Vinegar and baking soda actually work.
Apr 11th, 2008 by Jill
I’m amazed.
I read about using vinegar and baking soda for cleaning on some of the housekeeping blogs, and I wrote it off as being like coupon clipping — something that probably wouldn’t work all that well (for me, at least) and that would be a hassle and would end with weariness, frustration, disappointment, and a mess. So I didn’t even bother trying them. How could they possibly work?
This week, though, I read one blog post too many about them and I got curious. I decided to give them a try, even if it was only to finally know that they didn’t really work. And guess what. They work. They work almost as well as regular cleaning products. Not quite as well, but surprisingly well. Shockingly well. Maybe eighty-five percent as well. Well enough that I’m going to keep using them. Well enough that knowing I could eat them more than balances out the need to scrub a little harder in a couple of places. Well enough that I didn’t have to scrub all that much harder.
You use the vinegar where you would use a counter-top or window-cleaning spray. I used it on my counters, my mirrors and my floors. I didn’t dilute it.
You use the baking soda where you would use a powder scrub product. I used it in the bathtub and on the kitchen sink.
I’m not giving up my other cleaning products entirely. I’m still using toilet cleaner in the toilet bowl. It’s eco-friendly, but it’s not something I could eat. And I might pull out my eco-friendly but non-edible counter spray and scrubbing powder if the amount of scrubbing needed ever increases dramatically. But I’m not sure. Baking soda and vinegar work well enough that I may switch over entirely.
I’m kind of amazed that using them sounds so weird and that it felt like I was taking such a leap of faith when I tried them. I’m kind of amazed that everybody isn’t using them all the time. I’m kind of amazed that there’s a market for harsh chemical cleaning products for everyday use after trying these.
I’m gonna have to try this! (Hate the chemicals.)
stumbled upon your site and like it! I use baking soda and vinegar in my laundry water. You can use it instead of traditional detergents or add it, as I do, with your regular detergent.Just use much less of your detergent. I use a 1/4 cup of tide with a 1/4 cup of baking soda and a couple of splashes of vinegar in my regular wash. It is a great deodorizer for sweaty work out clothes, baseball uniforms , etc. Clothes come out smelling great , but with no perfume scents if your sensitive to those things. And they do not smell like vinegar! I sound like a commercial…
mom2