Baking soda and white vinegar are considered the stars of ecological cleaning and are a good alternative to traditional products for cleaning the whole house. Natural and inexpensive, these two ingredients have proven themselves in everyday life. Our grandmothers swear by these products and the reason for this is that they allow you to clean, degrease, deodorize and disinfect the whole house in complete safety.
Household products that hit supermarket shelves can contain chemicals that are harmful to health and the environment. Eco-friendly product supporters have understood that it would be better to turn to natural alternatives to polish the whole house, and at a lower cost. Marseille soap, black soap, baking soda or white vinegar are all cleaning products that offer endless cleaning possibilities.
How to use baking soda and white vinegar?
Although both make an excellent cleaning solution, it’s important to stress that they can’t be mixed together. Why? Because baking soda is basic and white vinegar is acidic. When mixed, the two ingredients cancel each other out , explains chemist Amanda Morris. The mixture creates a fizzy reaction and when it stops, only water remains. In addition, the two ingredients neutralize each other and are ineffective for a good clean.
How do you use the two ingredients correctly?
- Unclog the pipes
Food scraps, soap or other debris can clog drains in kitchen sinks and kitchen utensils. It can also cause bad smells. Vinegar and baking soda can help break down grease and grime and prevent clogged drains. First, pour baking soda into the hole. Then pour the vinegar. It will create a chemical reaction, then add hot water to remove the waste responsible for the clogs as well as traces of soap and grease.
- Clean clothes
To get your clothes sparkling clean, sprinkle them with baking soda before putting them in the washing machine. Then, during the rinse cycle, pour white vinegar into the fabric softener compartment to eliminate bad odors and soften the fibers of the fabrics. This impressive duo will ensure spotless and smooth laundry.
- Descale all surfaces in the house
To remove limescale from a bathroom or kitchen surface, sprinkle baking soda on it and then pour white vinegar over it. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes before brushing and wiping with a dry sponge.
- Remove burns from pans
If you accidentally burnt your meal, it doesn’t matter. The two cleaning products will help you to make your kitchen appliance look like new. Simply sprinkle the affected surface with baking soda, then pour in the white vinegar and let the product act for a few minutes. Rub the surface with a rough sponge and the grease will quickly disappear. You will understand, this incredible duo is the best for cleaning .
- Cleaning tile joints
Cleaning joints is no longer a death sentence thanks to the two amazing ingredients. Start by sprinkling baking soda on the joints first and then spraying the white vinegar on the baking soda. Let the mixture lather for a few seconds and then scrub with an old toothbrush to loosen the dirt. Then wipe with a clean sponge to complete the cleaning.
- Clean the toilet bowl
The toilet bowl probably contains dirt and limescale. The famous ecological cleaners will still do an excellent job. First, empty the water from the bowl with the toilet brush and squeeze the water into the drain. Spray the bowl with 100 g of baking soda and then pour in 150 ml of white vinegar. Let the mixture foam for 10 minutes before scrubbing with the toilet brush. Your toilets will be clean and deodorized without chemicals.
- Remove the smell of urine in the toilet
To make toilets pleasant to use, it is essential to keep them clean by eliminating urine odors. To do this, prepare a paste with baking soda and a little water and rub with the sides and bottom of the bowl, not to mention the tiles around the toilet. Let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes and then spray white vinegar on it. A chemical reaction will take place, then wipe with a clean, damp cloth. Your toilets will be disinfected and deodorized. You can add a few drops of lemon, lavender or eucalyptus essential oil to white vinegar to give your toilet a subtle scent and eliminate bad odors .
- Remove stains from iron
To carry out this process, first prepare a paste by mixing baking soda with a little water and then apply it to the soleplate. Rub with a sponge and let the product act. Next, mix water and vinegar in equal parts and spray it on the soleplate. Wipe everything with a damp microfiber cloth and clean the small holes with an old toothbrush. Once this cleaning is complete, fill the iron tank with a mixture of water and vinegar and turn on the steam. This will descale the inside of the tank. Your iron will be like new.
- Clean the washing machine
Some will say that the washing machine does not need cleaning. However, limescale and bacteria can build up, which can affect the operation of the machine or leave a bad smell on the clothes. To fix this, pour 150g of baking soda into the drum and run an empty wash cycle at high temperature. Then pour white vinegar into the fabric softener compartment during the rinse cycle and finish the wash cycle.
- Descale the dishwasher
Like the washing machine, the dishwasher can also regain its freshness with the two essential cleaning ingredients. Fill a measuring cup with 500 ml of white vinegar and place it on the rack of the dishwasher. Run a wash cycle with hot water. Next, spray the bottom of the machine with baking soda and run another cleaning cycle. At the end of the day, you will find a pristine, new dishwasher without bad smells and encrusted dirt.