Tuesday, February 19, 2008

The Perfect Couple: Baking Soda and Vinegar

Baking soda and vinegar are the two cleaners I keep on hand all the time. Besides being cheap, they're a lot safer to use than commercial cleaners and can be used for a lot of different things.

As an example, I clean the bathroom sink with baking soda, then rinse and spray vinegar/water mixture over it to leave a gorgeous shine. The vinegar removes water spots from the faucet, too. I use the same vinegar mix to wash the vanity mirror and clean the floor, using baking soda if there are scuff marks. I put baking soda in the bottom of the trash can to eliminate odors and I pour vinegar into the toilet bowl at night to deodorize, clean and disinfect - it also loosens buildup in the pipes. Baking soda cleans the tub, too, and vinegar keeps the shower walls free from soap scum and water deposits.

And that's just the bathroom.

I would hate to have to buy and store all of the commercial products necessary to do that.

6 comments:

  1. HI Pat,
    Does the baking soda scratch the sink or fiberglass tubs?
    Thanks,
    Carole

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  2. Baking soda is comparable to "Soft Scrub." It's a mild abrasive, so I guess over a period of time, fiberglass may be affected, I'm not sure.

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  3. I also use baking soda (we call it bicarb here in the UK) and vinegar for all sorts of jobs around the house. In fact, I hardly ever use any commercial cleaning products anymore.

    Did you know that baking soda and vinegar down plug holes will keep them clear? Since having a very nasty blockage a while ago, I do this religiously now, every day, and haven't had any problems since.

    In answer to Pat's question, baking soda shouldn't be used on fibreglass, or so I've been told.

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  4. Opps... I meant Carole's question. Apologies.

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  5. Hi, Pat! I've been reading your words of wisdom for the past five years and have been very grateful for the advice you give.

    In regards to the use of baking soda and vinegar, I've used it out on the driveway after performing oil changes on my truck. It gets the oil out of the concrete with no problem. Also good to use on oil and stains that have been there for a long periods of time.

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  6. Thanks, Nick. Using it on the driveway makes sense, but I hadn't thought about it!

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