How to Clean with Baking Soda and Vinegar

baking soda and vinegar

Cleaning with baking soda and vinegar is nothing new, but there are just so many ways to use these two kitchen ingredients. Here are a ton of ideas for how to clean with baking soda and vinegar.

Vinegar works well as a cleaner because of its acidity. Baking soda is a mild base, which makes it great at dissolving grease. Baking soda is also abrasive, which makes it great for scrubbing.

When to Not Clean with Baking Soda and Vinegar

The properties that make baking soda and vinegar great cleaning agents also mean that you should proceed with caution. Here are some cases where you should back away from the bottle and the box:

  • Granite countertops can’t handle being cleaned with vinegar. If you’re cleaning a surface that specifies no acidic cleaners, vinegar is a bad idea. It can totally ruin granite! You should also avoid using vinegar on stone or hardwood floors
  • Soft surfaces can scratch if you scour them with baking soda paste. Before scrubbing with baking soda test a small, discreet area to make sure it doesn’t scratch.
  • Do not use vinegar to clean up raw egg – it will actually make the problem worse!
  • Baking soda is not ideal on dark surfaces. Any residue left over will make the surface look chalky.

How to Clean with Baking Soda

Now you know when not to use baking soda. Here are the ways that baking soda can make you a cleaning machine!

1. Add a couple of tablespoons to your next laundry load to fight odors.

2. Sprinkle a little baking soda onto funky-smelling furniture or carpeting, wait 15 minutes, and vacuum it up. Ta-da!

3. Baking soda is also a handy replacement for chemical-laden soft scrubs. Here’s a simple, two-ingredient recipe to try.

4. Three parts baking soda plus one part water makes a perfect scrub for polishing silverware.

5. If you’re looking for a more gentle scrub for things like stove tops, shower curtain liners, pots and pans, or inside the microwave just sprinkle a little baking soda directly onto a damp sponge and you’re ready to clean.

6. If you’re cleaning a super-stubborn dish with burnt on food, you might need to let it soak overnight in a baking soda/water mixture.

7. Baking soda is like magic for basically anything stinky. Sprinkle it in the recycle bin between pickups or the dishwasher between washes. That stinky diaper pail can benefit from a sprinkle of baking soda, too!

8. The damp sponge with a little baking soda above also works to deodorize whatever you’re cleaning.

9. To clean tile floors, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda in a bucket of water and mop as usual.

How to Clean with Vinegar

Vinegar is as versatile as baking soda when it comes to cleaning. If you don’t like a vinegar smell, try infusing your vinegar to mask the scent.

10. Use vinegar to make the cheapest all-purpose cleaner ever. You can also use this as a glass cleaner. Just wipe the glass down with newspaper instead of a rag.

11. Vinegar is like magic when it comes to cleaning the microwave. You’ll need a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it to boiling for two or three minutes, and prepare to be amazed. Built up gunk should wipe right off!

12. That vinegar all-purpose cleaner is perfect for bathroom countertops and the walls of the shower, too. If your shower has built up gunk, spritz and let it stand for a bit before wiping things down.

13. The acid in vinegar is great for getting your gunky paint brushes squeaky clean.

14. Use vinegar to de-gunk old glass bottles, so you can display them or use them in your crafty adventures.

How to Clean with Baking Soda and Vinegar Together

Combining baking soda and vinegar creates a fizzy reaction that’s great for cleaning! Here are some recipes that use the volcano to clean.

15. Combine baking soda, vinegar, and a couple of other simple ingredients for a DIY drain cleaner that actually smells kind of nice.

16. Make a toilet volcano, and stains will wipe away with ease.

Do you have any favorite tips or tricks for how to clean with baking soda and vinegar? Share them in the comments!

Cleaning with baking soda and vinegar is nothing new, but there are just so many ways to use these two kitchen ingredients. Here are a ton of ideas for how to clean with baking soda and vinegar.

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