Alternatives to carb cleaner

Ya, I over think. In my minds eye, acid is more effective at penetrating a substrate than sodium bicarbonate but I am most likely wrong. Sorry to beat a dead horse and I appreciate you entertaining my inconsistency
I'm guilty too I overthink everything until it's right in front of me then I'm like oh that's not so hard lol.
Yall lost me with all this chemistry stuff tho I'm to dumb for that. Haha