Which substance should not be used to clean sinks and equipment that have scaling?

Baking soda is not typically recommended for cleaning sinks and equipment that have scaling because it does not effectively remove mineral deposits like limescale. Scaling is often caused by the buildup of hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which require more potent acidic solutions to dissolve.

Vinegar, being an acetic acid, is effective at breaking down these mineral deposits and is commonly used for this purpose. Descalers are specifically designed to tackle scale and are formulated with the right chemicals to remove tough deposits. Bleach, while not ideal for descaling, can be used for disinfection but does not contribute to the removal of scale.

Baking soda, on the other hand, is primarily a mild abrasive and is better suited for scrubbing surfaces rather than dissolving mineral buildup. Hence, it is not the most effective option for this specific task.