Baking soda sprinkled around the base of the toilet acts as a natural moisture absorber and helps neutralize the odors that build up in that corner of the bathroom, but it does not kill bacteria or viruses and does not replace regular cleaning. That’s according to the outlet El Cronista, in an article updated on August 19, 2026, which explains that the method involves scattering a thin layer over an already-dry floor and letting it sit for several hours or even overnight before sweeping it up.
It’s worth remembering that the area surrounding the bowl is one of the trickiest spots in any bathroom: condensation, dust, and small splashes all collect there, a combination that eventually produces that stubborn smell no amount of surface scrubbing seems to fix.
What Baking Soda Actually Does in That Spot
The logic behind the trick is simple. Because it’s a hygroscopic product — meaning it pulls moisture out of the surrounding air — baking soda keeps the perimeter of the toilet drier. And where moisture doesn’t accumulate, odors have far less room to develop.
Beyond that main function, there are other advantages that explain its popularity in households:
- It neutralizes odors instead of masking them with fragrance.
- It makes later cleaning easier, since it helps loosen dirt stuck to the floor and to the seam at the base.
- It cuts back on harsh chemicals, being a natural and very inexpensive product.
- It leaves no strong scent, something especially valued by people with asthma, allergies, or sensitivity to heavy fragrances.
What This Trick Can’t Do
Here’s the caveat worth underlining. Baking soda is not a disinfectant: it controls moisture and tames odors, but it does nothing about bacteria or viruses. Anyone using it as a substitute for bleach or another disinfectant will end up with a bathroom that’s dirtier than it seems.
The recommendation is to treat it as a supplement to a cleaning routine, never as a replacement for a deep clean. In other words: clean and disinfect first, as usual, and bring in the baking soda afterward, during the maintenance stage.
How to Apply It, Step by Step
The procedure is straightforward and takes only a few minutes:
- Sweep and clean the bathroom floor, making sure the area around the toilet is completely dry. If there’s standing water, the powder clumps and loses its effectiveness.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda around the entire base and let it sit for several hours or overnight, depending on how much moisture the room holds.
- Remove the product with a broom, a soft-bristle brush, or a damp cloth.
The process can be repeated as often as needed as part of a regular household cleaning routine. In interior bathrooms with no window or poor ventilation, doing it more frequently makes sense.
A Cheap Method, but One With Limits
The appeal of baking soda lies in the combination of low cost, availability at any supermarket, and the absence of irritating fumes — three factors that have made it a staple of home cleaning. That said, expectations should stay realistic: it improves that sense of freshness and helps manage moisture, but the underlying problem — a poorly sealed joint, a leak at the base, or inadequate ventilation — calls for a different fix. If the smell persists despite cleaning, the sensible move is to check the toilet’s seal rather than keep reaching for home remedies.
