Does Baking Soda Ruin Your Vacuum? - Savvy Natural Cleaning

Anyone who appreciates natural cleaning solutions knows that baking soda is extremely effective and versatile. But does baking soda ruin your vacuum? Get the answer and explanation here.

Baking soda is considered a holy grail product in many people’s cleaning routines. And with good reason! It is affordable, easy to find, completely natural, eco-friendly, and has excellent cleaning powers.

Baking soda can be used in numerous ways around the home. It’s great for use in washing machines to freshen up laundry. It’s also excellent at removing stains from soft furnishings and countertops. Additionally, baking soda is often used in carpet cleaning.

Its natural antibacterial and deodorizing abilities make it excellent at sanitizing carpet without a steam cleaner. More simply, baking soda can be used routinely for cleaning excess dirt from carpets. Typically, when used for this purpose, baking soda is sprinkled over the affected area and left to soak before being vacuumed up.

The baking soda works to neutralize odors and soak up any moisture. Its antibacterial properties also work to kill any mold, mildew, or bacteria living within the carpet. Carpets are notoriously difficult to clean, as dirt and moisture can make their way to the base layers of the carpet which is hard to reach with regular vacuuming. So, it’s easy to see why so many people opt to use baking soda for this purpose; it’s easy to use and highly effective.

However, some people have found that using baking soda in this way has caused damage to their vacuum cleaners. If this is the case, you could end up with a costly repair on your hands, or worst case scenario – you might end up having to replace your vacuum cleaner entirely.

Here, we are going to look at whether or not baking soda is safe to use with vacuum cleaners. We’ll take a look at how baking soda could potentially damage your vacuum cleaner, as well as methods to prevent any damage, and cleaning alternatives you could use, should you decide that baking soda is not the right option for you.

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For more ways to use baking soda, please see:

How Does Baking Soda Ruin Your Vacuum Cleaner?

Typically, when used in moderation, baking soda is not likely to cause damage to your vacuum cleaner. However, if too much baking soda is vacuumed up at one time, or you’re using your vacuum to remove baking soda on a very regular basis, problems can occur.

Because baking soda particles are so small, they can often make their way into the electric motor in the base of your vacuum. The motor will generally be sealed off from the suction area, but tiny particles can sometimes find their way in, particularly if you’re working with a slightly older or well-used vacuum cleaner.

These particles can cause irreparable damage to the vacuum cleaner’s motor, causing it to short out completely in some cases.

Similarly, baking soda particles can clog up your vacuum bag or HEPA filter. Although the particles are small, they can become lodged in the tiny pores within the vacuum’s filter. With prolonged use, these blockages will build up and eventually lead to poor suction power, overheating, and ultimately, shorting out of the vacuum.

Avoiding Damage to Your Vacuum While Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is no more dangerous to your vacuum cleaner than many other dust particles that are frequently found within the home. The issues tend to arise when large quantities of baking soda are vacuumed up.

If you do choose to use baking soda when cleaning your carpets, always use it in moderation. Over saturating the carpet will lead to excess baking soda being left at the base of the carpet, which might damage the fibers, and is more likely to cause damage to your vacuum cleaner.

Some vacuums are less susceptible to damage caused by small micro-particles such as baking soda.

If you have a bagless vacuum cleaner with easily removable filters, you might be able to thoroughly remove any baking soda residue after vacuuming. However, this is only a good idea if your vacuum is of good quality and has a highly efficient filtration system. Vacuums with poor filtration will allow baking soda particles to escape into the motor or exhaust, which can be super dangerous.

Check your particular make and model of vacuum to find out how well it will cope with micro-particles, and if you’re unsure, it’s always best to check with the manufacturer to avoid any damage or risk of danger.

Equally Effective Alternatives to Baking Soda

Understandably, you might decide that it’s best to simply avoid using your vacuum to remove the baking soda from your carpets. You might feel it’s simply not worth the risk, in which case, you’re probably wondering if there are other, equally effective methods of cleaning your carpet without risking the safety and efficiency of your vacuum cleaner.

Below, there are a couple of different techniques you could try out; each is highly effective and completely chemical and toxin-free.

Firstly, you could use white vinegar. Like baking soda, white vinegar is a great natural cleaning agent, with antibacterial and deodorizing capabilities. Simply mix equal parts distilled water with white vinegar in a clean spray bottle and spritz over your carpet for a quick, easy refresh.

If you’re looking for a deeper clean, you might need to go for thorough steam clean. Steam cleaning equipment can be expensive to purchase, but you could also hire a professional or rent a steam cleaner for a one-off deep clean. Water and cleaning solution will be dispelled into your carpet before being removed with the steam cleaner’s suction mechanism. This flushes out any dust or debris and also kills bacteria and mildew.

Related: Best Vacuums for Pet Hair

Final Thoughts on the question: Does Baking Soda Ruin Your Vacuum?

Many people use baking soda to clean their carpets effectively and without any issues. However, it is definitely possible to cause damage to your vacuum cleaner if baking soda is used in excess.

If you’re worried about baking soda damaging your vacuum cleaner, the only way to truly prevent this is to stop using baking soda altogether.

Should you decide that baking soda is no longer the right option for you, there are numerous other methods and products you could use to clean your carpets that are equally effective and all-natural, a couple of which are listed in this article.

Making the right choices for you and your household is always the most important thing! So always do plenty of research before trying out a new cleaning product or purchasing any cleaning equipment, to ensure you get the most for your money and don’t have to make any costly, avoidable repairs or replacements!

Now you know the answer to the question, does baking soda ruin your vacuum?