# Uses and risks of baking soda in households

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uses-and-risks-of-baking-soda-in-households
> Updated: 2026-08-09T10:03:51.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Baking soda is highlighted as a versatile, low-cost tool for gardening, food safety, and household cleaning.

In gardening, it serves as an antifungal agent and repellent. For household maintenance, it can be combined with coffee grounds to create an abrasive cleaning paste for grease and stains. Regarding food safety, research indicates that soaking fruit in a 1% baking soda solution can significantly reduce surface pesticide residues, such as thiabendazole and fomesate.

However, use of the substance requires caution due to its abrasive nature. It may scratch glass and polished surfaces, discolor aluminum and copper, erode marble coatings, or strip natural oils from leather.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-09: Baking soda benefits for pesticide removal and cleaning risks

Baking soda is highly effective for removing certain pesticides from fruit, such as apples, but its abrasive nature can damage sensitive surfaces like leather, marble, and polished metals.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/baking-soda-benefits-for-pesticide-removal-and-cleaning-risks

### 2026-08-06: Baking soda offers low‑cost solutions for gardening and home cleaning

Baking soda, under €2, helps protect garden plants and, when mixed with coffee grounds, creates an effective, eco‑friendly cleaning paste.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/baking-soda-offers-lowcost-solutions-for-gardening-and-home-cleaning

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Cite as: Uses and risks of baking soda in households. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uses-and-risks-of-baking-soda-in-households