Soda Blasting Services

Gentle, Non-Abrasive Cleaning & Coating Removal

Soda blasting is a non-abrasive blast-cleaning process that propels sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) at low pressure to strip coatings, grease, carbon, and contaminants without damaging or profiling the underlying substrate. Because the media is soft and water-soluble, soda blasting cleans delicate materials like thin sheet metal, aluminum, wood, masonry, and food-processing equipment where aggressive abrasives would cause harm. It is non-sparking, non-toxic, and available in food-safe grades. BlasTek performs soda blasting in our West Michigan shops and on-site across the Midwest. Call (616) 243-7550 to get started.

Since 2013, BlasTek has provided specification-driven surface preparation and cleaning for asset owners, fabricators, and restoration teams throughout the Midwest. Soda blasting is one of the gentler methods in our media lineup, chosen when the goal is to clean or strip a surface while preserving the material beneath it. As with every process we run, our team matches the method to the substrate and the desired outcome, we don’t blast for appearance, we blast to specification.

What is Soda Blasting?

Soda blasting is a form of media blasting that uses sodium bicarbonate, the same compound as baking soda, produced in specially graded crystals, as the blast media. When the crystals strike a surface, they fracture and release energy that lifts paint, grease, soot, and other contaminants, then break down into a fine powder. The result is a clean surface achieved without the aggressive cutting action of abrasive blasting.

The defining characteristic of soda blasting is that it cleans without creating an anchor profile. Sodium bicarbonate is soft, roughly 2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, so it removes surface contamination and coatings while leaving the base material essentially undisturbed. That makes it ideal for thin or soft substrates, precision components, and situations where dimensional accuracy or the existing finish must be preserved. The media is also water-soluble, non-sparking, non-toxic, and biodegradable, which makes it well suited to fire-sensitive, food-related, and environmentally sensitive work.

It is important to understand what soda blasting is not: because it is non-aggressive, it does not efficiently remove heavy rust or mill scale, and it does not produce the anchor profile that high-performance coating systems require for adhesion. When a profile is needed, BlasTek recommends an abrasive step, often our grit blasting service, either instead of or as a follow-up to soda cleaning. Any residual sodium bicarbonate must also be rinsed away before recoating, since leftover residue can interfere with coating adhesion.

Soda Blasting Media & Characteristics

BlasTek selects blast-grade sodium bicarbonate and controls pressure to match each substrate and cleaning goal:

• Sodium bicarbonate media — Soft, friable crystals (≈2.5 Mohs) that fracture on impact to lift contaminants without cutting the substrate
• Non-profiling — Cleans and strips without creating an anchor profile, preserving dimensions, tolerances, and the underlying finish
• Water-soluble — Residue rinses away with water, simplifying cleanup on many surfaces
• Non-sparking — Safe to use in and around fire- and spark-sensitive environments
• Non-toxic & biodegradable — Environmentally friendly, with no hazardous abrasive dust
• Food-safe grades — Available for food and beverage processing environments where contamination control is critical

Soda Blasting vs. Abrasive Blasting

Choosing between soda blasting and abrasive methods comes down to the substrate and whether a coating profile is required. BlasTek helps specify the right approach for each project:

When Soda Blasting Is the Right Choice

Soda blasting is the right method when the priority is gentle cleaning or coating removal that protects the base material, thin or soft substrates, aluminum and delicate metals, wood, masonry, and historic surfaces, or when the work environment demands a non-sparking, non-toxic, water-soluble media, such as food-processing areas and fire remediation.

When to Specify Abrasive or Grit Blasting Instead

When the surface has heavy rust or mill scale, or when the coating system requires an anchor profile for adhesion, an abrasive method is the correct choice, since soda blasting does not create a profile. In those cases we recommend our grit blasting or media blasting services, sometimes as a follow-up step after soda cleaning.

Soda Blasting Applications

• Coating & paint removal — Strips paint, primers, and coatings from delicate or thin substrates without warping or gouging
• Degreasing & carbon removal — Cuts oil, grease, grime, and carbon deposits from machinery, engines, and equipment
• Food & beverage equipment cleaning — Food-grade sodium bicarbonate cleans production equipment without toxic residue
• Fire, smoke & soot remediation — Removes soot and helps neutralize smoke odor on structural and finish surfaces
• Mold remediation — Cleans mold from wood framing and other porous building materials
• Masonry, brick & historical restoration — Gently cleans and restores delicate historic surfaces
• Graffiti removal — Lifts paint from brick, stone, and concrete without etching the substrate
• Aluminum & thin sheet metal — Cleans without heat distortion or media embedment

Shop Soda Blasting vs. Field Soda Blasting

Shop Soda Blasting — Our Shelbyville & Grand Rapids Facilities

When components can be transported, our shops provide a controlled environment with advanced material handling (20,000 lb lifting capacity) for cleaning parts, equipment, and fabrications ahead of finishing or reassembly.

Field Soda Blasting — On-Site at Your Facility

For fixed assets, buildings, and equipment that can’t be moved, BlasTek deploys portable soda blasting equipment and engineered containment directly to your site, a common approach for restoration, remediation, and in-place equipment cleaning.

Request a Soda Blasting Assessment

Contact BlasTek to request a quote or schedule an on-site assessment for your soda blasting project. Our team will evaluate your substrate and contamination, recommend the right media and approach, and provide a detailed estimate. Call 616-243-7550 or fill out our contact form to get started.

Industries We Serve

BlasTek is a specialty blasting contractor built for the most demanding industrial environments. We provide expert soda blasting, cleaning, and corrosion-control solutions for a wide range of sectors, including:

• Municipal water and wastewater treatment facilities
• Food and beverage processing plants
• Pharmaceutical and cleanroom facilities
• Energy generation and power transmission infrastructure
• Steel fabricators and structural steel fabrication shops
• Advanced manufacturing and heavy industry
• Commercial and industrial construction
• Environmental and disaster restoration projects

Service Area

BlasTek operates from two strategic locations: our headquarters in Shelbyville, MI, serving the greater West Michigan region, and our dedicated powder coating facility in Grand Rapids, MI. Our mobile field service teams extend across Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Southern Illinois, covering the heart of the Midwest industrial corridor. We proudly serve primary areas including:

• Grand Rapids, MI
• Kalamazoo, MI
• Three Rivers, MI
• Southwest and Northern Michigan
• Southern Illinois
• Northern Indiana
• Ohio

Frequently Asked Questions — Soda Blasting