Baking Soda and Vinegar Cleaning Secrets
If you want your home to be cleaned effectively and safely without using dangerous chemicals, baking soda and vinegar are two of the greatest ingredients to utilize. Just try to use them both separately, because they are so nice that they neutralize each other. Not only do they both possess antibacterial qualities that inhibit the growth of germs and viruses such as the COVID-19 and its variants, they are also relatively inexpensive. The vinegar costs only cents a liter, and the baking soda is super cheap too! Here are some more reasons to utilize these popular cleaning products, as well as some ideas on how to use them to clean each space in your home.
Why is Baking Soda one of the most effective house cleaners?
Out of many detergents and cleaning products in your cabinet, baking soda is one of the most trustworthy and flexible choices, frequently used for everything from cleaning off counters to refreshing the inside of your refrigerator. But what precisely is it about baking soda that makes this a useful household item?
As it turns out, there is some logic behind it. Due to the fact that baking soda is a salt, it is a neutral chemical composed of a positively and negatively charged ion. However, it has a relatively basic pH, making it excellent for virtually every cleaning task.
In contrast to sprays, baking soda absorbs scents rather than covering them. This is because the majority of scents are acidic, and baking soda reacts with them to counteract them in the air. Sodium bicarbonate is also mildly gritty, which means that, unlike soap, it has additional grit for removing stains and trapped dirt off surfaces and detaching particles from drains.
While a small amount of this item is capable of performing difficult tasks on its own, when mixed with other pantry products, it can be considerably more potent. Are you curious about how to maximize the benefits of baking soda in your home? Here’s how to use the pantry staple securely and successfully.
Cleaning with Baking Soda
The most effective way to utilize baking soda’s abrasive characteristics is to create a homemade paste. Simply combine a 100 grams of baking soda and a about 30mL of water, tweaking the ratios until a spreadable paste is formed. Baking soda can be combined with other home items such as dish soap or hydrogen peroxide to perform certain cleaning tasks (more on that later). Baking soda is also an excellent deodorizer when sprinkled on areas that require freshening, such as shoes or carpets.
Cleaning Your Floor with Baking Soda
While everyone understands that hardwood floors should be washed with water, tile and stone floors are frequently advised to be cleaned with oil-based solutions. Having said that, there are hundreds, if not millions, of techniques available for keeping your floor looking glossy and fresh without the use of harsh chemicals—and one of our favorites is to use baking soda. Simply sprinkle a tiny coating on your floor, allow it to sit for about an hour, and then sweep away all filth and grime—no rinsing required!
Cleaning Your Kitchen Countertops with Baking Soda
If you want to avoid harsh chemicals or cleaners on your kitchen counters, baking soda is your best bet. Baking soda is a completely natural product that is highly absorbent and ideal for tiny spills. Simply sprinkle a small amount on your counter, wipe away with a paper towel, and then rinse with water.
Cleaning Your Sink and Tub with Baking Soda
Baking soda is a common cleaning technique for sinks and tubs. Certain individuals sprinkle baking soda directly onto a filthy sink or tub and scrape with an old toothbrush. Others will partially fill their sink or tub with water, add 200 grams of baking soda, stir it around, and then drain it down the drain.
Cleaning Your Trash Can with Baking Soda
To begin, take a baking soda bath—nearly it’s as delightful as it sounds. Fill your kitchen garbage can or outdoor trash receptacle with roughly a 50 grams of baking soda. Rinse with warm water after scrubbing with an old toothbrush until it feels smooth. Additionally, you can combine 25 grams of baking soda with a pail of warm water to create a natural cleaner for garbage cans that should be cleaned after use.
Why is Vinegar one of the most effective house cleaners?
It’s amazing how much vinegar can clean around the house. White vinegar may assist in keeping everything hygienically clean – the trick is to dilute it with water and any other natural extracts or essential oils to impart a pleasant aroma.
‘Acetic acid is used to make vinegar,’ explains Lucy Searle, Global Editor in Chief of Homes & Gardens. ‘As a result, it acts as a natural disinfectant against a wide variety of pathogens, including salmonella and E Coli. It’s an excellent choice for some kitchen surfaces and appliances, as well as for use in the bathroom. It’s an excellent tool to keep in the store cupboard because it eliminates the need for store-bought abrasive cleaners. However, a word of caution — undiluted vinegar can cause harm to natural stone and wood, so always check – or dilute extremely carefully – before cleaning with vinegar.’
Cleaning Your Bathroom with Vinegar
Use a high concentrated vinegar (normally 6% concentrate for cleaning purposes) to scrape away bacteria in the bathroom, particularly on the toilet, in order to help prevent strong odors caused by using the toilet. Remember that regular vinegar over the counter is at 5%, while cleaning vinegar goes up 1% more, but it increases the effectiveness up to 20% more.
Cleaning the bathroom with vinegar works flawless. Empty 200mL of vinegar into the toilet and let it work for at least 20 minutes. Rinse with water and spread some baking soda the following morning; scrub, then empty the toilet again. Rinse one more time to dissolve the baking soda
To sanitize the area surrounding a closed tub or sink drain, pour 4 fluid ounces distilled vinegar overlapping the sink drain and leave it there for a couple hours. Scrub away the surface. Then rinse with water. It is imperative that nobody uses the restroom when the vinegar sits, since the concentration of cleaning vinegar is stronger.
To disinfect your shower with vinegar, boil 200mL of vinegar, then cautiously wipe clean the sliding doors and walls with the heated vinegar. Wipe them down at least twice with an interval of 6 minutes to keep them moist. Then, dampen soft sponge with vinegar and scrub the sliding doors and walls. Rinse thoroughly to remove bacteria, mold, water stains, and soap filth.
It’s simple to sanitize a shower head with a little bit of vinegar. Fill a plastic container, preferably a bag with white vinegar and fasten it to your shower with tape. Assure that there is sufficient vinegar to completely dip the showerhead’s bottom section. Overnight, leave the vinegar doing the job for at least 2 hours. Take it off next morning and make sure to remove it before using the shower.
Combine 100 mL vinegar and a 3 L of warm water to clean tile bathroom surfaces. Using the solution, mop bathroom floors or scrub countertops and allow to air dry.
USE VINEGAR TO REMOVE KITCHEN ODORS
If your kitchen has a persistent stench, such as fish or onions, soak a sponge in vinegar overnight. The vinegar will neutralize any scents in your refrigerator. When you’re ready to deodorize, simply soak a couple cloths in running water. Place them over the stinking sponge, wring out as much water as possible, and set aside for about an hour to dry. The odor has vanished!
Cleaning Your Carpet with Vinegar
In a spray bottle, combine a couple drops of your preferred essential oil with distilled white vinegar. Use a plastic spray bottle to spread the solution around. Caution, don’t overspray. After applying shampoo to your carpet, rinse it with a solution of 100mL vinegar and 3.5 liters of water. This removes all residues trapped within the soap, prolonging the life of your carpets.
How to Remove Pet Odor from Carpet
Wet the area with vinegar and sprinkle with baking soda to remove unwanted pet odors from carpets. Use a brush to scrub the affected areas and let it sit. Allow to dry (preferably overnight) before vacuuming. Below you will see an explanation of how the baking soda and vinegar cancel each other when combining them.
Cleaning Your Windows with Vinegar
In a spray bottle, combine equal parts water and vinegar. Clean windows by spraying the mixture on them and then wiping them clean with a microfiber cloth. Attempt to keep the solution contained within the glass to avoid any spills. If any residue remains, rinse it off with warm water or gently wipe it off if it’s not too nasty. This can be a safe method of cleaning your windows without using harsh chemicals, leaving them gleaming! Additionally, you may add borax to your spray to make it even cleaner (add 4 cm3 borax to 100mL hot water before adding vinegar). This method is excellent for cleaning windows!
Cleaning Your Appliances with Vinegar
To begin, ensure that all kitchen equipment is unplugged. Once they are cool to the touch, they can be cleaned with vinegar. Simply combine 500mL white vinegar and 4 liters of warm water in a spray bottle, put on gloves, and wipe down every surface of your device (be sure to get into all of the hard-to-reach nooks!). Allow everything to air dry—you may like to use a hair dryer for a more expedient finish!
Many of us forget to clean the microwave on a regular basis, and it may soon become quite smelly if we don’t. Again, in a big microwaveable basin, combine equal parts water and vinegar. Microwave the bowl for approximately five minutes. The steam generated will dislodge any food debris, which may then be easily wiped away.
Pour 200mL of vinegar into the dishwasher’s base cavity and run an empty cycle without dishes or detergent to remove any mineral deposits. However, we urge you to use vinegar cautiously – when used on a frequent basis, vinegar will corrode the rubber elements of a dishwasher.
Take everything out of the refrigerator and sort out any food that is approaching its expiration date, trash expire items and produce. Thoroughly clean the fridge and freezer with your diluted water and vinegar solution.
Stoves can become quite oily and sticky, especially if you cook for the family on a daily basis. Vinegar is ideal for this, as its acidity quickly dissolves grease. Simply spray the vinegar and water mixture onto the cooktop, wait around 10 minutes, and scrub with soapy water and a non-abrasive scouring pad.
Cleaning Your Walls with Vinegar
Did you know that a vinegar-and-water combination is one of my favorite cleaning products, not just because it is inexpensive, but also because it works so well when combined? The inherent acids in vinegar dissolve every speck of grease, leaving any surface it is sprayed with a gleaming finish. Spray a vinegar and water solution on walls to remove smudges and extend the life of your paint work. Rinse well with water afterwards to avoid streaks.
TOP SECRET TO DEODORIZE YOUR FRIDGE AND FREEZER
Maintaining a fresh-smelling kitchen is critical for maintaining a clean, healthy house. If scents have infiltrated your refrigerator or freezer, here’s how to naturally deodorize them. And, best of all, you won’t need any dangerous chemicals to get the job done!
This homemade secret is always effective and inexpensive: simply grab a bottle, fill it with baking soda, and set it in a refrigerator corner (no water needs to be added). The powder absorbs scents and strong odors, gradually purifying its surroundings.
The second secret works identically to baking soda, but because vinegar has a highly unique odor, it should be used in much lower proportions. For a medium-sized refrigerator, Fill up have a bottle and it be sufficient to absorb the strong smell in your fridge
WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER CLEAN WITH VINEGAR?
Never use vinegar to clean real stone, particularly granite and marble. This implies utmost caution when it comes to kitchen countertops and stone floor tiles. Additionally, exercise caution while working with wood, whether countertops or floors – undiluted vinegar can cause harm to all of these.
Why You Shouldn’t Combine Baking Soda and Vinegar for Cleaning
Certain home cleansers are not intended to be combined. You are undoubtedly well aware that strong chemicals such as bleach and ammonia should never be combined (or really, bleach and anything). However, basic pantry products that are frequently used for cleaning — such as baking soda and vinegar — should not be combined as well.
Unlike the bleach-ammonia solution, combining soda and vinegar will not harm anyone — but don’t expect it to clean very well either. According to Amanda Morris, associate head of the chemistry department at Virginia Tech University, when baking soda and vinegar are combined, they effectively cancel each other out – unless they are used properly and within a specified time range.
What Happens When Baking Soda and Vinegar Are Mixed?
Let us begin with the fundamentals. Baking soda serves as a base, and Acids “give” protons to bases when they mix; in this case, acetic acid lends a hydrogen proton to bicarbonate. When bicarbonate absorbs a hydrogen proton, it generates carbonic acid, which is unstable and decomposes ultimately. After that, all that is left is water, carbon dioxide, acetate, and sodium ions. The carbon dioxide produced during the process is what gives it its bubbly appearance. However, once the bubbles subside, what remains is what Morris refers to as “glorified water.”
Can Baking Soda and Vinegar Mix Be Used to Clean?
Obviously you can combine them together, but not in the way media and some “expert” cleaners made you believe. Indeed, it is highly volatile and serves only one purpose, a show with a lot of motion of bubbles.
If you’re going to combine baking soda and vinegar, we recommend you to apply one first and let it sit for a while, then add the second and use the solution while it’s still bubbling and preferably directly on the surface you’re cleaning. For instance, we recommend dumping a pinch of baking soda down a garbage disposal, followed by a couple glugs of vinegar. The carbon dioxide produced by the reaction creates bubbles that can be used to remove manually dirt accumulated from your drain or other hard-to-reach areas with a scrub brush.
Technically, you can use your combination to cut through oil on kitchen surfaces as long as it is still bubbling — and slightly basic. However, it is the basic baking soda that is doing the heavy work here and would be more effective in cutting grease; adding vinegar only detracts from the strength of your mixture.