types of cancer. Not only is this a big fat lie, but spreading such misleading information should also be punishable by law, as it exploits people’s weaknesses and can have a fatal effect on one’s health, if followed blindly. Using such dubious ‘cures’ is not only ineffective, but can also be lethal. In many cases if cancer is treated properly in its early stages, it is curable or manageable, but if one uses such ‘cures’ instead and doesn’t get medical treatment on time, cancer may develop in its late stages and may already be incurable.


Don’t follow those baking soda myths blindly, as whereas following the first ones will only result in ineffective domestic cleaning, believing the last few ones can not only harm your health but be fatal too.