Arm & Hammer Baking Soda 5-lb Review: The Ultimate Household Essential Worth Every Penny?

Few products have earned the kind of universal trust that Arm & Hammer Baking Soda commands. With over 35,000 reviews and a stellar 4.8-star rating on Amazon, this 5-lb box of pure sodium bicarbonate has cemented itself as a household staple for generations. But does it truly deserve the hype, or are consumers simply riding a wave of brand loyalty? We put it through its paces across cleaning, deodorizing, baking, and personal care applications to deliver this comprehensive Arm & Hammer Baking Soda 5-lb review. At just $7.99 for five full pounds, the value proposition is hard to ignore — but let us dig deeper to see if it earns our recommendation.

Whether you are a frugal homeowner looking for a single product that can replace a cabinet full of specialty cleaners, a home baker who demands consistent leavening results, or someone who wants a natural and chemical-free alternative for personal care, this review covers everything you need to know before purchasing. We evaluated texture consistency, purity, packaging durability, shelf life, and real-world performance across more than a dozen common use cases.

Key Specifications

Design and Build Quality

When reviewing a product as seemingly simple as baking soda, design and build quality really comes down to two things: the purity of the product itself and the practicality of the packaging. Arm & Hammer delivers well on both fronts, though not without a minor caveat.

The baking soda itself is USP-grade and aluminum-free, which means it meets the strict purity standards set by the United States Pharmacopeia. This is the same grade used in pharmaceutical and food-grade applications, so you can feel confident using it in recipes, toothpaste mixtures, or even as an antacid. The powder is uniformly fine with no visible clumps or foreign particles — a testament to Arm & Hammer’s long-established refining process that has been in operation since 1846.

The 5-lb box is constructed from sturdy cardboard with a fold-over top closure. It is functional and does an adequate job of keeping moisture out when stored in a dry pantry. However, the closure mechanism is not truly resealable in the zip-lock sense. For long-term storage, we recommend transferring the contents to an airtight container or using a bag clip to keep the opening firmly sealed. This is a minor inconvenience rather than a dealbreaker, and it is worth noting that the cardboard construction is fully recyclable, which aligns with environmentally conscious purchasing decisions.

The box itself features clear labeling with usage instructions for baking, cleaning, deodorizing, and personal care printed directly on the packaging. This is especially helpful for first-time buyers or anyone looking to explore the product’s versatility beyond their primary use case. The print is legible and the layout is well-organized, making it easy to reference specific measurements and dilution ratios on the fly.

Real-World Performance

This is where the Arm & Hammer Baking Soda 5-lb truly earns its reputation. We tested it across multiple real-world scenarios, and it performed admirably in nearly every category.

Baking and Cooking: As a leavening agent, this baking soda is flawless. We tested it in banana bread, buttermilk pancakes, chocolate chip cookies, and homemade pizza dough. In each case, the rise was consistent and predictable, producing light and fluffy textures with no metallic or off-putting aftertaste. The fine, uniform granule size dissolves quickly and distributes evenly through batter, which is critical for achieving consistent results. Professional and home bakers alike will find zero issues here.

Cleaning and Scrubbing: Mixed into a paste with water, this baking soda tackled baked-on grease on stovetops, stained coffee mugs, and grimy grout lines with impressive effectiveness. We tested it against a commercial kitchen degreaser on a stainless steel pan with burnt residue, and while the degreaser worked slightly faster, the baking soda paste achieved the same end result within a few extra minutes of scrubbing — without any harsh chemical fumes or residue. It also proved excellent on stainless steel sinks, ceramic tiles, and glass bakeware.

Odor Elimination: An open box placed in the refrigerator noticeably reduced the smell of leftover fish and strong cheeses within 24 hours. We also sprinkled it on carpets before vacuuming and tested it as a shoe deodorizer. In all cases, it performed as well or better than purpose-built deodorizing products that cost significantly more. The 5-lb size is particularly advantageous here because you can dedicate a generous amount to deodorizing tasks without worrying about running out for your baking needs.

Personal Care: We tested it as a DIY toothpaste ingredient, a gentle facial exfoliant, and a bath soak additive. As a tooth cleaner, a small amount on a wet toothbrush effectively removed surface stains, though we recommend limiting this to once or twice a week to avoid enamel wear. As a bath soak (half a cup in a warm bath), it left skin feeling notably softer and helped soothe minor skin irritation. The aluminum-free, USP-grade purity is especially important for these personal care applications.

Laundry Booster: Adding half a cup to a regular wash load brightened whites and helped neutralize stubborn odors in gym clothes and towels. It works synergistically with both liquid and powder detergents, and we noticed a meaningful improvement in freshness compared to detergent alone, particularly on heavily soiled athletic wear.

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda 5-lb vs the Competition

To give you a clear picture of where the Arm & Hammer 5-lb stands in the market, we compared it against three popular alternatives across key metrics.

The Arm & Hammer 5-lb box offers one of the best per-ounce values among name-brand baking sodas. While generic store brands may edge it out slightly on raw cost per ounce, they often lack the guaranteed USP-grade purity and the brand’s established quality control standards. Bob’s Red Mill is an excellent product but at nearly four times the per-ounce price, it is a tough sell for consumers who use baking soda for cleaning and deodorizing in addition to baking. The 365 by Whole Foods option is a solid mid-range alternative, but its smaller size means you will be repurchasing far more frequently.

Where Arm & Hammer stands apart from all competitors is brand trust and sheer volume of consumer validation. With over 35,000 reviews and a 4.8-star average, no other baking soda on the market comes close to this level of proven customer satisfaction. The 5-lb size also hits a sweet spot — large enough to be cost-effective for multi-purpose use, yet manageable enough that it will not go stale before you finish it in a typical household.

Who Should Buy

The Arm & Hammer Baking Soda 5-lb is an excellent purchase for a wide range of consumers. If you fall into any of the following categories, this product is a strong match for your needs:

• Home bakers who want a reliable, consistent, and pure leavening agent they can trust for every recipe.
• Budget-conscious households looking for a single affordable product that replaces multiple specialty cleaners, deodorizers, and personal care items.
• Eco-friendly consumers who prefer natural cleaning and personal care solutions over products loaded with synthetic chemicals.
• Families with pets who need a safe and non-toxic way to deodorize carpets, litter box areas, and pet bedding.
• DIY enthusiasts who enjoy making homemade cleaning products, bath bombs, toothpaste, or other personal care items.
• Anyone who uses baking soda regularly and wants the best per-ounce value from a trusted, USP-grade brand.

Who Should Skip

While this product is incredibly versatile, it is not the right fit for everyone. Consider skipping if:

• You rarely use baking soda. If your usage is limited to an occasional baking recipe once every few months, the 1-lb box is a more practical choice to ensure freshness.
• You need industrial-grade quantities. Commercial kitchens or professional cleaning operations will likely need the 13.5-lb bag or bulk pallet options for better long-term economy.
• You demand premium resealable packaging. If you live in a humid climate and do not want to transfer the product to a separate airtight container, you may prefer Bob’s Red Mill in its resealable bag.
• You are looking for a specialized cleaning product. While baking soda is remarkably versatile, heavily soiled industrial equipment or specific stain types may still require purpose-built chemical cleaners for optimal results.

FAQ

Is Arm & Hammer Baking Soda aluminum-free?

Yes, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda is 100% sodium bicarbonate and contains no aluminum. This is a common point of confusion because Arm & Hammer also manufactures baking powder products, some of which contain sodium aluminum sulfate as an ingredient. The pure baking soda, however, has always been aluminum-free and is safe for baking, personal care, and all other common household uses.

How long does the 5-lb box last once opened?

When stored properly in a cool, dry place, an opened box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda retains its full potency for approximately six months. For baking purposes, you can test its freshness by adding a teaspoon to a small amount of vinegar — if it bubbles vigorously, it is still active. For cleaning and deodorizing, the product remains effective well beyond the six-month mark. To maximize shelf life, transfer the contents to an airtight container after opening.

Can I use this baking soda for pool maintenance?

Yes, Arm & Hammer Baking Soda can be used to raise the alkalinity of pool water. Sodium bicarbonate is the active ingredient in many commercial pool alkalinity increasers, and using pure baking soda is a cost-effective alternative. For a typical residential pool, you will need approximately 1.5 pounds of baking soda per 10,000 gallons of water to raise alkalinity by 10 ppm. The 5-lb box is a practical size for routine pool chemistry adjustments.

Is this product safe for use on all surfaces?

Baking soda is safe for the vast majority of household surfaces, including stainless steel, ceramic, glass, porcelain, and most countertop materials. However, you should avoid using it on aluminum cookware, as it can cause discoloration. It should also be used with caution on natural stone surfaces like marble and granite, as its mild abrasiveness can dull polished finishes over time. Always test on a small, inconspicuous area first if you are unsure about compatibility with a specific surface.

Our Verdict

Score: 9.0/10

The Arm & Hammer Baking Soda 5-lb earns a well-deserved 9.0 out of 10 in our review. It is one of those rare products that genuinely lives up to its reputation and then some. The combination of USP-grade purity, exceptional versatility, proven track record with over 35,000 positive reviews, and an unbeatable price point of just $7.99 for five pounds makes this an easy recommendation for virtually any household.

The only reason it does not earn a perfect score is the packaging — the fold-over cardboard closure is functional but not ideal for long-term storage, particularly in humid environments. A true resealable closure or zip-lock mechanism would elevate this product from excellent to flawless. That said, this is a minor quibble that is easily solved with a bag clip or airtight container.

From baking fluffy pancakes to scrubbing stubborn stains, from freshening your refrigerator to soothing tired muscles in a warm bath, this single box handles it all with consistent, reliable results. When a product has been trusted by millions of households for nearly two centuries and still manages to earn a 4.8-star rating from tens of thousands of modern consumers, you know it has earned its place in your pantry. We recommend it without hesitation.

Pros:

• Exceptional value at just $0.075 per ounce for USP-grade purity
• Incredibly versatile across baking, cleaning, deodorizing, and personal care
• Aluminum-free and safe for food, skin, and oral care applications
• Consistent fine texture that dissolves easily and performs reliably
• Backed by over 35,000 reviews with a 4.8-star average rating
• 5-lb size is the ideal balance between value and practicality for most households

Cons:

• Fold-over box closure is not truly resealable and may allow moisture in over time
• Cardboard packaging is not as durable as a rigid plastic container for storage
• May be more product than occasional users need, as potency diminishes after six months once opened