Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is a multifaceted, human-safe cleaning ingredient (and food ingredient) beloved by DIY cleaners and used in Branch Basics.

This simple, gentle, and safe mineral salt offers a wealth of benefits, including natural bleaching, stain removal, deodorizing, no-scratch scouring, fabric softening, and more.

Here, you’ll learn all about why we use baking soda in Branch Basics Oxygen Boost, and how you can use it to create a healthier home.

Key Takeaways

• Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is a key ingredient in Branch Basics Oxygen Boost.
  
• As a natural mineral salt, sodium bicarbonate is human-safe, environmentally-friendly, and incredibly versatile in low-tox cleaning products.
  
• Sodium bicarbonate is used in Branch Basics as a natural laundry booster, stain remover, fabric softener, mold cleaner, degreaser, and deodorizer.

What Is Sodium Bicarbonate? 

Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, is a natural mineral salt with the formula NAHCO3.[1]

It is a fine, white powder that’s highly alkaline and reacts with acidic compounds, such as vinegar, to produce a fizzy acid-base reaction.

As a natural mineral salt, it is safe to ingest and is used as a leavening agent in baked goods, as an antacid, and an electrolyte.

Baking soda is also a common ingredient in DIY skin and bathcare products (think bath bombs, dry shampoos, and natural deodorant), detox baths, natural pesticides, and homemade cleaning products.

Why Does Branch Basics Use Sodium Bicarbonate? 

We chose to use sodium bicarbonate in Oxygen Boost for its natural bleaching, stain removal, scouring, detergent boosting, fabric softening, and deodorizing properties.

How Does Sodium Bicarbonate Work In Branch Basics? 

Sodium bicarbonate is used in Branch Basics Oxygen Boost as a:

• Detergent booster
  
• Bleach alternative
  
• Natural deodorizer
  
• Fabric softener
  
• Gentle abrasive
  
• Mold remover
  
• Degreaser
  
• Stain remover
  
• Whitener and brightener
  
• Gentle buffer

Oxygen Boost is a two-ingredient, mineral-based laundry booster, scouring agent, stain remover, and bleach alternative made from sodium bicarbonate and sodium percarbonate (also known as powdered peroxide).

It has multiple uses for cleaning surfaces, sinks, mold removal, scouring, grout, tile, laundry, and stain removal, and can be combined with Branch Basics Laundry, All-Purpose, or Bathroom for a powerful, bleach-free clean.

Learn more in: How To Use Branch Basics Oxygen Boost [Complete Guide]

Where Does Sodium Bicarbonate Come From?

Sodium bicarbonate is a natural mineral found in the Earth’s crust, primarily from ancient dried-up saltwater lakes, such as Wyoming’s Green River Basin.

It’s created from sodium-rich minerals in the earth, like trona, a natural mineral composed of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and water.

Trona is collected from underground deposits, crushed, and heated to evaporate the water, creating sodium carbonate.

From there, carbon dioxide and water are added to create sodium bicarbonate (NAHCO3).

There are no synthetic chemicals used in the production of baking soda, just heat, water, and carbon dioxide, making it a naturally synthetic-chemical-free product.

Unlike baking powder, which requires an acid to work (such as sodium aluminum sulfate or sodium aluminum phosphate), sodium bicarbonate is naturally free of aluminum.

What Harmful Ingredients Does Sodium Bicarbonate Replace? 

Sodium bicarbonate is truly an ingredient of a dozen (or more) uses. In Branch Basics, we use it to replace:

• Chlorine bleach
  
• Ammonia
  
• Harsh alkalis, like those found in stain removers and drain cleaners
  
• Talcum powder
  
• Quats and other harsh disinfectants*
  
  • *Note: Although not a disinfectant replacement, baking soda can physically remove dirt, grease, and germs
    
• Optical brighteners, such as:
  
  • Disodium distyrylbiphenyl disulfonate (DDD)
    
  • Fluorescent brightener
    
  • Fluorescent brightener #71
    
  • Fluorescent brightener 28 sodium salt 
    
  • Tinopal CBS-X
    
• Synthetic deodorizers and odor absorbers
  
• Harsh abrasives
  
• Petroleum-based solvents, like:
  
  • Mineral spirits
    
  • Naphthas
    
  • Petroleum distillates
    
  • Tolune
    
  • Benzene
    
• Irritating and harmful synthetic fabric softener ingredients, including:
  
  • Benzyl acetate 
    
  • Limonene
    
  • Chloroform 
    
  • Dichlorobenzene
    
  • Benzyl alcohol
    
  • Camphor 
    
  • Biodegradable cationic softeners
    
  • Alpha terpineol 
    
  • Pentane 
    
  • Linalool
    
• Synthetic fragrances, which can contain dozens of undisclosed ingredients, including endocrine-disrupting phthalates
  
• Degreasers
  
• Detergent boosters, which may contain synthetic surfactants, alcohol ethoxylates, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LABS)
  
• Stain-removing chemicals, like bleach, ammonia, and 2-Butoxyethanol (ethylene glycol ether)

One simple mineral ingredient, so many uses!

What’s Marilee’s Take On Sodium Bicarbonate? 

Branch Basics co-founder Marilee Nelson shares her insights on sodium bicarbonate: “I’ve been using baking soda for years in my own home and with my clients with chemical sensitivities, so it was a strong ingredient contender for Branch Basics from the start.”

During formulations, the team discovered that baking soda worked even better when combined with sodium percarbonate, another natural mineral-based salt also known as powdered peroxide.

“When we put them together, they magnified the attributes of the other, creating a highly effective yet human-safe laundry booster, stain remover, bleach alternative, and scouring agent (Oxygen Boost) that worked on just about any type of stain.”

Oxygen Boost remains one of Branch Basics’ top-sellers, and is included in our Premium Starter Kit, Ultimate Starter Kit, and Laundry Kit for cleaning, laundry, mold removal, stain removal, and more.

Sodium Bicarbonate FAQs

Looking for more info on sodium bicarbonate? Let’s answer some FAQs.

Q: Is Sodium Bicarbonate Bad For You?

A: No. When used as directed, sodium bicarbonate is considered a natural mineral salt, and is safe for human use in cleaning products, cooking, medicines, and personal care.

Like all powders, however, it should not be inhaled as this could irritate the lungs.

Q: How Does Sodium Bicarbonate Support Branch Basics' “Human Safe” Standard?

A: Sodium bicarbonate supports our human safe standards based on its robust history of safe use, natural origins, biodegradability, and that it is a non-irritant even for sensitive individuals.

Learn more about our standards in: What Is Human Safe?

Q: What Are The Side Effects of Sodium Bicarbonate? 

A: When used as a cleaning ingredient as directed, sodium bicarbonate should not produce side effects.

Incorrect use, such as inhalation, could result in lung irritation, and those with very sensitive skin may experience skin irritation (but not typically) due to prolonged direct contact. Use gloves if you have any concerns or a past history of skin irritation from baking soda.

Ingestion of sodium bicarbonate, especially in larger amounts than recommended or typical, can cause gastrointestinal upset and thirst.

Even though our products are made with the safest plant and mineral-based ingredients, ingestion of Branch Basics products, including Oxygen Boost, is NEVER recommended.

Q: Is Sodium Bicarbonate The Same As Baking Soda? 

A: Yes, sodium bicarbonate is the same as baking soda.

Q: Is Sodium Bicarbonate Natural? 

A: Yes, as a natural mineral salt sourced from the earth, sodium bicarbonate is considered a natural product.

Reference:

1. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium-bicarbonate