Does baking soda go bad?

If stored improperly, baking soda can lose its potency and its leavening ability, meaning that it has gone bad. If it is properly stored in a dark, dry location in a sealed container, baking soda has an indefinite shelf life.

Baking soda is one of the most versatile items people can have in their household. In addition to its primary uses as a leavening agent for baked goods and as an odor absorber in refrigerators, baking soda has innumerable other uses:

• Combined with vinegar, baking soda can work to unclog drains
• Mixed with water to form a paste, it works as a salve for burns or insect bites
• Sprinkle on a surface covered with snow or ice to improved traction and melt snow without causing damage to the surface or shoes
• Adding a small amount of baking soda to a damp sponge can remove coffee and tea stains from cups.