Baking soda has genuine, if limited, uses in this context, worth understanding alongside where it isn’t the right choice.
Effective for odor absorption in enclosed spaces
An open container of baking soda placed inside a wine cooler or cabinet can help absorb mild odors over time, similar to its common household use in refrigerators — a reasonable passive approach for a persistent mild smell.
Mildly abrasive, so avoid on delicate or polished finishes
As a mild abrasive, baking soda paste can help with some stuck-on residue, but the same caution covered in our stainless steel and bar cart finish notes applies — avoid it on polished, lacquered, or otherwise delicate finishes where any abrasive risks dulling the surface.
Not a substitute for a dedicated beer line or CO2-system cleaner
For beer line or dispensing system cleaning specifically, a dedicated cleaning product (see our note on vinegar not being a substitute either) remains the appropriate choice — baking soda isn’t formulated for that specific job.
What to do in practice
Use baking soda for mild odor absorption or light abrasive cleaning on non-delicate surfaces, and avoid it on polished finishes or as a substitute for dedicated dispensing-system cleaners.
What we would not do
Recommend baking soda as a general-purpose cleaner for every bar surface — it has specific, useful applications but isn’t right for delicate finishes or as a beer line cleaning substitute.
Last reviewed 25 August 2026