Baking soda and vinegar are two common household products that have been used for cleaning for generations. When used together or separately, they can be highly effective at eliminating grime, grease, stains, and odors in a safe, non-toxic way. There are many reasons why baking soda and vinegar deserve a prominent place in any green cleaning toolkit.
An Effective Duo for Cleaning
Using baking soda and vinegar together creates a powerful fizzy reaction that helps break down stubborn messes. The combination of an acid (vinegar) and a base (baking soda) results in what is called an acid-base reaction. This reaction releases carbon dioxide gas that gently lifts and dislodges dirt and grime from surfaces.
Here are some of the top reasons baking soda and vinegar make a dynamic cleaning duo:
Safe For Most Surfaces
Unlike harsh chemical cleaners, baking soda and vinegar won’t damage or corrode most surfaces in your home when used correctly. They can be safely used on countertops, floors, appliances, cookware, and more. Always spot test on an inconspicuous area first.
Removes Tough Stains and Grime
The fizzing reaction helps lift away stuck-on food, grease, soap scum, hard water stains, and more. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive that scrubs surfaces clean, while vinegar dissolves residue.
Deodorizes Effectively
Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors instead of just masking them. Vinegar kills mold, bacteria, and germs that cause foul smells. Together, they leave everything smelling fresh.
Environmentally Friendly
Making your own cleaners from pantry staples like baking soda and vinegar reduces plastic waste from cleaner bottles. Their natural ingredients also break down safely.
Non-Toxic to Use
Baking soda and vinegar are non-toxic, so you can clean comfortably knowing you won’t be breathing in fumes or absorbing anything dangerous through your skin. They’re safe alternatives if you have kids or pets.
Inexpensive and Accessible
Both baking soda and vinegar are very affordable and easy to find at any grocery store. A little goes a long way, making them cost-effective options. You likely already have them on hand.
How to Use Baking Soda and Vinegar for Cleaning
There are so many different ways to harness the cleaning power of baking soda and vinegar. Here are some of the most effective techniques:
All-Purpose Cleaning Paste
Mix baking soda with just enough vinegar to form a paste. Spread onto surfaces and let sit for a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing clean. The paste clings to vertical surfaces.
Sink and Appliance Cleaner
Pour baking soda down the drain, followed by vinegar. Let bubble for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with hot water. Similarly, you can clean oven hoods and microwaves.
Tub and Tile Cleaner
Make a paste of baking soda and vinegar and apply to bathroom surfaces. Let sit to dissolve soap scum and hard water stains before scrubbing and rinsing.
Kitchen and Bathroom Scrub
Sprinkle surfaces generously with baking soda. Spray vinegar over the top and use a stiff scrub brush to clean. The vigorous fizzing action helps scrub away gunk.
Descale Coffee Maker
Run a brew cycle with equal parts baking soda and vinegar to clean mineral deposits from a coffee machine. Follow with several cycles of plain water to rinse.
Freshen Drains
Pour 1 cup baking soda down the drain. Add 1 cup vinegar and cover the drain. Let bubble for 10-15 minutes then rinse with hot water.
Oven Cleaner
Make a thick baking soda paste. Spread onto oven surfaces and let sit overnight if needed. The next day, wipe away grime with a damp cloth or scrub with vinegar.
Grime-Cutting Paste
For tougher cleaning jobs like grout, combine 3 parts baking soda with 1 part vinegar until frothy. Apply the paste and let sit before scrubbing.
Shine Stainless Steel
Make a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Rub onto appliances using a soft cloth and buff dry for streak-free shine.
Freshen Mattresses
Liberally sprinkle baking soda over mattresses and fabrics. Let sit for a few hours to absorb odors before vacuuming up.
Unclog Drains
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the sink drain followed by 1 cup vinegar. Cover the drain for 5 minutes as it fizzes before rinsing with hot water.
Clean Trash Cans
Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of trash cans to control odors between uses. Periodically scrub with vinegar solution.
Mop Floors
Add 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 tbsp vinegar to a bucket of warm water. Mop and rinse floors for a deep clean.
Cleaning Vegetable Wash
Add 1-2 tbsp baking soda and vinegar to a sink full of water. Soak vegetables to remove dirt and residues before cooking.
Cutting Board Refresher
Deodorize and gently clean wooden and plastic cutting boards with a baking soda paste and vinegar scrub.
Why Vinegar is an All-Star Cleaner
As you can see, vinegar is a key player in many baking soda and vinegar cleaning solutions. But vinegar is also a superstar cleaner all on its own. Here’s why:
Acid Dissolves Grime
Vinegar’s acetic acid breaks down grime and dissolves residue. A vinegar-water solution helps clean windows, floors, kitchen surfaces, and more.
Kills Bacteria and Mold
The acetic acid in vinegar is a powerful antimicrobial that kills bacteria, mold, and germs. Cleaning with vinegar helps sanitize surfaces.
Removes Hard Water Stains
Mineral deposits from hard water bond to surfaces and cause spotting. Vinegar’s acidity helps dissolve these crusty stains on glass, faucets, and bathtubs.
Cuts Through Grease and Grime
Use undiluted vinegar to tackle extra-greasy messes like stove drip pans, oven hoods, and grills. It cuts through cooked-on food residue.
Destinks Smelly Areas
Wipe down surfaces with vinegar to kill odor-causing bacteria in trash cans, pet areas, bathrooms, kitchens, and more. The vinegar smell dissipates as it dries.
Unclogs Drains
Pour vinegar down the drain, let sit for 15 minutes, then flush with boiling water. The acid dissolves hair, soap scum, and gunk clogging drains.
Polishes Chrome and Stainless Steel
Use vinegar to remove streaks and water spots from faucets and appliances. Vinegar makes metal surfaces sparkle.
Cleans Windows and Mirrors
Mix equal parts vinegar and water for an effective window cleaner. The acetic acid cuts through greasy film for streak-free shine.
Softens Laundry
Add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle to eliminate detergent residue and fabrics softener in clothes. It balances pH levels.
Removes Sticky Residue
Dab vinegar onto price tags, bandage adhesive, wallpaper glue, lint, and other sticky messes. The acid will dissolve the bond.
Weed Killer
Spray full strength vinegar on weeds to kill unwanted vegetation growing in sidewalk cracks and garden beds.
The Power of Baking Soda for Cleaning
Baking soda is an amazing natural cleaner on its own. Here are some ways to use its cleaning powers:
Gentle Abrasive
The gritty texture of baking soda makes it an effective scrubbing agent to scour surfaces clean. It’s less abrasive than harsh cleaning powders.
Absorbs Odors
Baking soda soaks up smells like no other. Use it to deodorize carpets, mattresses, laundry, litter boxes, trash cans, and more.
Polishes Silver
The alkaline baking soda reacts with tarnish to safely restore shine to silver jewelry, utensils, and heirlooms without damage.
Cleans Produce
Soak fruits and veggies in a baking soda bath to remove residue from commercially grown produce. Rinse well.
Softens Laundry
Add 1/2 cup baking soda to the wash cycle to soften fabrics and freshen clothes. Helps remove odors too.
Scouring Powder
Make a thick baking soda paste to tackle stuck-on burnt food, grime, and grease on ovens, grills, pans, and cookware. Let sit before scrubbing.
Degreases Surfaces
Dampen a sponge with baking soda and use it to wipe away oil and greasy residue from counters and stovetops after cooking. Rinse clean.
Freshen Carpets
Sprinkle baking soda liberally over carpets. Let sit for 15 minutes before vacuuming up. The baking soda absorbs odors trapped in fibers.
Drain Cleaner
Pour baking soda down the drain and follow with vinegar. The fizzing reaction breaks down buildup to keep drains clear.
Mold Killer
Make a baking soda paste with just a small amount of water to scrub mold stains from tile grout and bathroom caulking.
Deep Clean Microwaves
Mix 3 tbsp baking soda with 1 cup water. Microwave the solution for 5 minutes, then wipe clean. It lifts splatters.
Common Questions
Can I mix baking soda and vinegar together in advance?
It’s best to keep baking soda and vinegar separate until ready to use. When combined, the acid-base reaction starts immediately, wasting the cleaning power. Mix right before cleaning.
How long should I let baking soda and vinegar sit before wiping?
For light cleaning, just a few minutes of dwell time is needed. For tougher grime, let the mixture sit and bubble for 10-15 minutes before wiping and rinsing the surface.
Is it okay to go straight from baking soda to vinegar or vice versa down the drain?
Yes, pouring baking soda followed immediately by vinegar down a clogged drain maximizes the fizzing reaction to break up gunk quickly.
Can I use baking soda and vinegar on any surface?
Avoid using vinegar solutions on stone surfaces like granite, limestone, and marble since the acid can damage their polish. Always spot test cleaners first.
What vinegar is best for cleaning?
White distilled vinegar (5% acidity) offers the best cutting power for cleaning. Avoid darker vinegars like balsamic and red wine vinegars which can stain.
Should baking soda and vinegar be rinsed off after cleaning?
It’s important to wipe away any cleaning paste residue and rinse surfaces thoroughly after using baking soda and vinegar cleaners.
Is it safe to mix other cleaners with baking soda and vinegar?
Never mix bleach, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or other cleaners with vinegar and baking soda. Stick to using them separately.
Conclusion
Baking soda and vinegar are clearly hardworking heroes when it comes to safe, non-toxic cleaning. They tackle dirt, odors, and stains with ease using their natural cleaning powers. These humble pantry staples provide an economical, eco-friendly way to keep your home sparkling clean. Remember to always use baking soda and vinegar correctly by spot testing, never mixing with other chemicals, rinsing surfaces after cleaning, and storing them separately for maximum effectiveness.