Where To Buy Bicarbonate of Soda In The UK In Bulk For Cleaning

Wondering where to buy bicarbonate of soda in bulk for all your green cleaning needs? Here are my top recommendations for where to source this natural cleaning must-have.

If there’s one green cleaning product I reach for almost every day, it’s bicarbonate of soda. Depending on where you are, you might know it as baking soda, sodium bicarbonate or bicarb.

The reason I use so much of it is that bicarbonate of soda has a wide range of uses when it comes to making natural cleaning products.

It deodorises smelly fridges, smelly carpets, and smelly drains with ease. It effectively scrubs shiny surfaces without leaving a scratch. Plus it softens fabrics and removes stains from clothing, and so much more.

In fact, bicarbonate of soda has so many useful properties when it comes to green cleaning, that I would be lost without it. I’ve put a full guide together on cleaning with bicarbonate of soda if you want to know more about this wonder cleaner.

Because I use bicarbonate of soda in so many different applications around my home, it is a product I tend to buy in bulk. Doing so is much more cost-effective than buying the little plastic tubs from the baking aisle of the supermarket.

And what’s more, it’s so much lower in plastic. Bulk bicarbonate of soda tends to come in cardboard boxes or paper bags. This means the bulk version has a reduced impact on the environment.

Where to Buy Bicarbonate of Soda In Bulk

From people starting out with green cleaning, I often get queries on sourcing ingredients. Specifically on where to buy bicarbonate of soda in larger quantities than what you might find in the baking aisle at the supermarket.

The good news is that 500 g boxes of bicarbonate of soda can be easily picked up in many hardware shops. You might also be able to find bicarbonate of soda in the cleaning aisle of larger supermarkets.

However, if you are struggling to find any boxes or you are looking to buy bicarbonate of soda in larger quantities for cleaning purposes or for making bath bombs, then don’t worry. Here are my favourite places to source this ingredient in bulk:

• Ethical Superstore
• Big Green Smile
• &Keep
• Etsy
• Amazon

Ethical Superstore

If you are just getting started on your natural cleaning journey then you may just want a smaller bulk box of bicarbonate of soda. Ethical Superstore sells a 500 g cardboard box of non-food safe bicarbonate of soda for just £1.85. Alternatively, you can buy a case of six boxes for £11.34 should you require a much larger quantity.

As Ethical Superstore sells a range of natural cleaning ingredients, I often pick up a box when I’m buying citric acid in bulk or liquid Castile soap.

Big Green Smile

If you are looking for bicarbonate of soda in larger quantities then Big Green Smile sells a bulk 1 kg bag of bicarbonate of soda for £5.15. Packaged in a brown paper bag, it’s plastic-free. And you can buy other natural cleaning ingredients and eco-friendly household products here too.

I don’t think this product is food-safe, so don’t use it in your baking!

&Keep

Plastic-free retailer &Keep sells a bulk 750 g bag of bicarbonate of soda for £4.95. This is food-grade bicarbonate of soda, so you can use it in your baking too.

In keeping with &Keep’s plastic-free ethos, this bicarbonate of soda comes in plastic-free, resealable packaging. What’s more, the bag is home-compostable once you have used it all up.

Etsy

As Etsy is the place for crafters to pick up crafting supplies, it’s no surprise that you can find bicarbonate of soda in bulk here. Aimed at bath bomb makers, their bulk bicarbonate of soda comes in 25 kg bags. However, do a bit of digging and you’ll find smaller quantities more suited to green cleaning.

I wouldn’t imagine this bicarbonate of soda is suitable for use in baking. However, if you have any queries do ask each individual seller.

Amazon

Whilst I try to avoid Amazon on the grounds of tax avoidance, human rights issues, and environmental issues, I understand that not everyone can.

If Amazon is the most accessible option for you, then Amazon sells bicarbonate of soda. Here you can find bicarbonate of soda in bulk for green cleaning, with container sizes ranging from 1 kg up to a whopping 25 kg, and every size in between.

Unless you are planning on making bath bombs on a commercial scale, then it is unlikely you would ever need bicarbonate of soda in any size larger than 2 kg. For reference, I use around 500 g of bicarbonate of soda when I make a batch of laundry powder. I then use tiny amounts when making anything else.

What’s the Difference Between Food Safe and Non-Food Safe Bicarbonate of Soda?

I have often wondered what the difference is between food-safe and non-food-safe bicarbonate of soda.

Thankfully, I’ve been able to clear this up. Dripak, who produces boxes of bicarbonate of soda for cleaning says that its version is exactly the same product that is used in the tubs that you find in the baking aisle. The only difference is that it has not been packed on a ‘food safe’ line.

That means that the bicarbonate of soda is packed on a line that may also be packing citric acid or borax substitute. This means they can’t recommend it for culinary purposes in case of cross-contamination. I suspect this is the case for many other brands of bicarbonate of soda. However, the non-food-safe bicarbonate of soda is perfectly safe for cleaning with.

What Is The Shelf Life of Bicarbonate of Soda?

In baking, the rule is that once a box of bicarbonate of soda is opened, it is good for around six months to a year. Unopened boxes should be good for around two years.

When it comes to cleaning, however, these rules don’t apply. For bicarbonate of soda that is used purely for cleaning, there is no expiration date. Bicarbonate of soda can be used indefinitely past its best-by date. However, it can lose its potency over time.

To test if your bicarbonate of soda is still potent, take a spoonful and add a drop of vinegar. If it fizzes up then it’s still potent and can be used in all of your natural cleaning applications. If it doesn’t fizz up, then there’s no need to discard it. Keep that bicarbonate of soda for scouring purposes!