# gargling with salt water vs. salt water + baking soda **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 8, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054 "2009-10-08T15:24:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/1 "2009-10-08T15:24:05Z")
Ah, flu season. So a recommendation is going around my office to gargle with warm salt water a couple times a day, to disinfect one’s throat. It’s something I’ve done all my life when I get that “I’m about to get sick!” tickle in my throat, and it often does stave off a cold. What’s new to me is the idea of gargling as a preventative measure, but it makes sense. I was gargling with warm salt water last night and Mr. Horseshoe says, “You should add some baking soda to that.” He was not, upon further questioning, able to tell me _why_ the baking soda should be added to the salt. Just that this was how it was done when he was growing up. So, Dopers: does adding baking soda to the warm-salty-water-gargle solution do any good? Does it help kill germs better that way? I’d never heard of the baking soda part before. ---
**Author:** ![pan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@pan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pan1)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/2 "2009-10-08T15:27:41Z")
baking soda kills some germs. salt kills some germs. Using both = killing more germs. Whether any of the germs these kill would otherwise make you sick, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/3 "2009-10-08T16:17:57Z")
I never heard of baking soda having any antiseptic properties. I guess that’s the germ of my question. Salt, sure, but baking soda? ---
**Author:** ![pan1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e495f1/32.png) [@pan1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pan1)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/4 "2009-10-08T16:37:20Z")
you do realize that baking soda is just another type of salt. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/5 "2009-10-08T22:36:24Z")
Baking soda is basic and could be caustic to various infectious agents. It’s a mild base (only 8 or so in pH) so it’s not going to hurt you like gargling lye would. Bacteria actually survive slightly better in basic environments than acidic ones, but other things (including fungi such as yeasts) prefer acidic environments. I’m not sure how viruses feel about it. That said, I always thought the point of gargling baking soda was to neutralize acid in your mouth that might cause tooth decay. I’ve never heard of it being used as an antiseptic. I would suggest gargling with diluted peroxide rather than either salt or baking soda if you’re looking to prevent colds. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/6 "2009-10-08T22:50:25Z")
As a kid, I had a bad case of strep throat…gargling with vodka really seemed to help. ---
**Author:** ![Baby\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@Baby\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baby_Driver)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/7 "2009-10-08T23:09:18Z")
I reckon baking soda is killing _something_. My housemate says she grew up brushing her teeth with baking soda instead of toothpaste. I’d probably pitch a spoonful into the gargle for good measure - it won’t hurt, may help. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/8 "2009-10-09T06:02:29Z")
Baking soda in water is slightly basic. Gargling with that after vomiting helps to neutralize stomach acid that is in your throat, and seems to help clean up that bad feeling in your throat. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/9 "2009-10-09T06:27:14Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > …I’ve never heard of it being used as an antiseptic. Yeah, I wonder if it actually “kills” the germs. I’ve always thought it just limits their capacity to spread. > [@dracoi](#): > > I would suggest gargling with diluted peroxide rather than either salt or baking soda if you’re looking to prevent colds. That’s what I use–half peroxide and half water. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/10 "2009-10-09T17:06:50Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > … > > I would suggest gargling with diluted peroxide rather than either salt or baking soda if you’re looking to prevent colds. No, no, no! [Peroxide is bad](http://www.tesh.com/ittrium/visit?path=A1xc797x1y1xa5x1x76y1x241fx1x9by1x2424x1y5x1952fx5x1) for your mucous membranes. I haven’t heard about the baking soda remedy, but I know consuming peroxide is not a good idea. Your are quite possibly doing more damage than good. Mucous membranes protect you from infection and damaging them is never a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/11 "2009-10-09T18:18:47Z")
> [@Baby\_Driver](#): > > I reckon baking soda is killing _something_. My housemate says she grew up brushing her teeth with baking soda instead of toothpaste. I’d probably pitch a spoonful into the gargle for good measure - it won’t hurt, may help. Baking soda works for brushing your teeth because it’s a mild abrasive. Good enough to scrape the bacteria off, but not hard enough to scrape the surface of the teeth off. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/12 "2009-10-09T18:20:59Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > No, no, no! [Peroxide is bad](http://www.tesh.com/ittrium/visit?path=A1xc797x1y1xa5x1x76y1x241fx1x9by1x2424x1y5x1952fx5x1) for your mucous membranes. > > I haven’t heard about the baking soda remedy, but I know consuming peroxide is not a good idea. Your are quite possibly doing more damage than good. Mucous membranes protect you from infection and damaging them is never a good idea. Wow… thanks for correcting me. I’ve heard this recommendation from so many sources I assumed it was correct. I’ll have to go tell my friend now - he’s convinced that peroxide is the miracle cure for everything from bad breath and gum disease to cancer and arthritis. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/13 "2009-10-09T20:42:20Z")
There is an inverse corrolary: the higher the number of ailments {cheap, easily available household item} can cure, the less likely it is to do any good at all. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/14 "2009-10-10T01:46:02Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > No, no, no! [Peroxide is bad](http://www.tesh.com/ittrium/visit?path=A1xc797x1y1xa5x1x76y1x241fx1x9by1x2424x1y5x1952fx5x1) for your mucous membranes. That’s if you inhale it up your nose. Gargling is a different animal. I wouldn’t use it every day but gargling with Hydrogen Peroxide is not bad unless done to excess. I would thoroughly rinse with water when done. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/15 "2009-10-10T13:30:01Z")
I don’t know about baking soda and mouthwash, but it’s an ingredient in the standard Internet recipe for [nasal saline solution](http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-a-Sinus-Infection). It helps take the “sting” out of it. Maybe it has the same effect in a mouthwash, but I think a lot of people think stinging=working so it may not be as popular. ---
**Author:** ![Haj\_Fenan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Haj\_Fenan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haj_Fenan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/16 "2010-09-11T20:03:16Z")
We do all understand that the Hydrogen Peroxide we are talking about is the 3% Solution stuff you buy at Walgreens right? Higher concentrations are available and definitely NOT safe for gargling. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gargling-with-salt-water-vs-salt-water-baking-soda/513054/17 "2010-09-11T20:18:31Z")
> [@Haj\_Fenan](#): > > We do all understand that the Hydrogen Peroxide we are talking about is the 3% Solution stuff you buy at Walgreens right?.. Really? And to think: For nearly a year I’ve been using the industrial stuff I get mail-ordered from Dow Chemical.🙂