Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, and liquid dish soap are two of the most popular and accessible cleaning agents found in nearly every household. Baking soda is a mineral compound, while dish soap is a detergent that contains surfactants. The combination creates a powerful, multi-purpose cleaning compound. This mixture provides a simple, non-toxic alternative to many commercial cleaning products.
The Result of Combining the Ingredients
Mixing baking soda and dish soap results in a physical mixture, not a chemical reaction that produces gas or heat. Sodium bicarbonate is a fine, crystalline powder, and the liquid dish soap acts as a binder. Depending on the ratio, the resulting substance will be either a thick, spreadable paste or a slightly grainy slurry.
This physical suspension of baking soda particles within the soap matrix is immediate and stable. The mixture does not generate the fizzing or foaming seen when baking soda reacts with an acid, such as vinegar or lemon juice. The absence of an acid means the mixture remains chemically inert, which is a desirable trait for a gentle, powerful scrubber.
The Mechanism Behind the Cleaning Power
The effectiveness of this mixture comes from the dual-action of its components on soils and stains. Baking soda provides mechanical cleaning action, acting as a mild abrasive. The crystals physically loosen and lift stuck-on food, grime, and soap scum from surfaces during scrubbing.
Sodium bicarbonate also functions as a deodorizer because it is a mild alkali, helping neutralize both acidic and basic odor molecules rather than just masking them. Dish soap is a surfactant-based cleaner. Surfactants are molecules that lower the surface tension of water, allowing it to spread more easily and penetrate grease and oil.
These surfactant molecules are designed to be both water-loving and oil-loving. One end attaches to oily grime, while the other remains in the water, a process called emulsification. This action breaks up greasy soils into tiny droplets that can be suspended and rinsed away. When combined, the mixture delivers the physical scouring power of the abrasive baking soda and the chemical grease-cutting strength of the dish soap, making it highly effective against a wide range of household messes.
Common Household Applications
The abrasive paste created by mixing baking soda and dish soap is suited for deep cleaning tasks involving built-up grime. A thick paste, made with a high ratio of powder to liquid soap, can be applied to surfaces and allowed to sit for several minutes before scrubbing. This dwell time allows the soap’s surfactants to begin breaking down the greasy bonds of the soil.
This mixture is excellent for restoring shine to stainless steel sinks and removing burnt-on residue from oven interiors and cookware. Applying the paste to bathroom tiles and grout lines allows the gentle abrasion to lift soap scum and mildew stains without scratching the ceramic. For cleaning items like greasy stovetops or range hoods, a slightly thinner slurry provides powerful degreasing combined with light scrubbing capability.