Chris and Ann ***We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links at no additional cost to you.
Sometimes you can’t imagine that the ingredients of cleaning you are searching for are just within reach of your arm.
Yes. We’re talking about baking soda and vinegar.
But first, let us explain to you what is baking soda and vinegar. And the things you can use it for.
What is baking soda used for?
Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda. It is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3.
But let’s just leave the formula there.
There are certainly a lot of ways how to use baking soda. But the two common uses of baking soda are for Cleaning and Baking Recipes.
What are the rest?
Baking soda uses:
- Cleaning
- Baking recipes
- Mild disinfectant
- Odor control
- Neutralization of acids
- Medical uses and health
It is an all-around product for us. Honestly, we in-take baking (mixed it with water) at least once or twice a week.
But let’s focus on how it uses for cleaning.
What is vinegar used for?
We are pretty sure you already know what vinegar is. Anyway, vinegar is a sour liquid that is made by fermenting substances that contain sugar. Fruits like apple, blackcurrant, raspberry, quince, and tomato are some of those.
It is commonly used as a condiment to add flavor to foods. But because of its acidic content, it can also be used in cleaning.
Vinegar uses:
- Condiments
- Cleaning
- Diet and metabolism
- Beverages
In the meantime, let us show you how it is being used in cleaning together with baking soda.
Using baking soda and vinegar for deep stains
When a busy month comes and you rarely clean your home, you will definitely see some dirt stains build up in your house.
But don’t worry, there is an easy way to clean that up.
Honestly, dirt stain is not that hard to remove. Vinegar alone can clean it for you, simply mix the vinegar with water (purified or drinking is preferable). The vinegar should be more than 25% in the mixture.
You can even put a small amount of small of shampoo or dishwashing soap just to get rid of the smelly part of vinegar.
Then put it in the spray bottle. Start spraying the dirt stain and wipe it with a clean cloth until it disappears.
But there are also some tough stains on your carpet or floor that are hard to remove.
In this case, you will need the power of baking soda.
Just create a paste with baking soda and a small amount of vinegar. Then use your finger to work it on the stained carpet. Leave it a couple of hours to dry. Once dry, you can use your vacuum for carpets to clean the remnants.
As for safety precautions, test on a small area first before going on the whole stained part. If everything looks good, then do the same process on the whole stain.
Cleaning the bathroom
In cleaning your bathroom, you can either use baking soda or vinegar only. But with tough stains, you can use both.
Anyway, don’t hold back in cleaning your bathroom.
Use as much baking soda or vinegar until you get the result you want.
To clean your bathroom with baking soda, simply sprinkle the dirty surface with baking soda. Then add warm water, you should see it bubble. After 2-3 minutes, you can start scrubbing the dirt.
As we mentioned earlier, if there are tough stains, then try to mix the baking soda with vinegar for best results.
But you may need to give a different approach to cleaning your showerhead. You can scrub it with baking soda until it is clean, but the gross white firm that will be left is kinda hassled to remove.
So, instead, use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Then fill a plastic bag with the mixture and fasten it to your showerhead. Just leave it overnight and wash it the next day.
Unclog drains
A clogged drain can be recurring and it is a frustrating situation since you can’t use your drain.
Normally, we use caustic drain cleaners to unclog it. But these solutions contain sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid and can be hazardous.
If the clog is not that severe, then it can eventually solve with baking soda and vinegar. It is non-toxic and safe to use.
4 Easy steps:
Step 1. You can start by pouring a pot of boiling into your drain.
Step 2. Pour 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white distilled vinegar.
Step 3. Cover the drain and leave it for 5-10 minutes.
Step 4. Pour again the boiling water into your drain to remove the remnants of baking soda and vinegar.
The chemical reaction (bubbling) of mixing the baking soda and vinegar helps to loosen the drain clog. And don’t forget the last step, by pouring the boiling water again it removes the remains of the mixture.
If not removed it can be dried and may be hard to unclog.
And you may need a stronger drain cleaner like Liquid Plumr to unclog it.
Tile floor cleaning
If you want squeaky clean tiles without buying an expensive floor cleaner, then you can go to your kitchen and grab some baking soda and vinegar.
You don’t have to spend another few dollars in order to clean your tiles.
Just add a few products, and together with baking soda and vinegar, it can make cleaning a miracle.
Cleaning Ingredients:
- 1 2/3 baking soda
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1/2 cup of warm water
- 1/2 cup of dishwashing detergent
Simply mixed or stir to combine all the ingredients. Once mixed, you can put it in a spray bottle for an easy way to clean.
You can also add some additional water or ingredients aside from what we mentioned above.
Tough laundry stains
Did you know that you use baking soda and vinegar as your laundry detergent? Well, if you are a fan of these two ingredients, we are pretty sure to know this.
With the cleaning and deodorizing power of baking soda and vinegar, it works like wonder in clothes washing.
Simply add 1/2 cup of baking soda with your detergent to help boost the cleaning power.
Then 1 cup of vinegar poured in during the rinse cycle will help kill bacteria in the load. It is also a chemical-free fabric softener.
For the tough stains:
- Soak the stain with vinegar.
- Rub the spot with a paste made from equal parts of baking soda and vinegar.
- If the stain still persists, you can add a coup of a tablespoon of vinegar and laundry detergent to a bucket of water and soak the garment overnight.
- Then rinse and wash.
Baking soda and vinegar for shampoo
Using baking soda as shampoo may not be for all types of hair. Baking soda is naturally abrasive, so over time, it can make some people’s hair and scalp dry.
We can say that it is suitable for oily hair.
What you will need?
- 4 tablespoons baking soda
- 3/4 cup of water
What do you need to do?
Step 1. Make a paste.
Use an empty bottle or cup to mix the baking soda and water. You can also add a lavender or tea tree pure essential oil for a pleasant smell and additional benefits.
Step 2. Apply to your hair
Step into the shower and apply the baking soda paste. You can apply with either dry or wet hair but always start with the roots to the end of your hair.
Step 3. Rinse and dry
Allow the mixture to sit for about 1-3 minutes before washing it. Then rinse with warm water and let it dry.
Some people use vinegar to rinse it. Apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural conditioner.
FAQs
Distilled white vinegar because it doesn’t contain a coloring agent.
No. It is not dangerous, though it will cause a chemical reaction like bubbling.
It depends on the thing that you are cleaning. If you are cleaning that is not susceptible to acid, then you can use 50/50 baking soda and vinegar (1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar). For susceptible material especially wood, use at most 25% vinegar (lesser is better).
