Baking soda and vinegar: 10 tips for cleaning your home

Baking soda and white vinegar, renowned champions of eco-friendly cleaning, are highly touted alternatives to conventional cleaning products. Their potency, affordability, and environmentally-friendly nature have stood the test of time, as our ancestors can attest.

Many store-bought cleaners contain chemicals that could be detrimental to both our health and the environment. Thus, eco-enthusiasts gravitate towards natural alternatives like Marseille soap, black soap, and of course, baking soda and white vinegar. These versatile items promise a variety of cleaning possibilities.

Using Baking Soda and White Vinegar:

It’s pivotal to remember that these two powerhouses, though individually effective, shouldn’t be combined. Baking soda is alkaline while white vinegar is acidic. Combining them results in a neutralizing effect, with the resultant reaction leaving just water, rendering the mixture ineffective as a cleaner.

Maximizing Their Potential:

1. Unclogging Drains:

Drains can become clogged with food remnants, soap scum, and other detritus, causing foul odors. The duo of vinegar and baking soda can dissolve these obstructions. First, add baking soda to the drain, followed by vinegar. A chemical reaction ensues. Flushing with hot water clears the clogs, soap residues, and grease.

2. Fresh Laundry:

For pristine clothes, sprinkle some baking soda before starting your washing cycle. During the rinse phase, introduce white vinegar in the fabric softener slot. This combination ensures both cleanliness and softness in your laundry.

3. Descale Household Surfaces:

Combat limescale on various surfaces by sprinkling baking soda and then applying white vinegar. After a few minutes, scrub and wipe off using a dry sponge.

4. Rescue Burnt Pans:

Accidentally burned your food? No worries. Sprinkle baking soda on the burnt surface, add white vinegar, wait for a few minutes, and then scrub away the residue with a tough sponge.

5. Cleaning Tile Grouts:

By sprinkling baking soda on tile grouts and spraying with white vinegar, dirt and stains can be easily removed with an old toothbrush, followed by wiping with a clean sponge.

6. Immaculate Toilet Bowls:

For a spotless toilet bowl, devoid of dirt and limescale, first empty it by pushing water down the drain. Add baking soda, followed by white vinegar, and allow it to work its magic for 10 minutes. Scrubbing afterwards will leave your toilet fresh and sanitized.

7. Banish Urine Odors:

To rid toilets of persistent urine smells, apply a paste of baking soda and water to the bowl and surrounding tiles. After allowing it to sit, spray with white vinegar. Wipe down with a damp cloth, and for an added touch of fragrance, mix essential oils like lemon, lavender, or eucalyptus with the white vinegar.

8. Iron Stain Removal:

Tackle iron stains by applying a paste made of baking soda and water. Scrub with a sponge, and then spray a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar. Use an old toothbrush to clean the iron’s tiny holes and steam out any residual vinegar by filling the iron with the same mixture.

9. Washing Machine Maintenance:

While it might seem counterintuitive to clean a washing machine, it’s essential to rid it of limescale and bacteria. Run an empty hot cycle with baking soda, followed by a rinse cycle with white vinegar in the fabric softener slot.

10. Reviving Your Dishwasher:

Ensure your dishwasher’s longevity and efficiency by placing a cup filled with white vinegar inside and running a hot water cycle. Subsequently, sprinkle the bottom with baking soda and run another cleaning cycle. This will leave your dishwasher smelling fresh and free of any dirt.

Armed with this knowledge, you’re well-equipped to maintain a spotless, chemical-free home using these natural cleaners. Happy cleaning!