Vinegar and baking soda: the ideal combination for cleaning the house
Mixing vinegar and baking soda is an old grandmother's remedy that comes in handy when we have to do house cleaning because it sanitizes, degreases and cleans thoroughly. We can use them to remove stains, to do laundry or to unclog drains. Let's see all the various uses and how to prepare this natural, ecological and economical mix. Did you know that vinegar is also great for hair? Watch the video if you don't believe it!
How do you use vinegar and baking soda to clean the house and do laundry
To clean the house there are natural and economical methods that are a valid alternative to chemical detergents. One of these, the greenest and most well-known, is the mix between vinegar and bicarbonate: the two substances combined together give rise to a chemical reaction (they are an acid and a base, in fact) able to act effectively against dirt.
Here are some tips for using them in home cleaning:
- To unclog drains. When combined together, vinegar and baking soda become an excellent blend for freeing pipes and traffic jams, while also eliminating mold and limescale residues.
- Descaler. For cleaning steel taps or limescale deposits in the shower and sink, vinegar and baking soda are winning products. Just mix them together in a little water, apply them on the affected areas for a few minutes and then rub them with a damp cloth, removing any residue well.
- Disinfectant. To eliminate mold, stubborn dirt and to disinfect surfaces, water, vinegar and baking soda are perfect. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 60 ml of white vinegar and 500 ml of water. An effervescent reaction will form and, once passed, just use the liquid to rub the surfaces to be disinfected. Once finished, rinse with water.
- Removes stains from carpets. Thanks to absorbent and bleaching agents, baking soda is useful against carpet stains. Mixed together with the vinegar, then, it acts on the textile fibers by removing dirt and reviving the colors. To use it on carpets just combine two tablespoons of powder (20 grams approximately) with 125 ml of white vinegar and then apply the mixture on the stain . Leave on for 5 minutes and then scrub with a toothbrush.
- Removes stains from laundry. To eliminate yellow halos from white shirts or sweat from shirt collars, just mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda (30 grams) with 125 ml of white vinegar. Rub the garment with this mixture and soak it with additional white vinegar mixed with water for at least 30 minutes.
- To sanitize the kitchen sink. Vinegar is a powerful means that dissolves limestone and is therefore excellent when used on the stainless steel of the kitchen sink. You can mix 30 g of bicarbonate with 60 g of vinegar, to be applied on the sink. Allow at least 15 minutes to pass and finally scratch with a brush to remove residual stains and encrustations.
- Remove bad smells from the fridge. This combination of white vinegar and baking soda is unbeatable for removing odors from the refrigerator. Just mix 60ml of white vinegar with 60ml of water and 50g of baking soda.Spray this mix in the refrigerator and wipe corners, doors and drawers with a damp cloth. Then dry well with a paper towel or leaving it open.
Other uses of vinegar and baking soda at home
White vinegar and baking soda can also be used for:
- clean the oven
- sanitize and remove limescale from the shower
- thoroughly degrease the kitchen hob
- remove dirt in the toilet
- make the stainless steel surfaces shine
When the surfaces are too dirty, or even encrusted, it is better to let the products act for a few hours and rinse afterwards. To remove bacteria from smaller items, such as cutlery, one solution may be to boil them in a pot of water mixed with vinegar and baking soda.
One of the areas in which the mix of baking soda and vinegar is a truly winning weapon is undoubtedly the laundry. This combination is able to eliminate odors and sanitize the laundry without the use of chemical detergents.
Vinegar and baking soda are therefore a way to take care of the environment and one's health. In fact, dermatitis and skin irritations are often caused by contact with chemical detergents, which is why these ingredients are a natural alternative for cleaning the home environment.
