Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda? [The Do’s & Don’ts]

Published by Ahmad Jamal on March 20, 2023 | Last updated on May 14, 2023

Baking Soda is an ultimate powder that can be used in tens and tens of cleaning solutions, while bleach is also a famous chemical solution that’s used for different kinds of cleaning chores.

However, people are always willing to increase the effectiveness of their cleaning chores, that’s why they wonder “Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda?”.

It’s a valuable asset to have effective mixtures that are both useful and safe.

However, safety hazards have been noticed regarding this topic, especially in the light of knowing that bleach is -most of the time- dangerous when mixed with other substances.

In this CleanersAdvisor guide, we’ll tackle one of the best DIY hacks about mixing bleach and baking soda, explaining what both substances are, what they are used for, Can you mix bleach and baking soda, how to do so, and what you can clean with the mixture in question.

Moreover, we’ll also provide you with a list of things you SHOULDN’T mix with bleach.

First, let’s discuss what baking soda is, and what it is used for.


What Is Baking Soda Used For?

Baking soda is known chemically as “sodium bicarbonate,” and it’s a form of salt that comes in the form of white powder.

To be exact, it’s a white crystalline powder that’s often used in baking recipes as a leavening agent, as chefs tend to use it to cause expansion in the batter when they work on “baking-based” recipes.

Moreover, baking soda is also used as a cleaning agent, due to its powerful cleaning power, and its antibacterial properties.

Baking soda is made from Sodium & Carbon, and due to this form, it works as an effective degreaser and scrubber, in addition to the previously mentioned uses.

This means that, when you face any form of grease, stains, bad odor, or dirt, you know that a good baking soda mixture can do the trick for you.

In other CleanersAdvisor guides, we found it useful to use baking soda in Cleaning the Sink, and Softening the Grout for Removal.

Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda
What Is Baking Soda Used For?

What Is Bleach Used For?

Bleach is not as famous as baking soda, and it doesn’t have as many uses as the baking soda too.

However, bleach is a chemical that is used to clean and remove dye from fabrics, while it can also be used to whiten other substances.

There are two types of cleaning bleach, liquid and powder.

If you’re not familiar with powder and you need bleach for some cleaning, get yourself the liquid type since it is more dilute and needs more water to work with, which you have plenty of.

While using powder may become tricky if it’s your first time with the product.


Why Is It Important to Know “Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda”

Bleach isn’t suitable to be mixed with most of the cleaning products, therefore, knowing if Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda or not is essential for your safety and health.

Mixing bleach with any other incompatible substance can be hazardous for the whole family, house, and air inside the house’s environment.

Therefore, it is important to know which ingredients or substances can be mixed with bleach, and which one should never be kept near it in the first place.

Additionally, this guide will help you know what chores will require such a strong combination or mixture, and which ones won’t require such a strong one.

Generally speaking, no matter how you’re willing to use bleach, take proper safety precautions.

  1. Those precautions include:
  2. Wearing protective gloves
  3. Protecting your skin
  4. Working in a properly ventilated area
  5. Wearing protective goggles
Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda

Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda

Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we?

Yes you can mix bleach and baking soda, but under pretty essential conditions that you should meet.

First, you don’t want to add both substances to each other carelessly, that can be really hazardous.

Secondly, the safety precautions we just explained should also be met without any hesitation.

Third and foremost, use a small amount of each substance, and make sure the types you’re using aren’t just going to create a disaster.

If those conditions were met successfully, then you can proceed to know how to create a mixture of bleach and baking soda.

But keep in mind, this is a directed mix, not one you can just spray around a whole area.


How to Create a Mix of Bleach and Baking Soda

The most proper way to create the bleach and baking soda mixture is to use a clean container for the initial testing.

Pour a small amount of both ingredients as explained earlier, and test the reaction, if all goes well, mix them together until both are combined together properly.

Now, the mixture is ready for the directed use, focus the usage on the targeted stain spot or area, while still taking safety precautions, as the eyes, skins, and hands should be covered properly.

Once the cleaning bleach and baking soda mixture has dried out on the cleaning surface, give it a few minutes to create the desired effect, then wipe it off with a clean cloth.


What Can You Use Bleach and Baking Soda Mix For?

Here’s a list of the proper uses for bleach and baking soda mix, as those useful cleaning chores are what prompted the question on Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda or not.

The list includes:

1. Cleaning Walls

2. Cleaning Vinyl Floors

3. Cleaning Grout between Tiles

4. Removing Mold

5. Deep Cleaning the Oven

6. Removing Bad Odor in Kitchen

7. Cleaning Microwave

Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda

Things You Can’t Mix with Bleach

With bleach’s ability to be a hazardous substance that can easily contaminate a whole environment when mixed with other incompatible substances.

Those substances include:

1. Alcohol

2. Ammonia 

3. Vinegar

4. Toilet Bowl Cleaner

5. Multiple Drain Cleaners

Instead of explaining how hazardous it is to mix bleach with alcohol, ammonia, vinegar, toilet bowl cleaner, and multiple drain cleaners, let’s assume you want to use one of this in a mixture with bleach, and then the whole area in which you’re mixing stuff turns into a fuming gas, intensively bad odor, burns in the eyes and skin, and more.

I think imagining how bad it’ll be for you and the whole house’s environment will turn you away from attempting to mix stuff up.

Here’s a video explaining the situation further:


Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda FAQ


To Wrap Up

Can You Mix Bleach and Baking Soda? Yes, you can, but safety precautions explained in this guide will pave your way towards creating the mixture safely.

Moreover, we provided you with lists of substances that can’t and shouldn’t be mixed with either baking soda or bleach, take a good look at it before attempting to mix either substances with other ingredients.

If you have any other questions in mind, feel free to ask us in the comment section below, and our CleanersAdvisor experts will help you with it.