Baking Soda vs Bicarbonate of Soda: The UK Cleaning Guide

Yes — in the UK, "baking soda" and "bicarbonate of soda" are exactly the same thing. Both names refer to sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), a fine white powder used for baking, cleaning, deodorising, descaling, and a dozen other household jobs.

But the naming confuses almost everyone, especially when recipes jump between UK and American terminology. "Baking soda" is the American name. "Bicarbonate of soda" (often shortened to "bicarb" or "bicarb of soda") is what British supermarkets put on the packet. Some shops stock both names on different products — identical chemical, different label, occasionally different price.

This guide covers everything UK households want to know: what bicarbonate of soda actually is, how it's different from baking powder (which is not the same), the cleaning uses that genuinely work, and where to buy it in the UK without getting gouged.

Baking soda vs bicarbonate of soda: what they really are

Both names refer to the same pure chemical compound: sodium bicarbonate, a naturally occurring mineral salt. The formula is NaHCO₃ — one sodium atom, one hydrogen, one carbon, three oxygen. A mildly alkaline powder (pH around 8.3), water-soluble, food-safe, and when it meets an acid (vinegar, lemon juice, citric acid) it fizzes, releasing carbon dioxide. That reaction is what makes it useful for both baking and cleaning.

The reason you'll see both names on UK shelves is purely historical:

• Bicarbonate of soda is the traditional British name, derived from the old chemistry term "bicarbonate" plus the original mineral source ("soda ash").
• Baking soda is the American name, shortened from "baking sodium bicarbonate".
• Bicarb is informal British shorthand for the same thing.
• Sodium bicarbonate is the chemical name on scientific literature and pharmaceutical packaging.

If you see any of those four names on a packet in a UK supermarket, it's all identical powder. No difference in strength, no difference in purity, no difference in how it behaves.

What about baking powder? That's different

This is where a lot of recipes go wrong. Baking soda and baking powder are not the same thing — they're different products, and they're not interchangeable.

Rule of thumb for recipes: if the ingredient list says bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice/buttermilk/vinegar, the acid is there to activate the bicarb. If it says baking powder with no acidic ingredient, that's deliberate — the powder already contains its acid.

If you only ever buy one, buy bicarbonate of soda. You can make baking powder from it (1 part bicarb + 2 parts cream of tartar) but you can't use baking powder for cleaning.

The best cleaning uses for bicarbonate of soda (that actually work)

The internet is full of "50 uses for baking soda" articles. Most of them exaggerate or get the chemistry wrong. These are the cleaning uses we've tested in real UK kitchens and bathrooms — the ones that genuinely work.

1. Deodorising the fridge (effortless)

Put 100g of bicarb in a small open jar or dish on the middle shelf. Replace every 3 months. It works because bicarbonate of soda is amphoteric — meaning it neutralises both acidic and alkaline smells, not just one direction. Regular charcoal filters only handle one.

2. Cleaning burnt pans (the one trick that works)

Cover the burnt bottom with a 1cm layer of water, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of bicarb across it, bring to a gentle boil for 10 minutes. Let it cool, scrape off what lifts. Repeat if needed. This works because the bicarbonate softens the carbon bond between the burn and the metal. Vinegar does the opposite (hardens carbon) — don't mix them for this job.

3. Removing smells from carpets, sofas, mattresses

Sprinkle a fine layer, leave for 4–6 hours (overnight is better), vacuum off. Works on pet smells, sweat, spills. It's not a magic eraser — if the odour has soaked into the padding, you'll need to replace that — but for surface smells it's consistently effective.

4. Descaling kettles (as good as citric acid)

2 tablespoons of bicarb + enough water to cover the element, boil for 5 minutes, rinse thoroughly. For heavy limescale, follow with a white vinegar boil (our 5L white vinegar is decades of kettle descaling in one bottle).

5. Bathroom grout and tile haze

Mix to a paste with water (roughly 3:1 bicarb to water), scrub into grout with an old toothbrush, leave 10 minutes, rinse. Removes pink mould spots and general bathroom grime without needing bleach.

6. Unblocking slow drains (maintenance, not emergency)

Pour 100g of bicarb down the drain followed by 250ml of white vinegar. Leave 15 minutes, flush with a full kettle of hot water. This maintains clear drains — it won't clear a fully blocked drain. For that you need mechanical unblocking or a dedicated drain cleaner.

7. Cleaning the oven (baked-on grease)

Make a paste with water, spread across the oven floor and door (avoid the heating element), leave 8 hours or overnight, wipe off with a damp cloth. Finish with white vinegar to neutralise and shine. This replaces commercial oven cleaners (most of which contain sodium hydroxide — genuinely caustic).

8. Washing machine maintenance

Once a month: 200g of bicarb in the drum, 250ml of white vinegar in the detergent compartment, run an empty cycle at 90°C. Kills the bacterial build-up in drum seals that causes towels to smell musty.

Cleaning uses to be sceptical about

These get repeated online but are either marginal or outright wrong:

• Removing laundry stains on its own — bicarb alone isn't a stain remover. It helps boost detergent if you add a tablespoon to the drum, but it won't lift stains by itself. For stains, use a dedicated stain remover or a proper detergent like our BioPure Laundry Sheets.
• Whitening teeth — it's abrasive enough to remove surface staining, but too abrasive for long-term use. Dentists don't recommend it.
• As a general spray cleaner — bicarb isn't water-soluble enough to spray. You can make a paste, but you can't really make a "bicarb spray" without it clogging the nozzle and leaving white residue.
• Mixed with vinegar for general cleaning — the fizz is theatrical but once the reaction is done, you're left with mildly salty water. Either bicarb or vinegar alone is usually more effective than the two mixed.

Where to buy bicarbonate of soda in the UK

Prices vary massively for the same product. A few options, from cheapest to most expensive:

Important: check that you're buying food-grade bicarbonate of soda, not industrial-grade. Industrial-grade (sold for pool maintenance and water treatment) is still sodium bicarbonate but hasn't been certified for food safety. For baking or anywhere it might touch food surfaces, stick with food-grade.

Bicarbonate of soda and natural cleaning: the pairing that works

The most useful UK cleaning stack, in our experience, is three products:

• Bicarbonate of soda for scrubbing, deodorising, and alkaline cleaning jobs.
• White vinegar for acidic jobs — descaling, glass, limescale, bathrooms.
• A plant-based surfactant cleaner for everyday grease — surfaces, hobs, worktops.

Between the three, you cover 95% of household cleaning without needing any chemical-branded products. We formulate white vinegar specifically for cleaning use and SurFACE multi-surface spray for grease — pair either with bicarbonate of soda from any supermarket and you've got a genuinely effective, low-chemical cleaning kit.

Frequently asked questions

Is baking soda and bicarbonate of soda the same thing?

Yes. They're two names for the identical chemical compound — sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃). "Baking soda" is the American term, "bicarbonate of soda" is the British term. Same white powder, same uses, same reactions.

Is baking soda the same as bicarb of soda?

Yes — "bicarb of soda" is just an informal shortening of "bicarbonate of soda", which is the British name for baking soda. All three refer to the same sodium bicarbonate.

What is baking soda in the UK?

In the UK it's almost always sold as "bicarbonate of soda" — usually in a small 200g tub in the baking aisle of supermarkets, alongside flour and cornflour. "Baking soda" written on American recipes is the exact same thing.

Is baking powder the same as bicarbonate of soda?

No — this is a common mistake. Baking powder contains bicarbonate of soda plus a dry acid (cream of tartar) and starch filler. You can substitute 1 teaspoon of bicarb for 3 teaspoons of baking powder if you add something acidic (like lemon juice or buttermilk) to the recipe.

Is sodium bicarbonate the same as baking soda?

Yes. Sodium bicarbonate is the chemical name; baking soda is the American common name; bicarbonate of soda is the British common name. All three are NaHCO₃.

Can you use baking soda and bicarbonate of soda interchangeably?

Completely. A recipe calling for 1 teaspoon of baking soda takes 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda — no conversion, no weight adjustment, no difference.

Why does bicarbonate of soda fizz with vinegar?

Because bicarb is alkaline and vinegar is acidic. When they meet, they react to form sodium acetate + water + carbon dioxide gas. The fizz is the CO₂. The reaction is visually dramatic but chemically neutralising — once done, you're left with salty water. So mixing them for "extra cleaning power" is actually weaker than using either alone.

Is bicarbonate of soda safe for septic systems?

Yes. It's OECD biodegradable (it's literally a natural mineral), pH-neutral after reaction, and doesn't disrupt the bacteria in a septic tank. One of the few cleaning products that's genuinely septic-safe without caveats.

Can bicarbonate of soda go off?

It doesn't go "off" in the food-safety sense, but it loses potency over time as it absorbs moisture and atmospheric acids. For baking, replace every 6–12 months. For cleaning, it's still effective after years — just less fizzy.

How is bicarbonate of soda different from washing soda?

Washing soda (sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃) is stronger and more alkaline (pH around 11). It's better for heavy laundry stains and grease but is caustic enough to require gloves. Bicarbonate of soda (pH 8.3) is gentle enough for everyday use without protection.

Got a cleaning question we haven't covered here? Email us — we answer personally. Family of three, no support team, no script.