On the internet, a tip has been popping up: place a glass of water with baking soda on the nightstand before going to bed. Some promise a healthier bedroom, a more soothing sleep, or even a kind of “cleansing” of the atmosphere. The idea is intriguing, especially since baking soda already has a well-established place in our cleaning cupboards.
The tip has circulated enough for a media outlet like TN, in Argentina, to devote an article to it on September 6, 2026. The principle remains the same: an open container with a little water, a small amount of baking soda, and you let it work overnight beside the bed. It remains to understand what this mixture actually changes in the room’s air.
Glass of water and baking soda beside the bed: what is it for
In the TN article, the authors first remind that baking soda is already used to neutralize odors in the home, for example in the refrigerator or closets. They describe the practice as: “Leaving a glass with water and baking soda next to the bed is a home trick that some people have incorporated into their nightly routine.” In other words, the bedroom becomes just a new area for applying this principle.
According to TN, “one of the main objectives of this trick is to help reduce bad odors in enclosed spaces.” The water-baking soda mix captures and neutralizes certain compounds responsible for bad odors, which can soften a musty smell. The media also recalls that “this is not an air-purifying method and there is no evidence that it improves sleep quality on its own.” An article from El Cronista adds that the effect remains limited and does not replace good ventilation.
Baking soda in the bedroom: why many people recommend it
If this trick comes up online so often, it is primarily because it extends a very common usage. TN notes that “sodium bicarbonate is typically used across different areas of the home to neutralize odors.” Putting a glass of water and baking soda next to the bed simply moves this principle into the bedroom: an open container in contact with the sleeping air for several hours.
TN also cites another reason, more symbolic. On the internet, some people associate this glass of water with feng shui or with rituals of “energetic cleansing” of the place. The outlet clarifies that these practices fall within the realm of beliefs and “should not be confused with an effect demonstrated scientifically.” It states that there is no scientific proof that a glass of water with baking soda can eliminate negative energies.
Glass of water with baking soda near the bed: instructions and limits
For those who want to try it, TN advises placing the container near the bed, open, to stay in contact with the room’s air during the night. “The container must stay stable, away from the edge of the nightstand and out of reach of children or pets,” the outlet insists, in order to avoid spills.
El Cronista notes that baking soda only absorbs a small portion of the humidity and certain odor compounds, without replacing ventilation or a dehumidifier. Ootravaux suggests a comfortable indoor humidity around 40 to 60%, a level that a simple glass on the nightstand cannot correct: in case of persistent odor, it is therefore necessary to air out, address humidity, and, if needed, equip yourself. Ootravaux also specifies that mixing white vinegar and baking soda in the same container neutralizes them, leaving only a slightly saline water that is not very helpful against odors.
