18 Simple Cleaning Hacks with Baking Soda and Vinegar

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Baking soda and vinegar are natural, non-toxic products that are excellent for cleaning. When the two products are combined, they result in a powerful cleaning agent that can eliminate the toughest dirt, stains, and grime. Baking soda acts as the deodorizer, while vinegar packs the cleaning power with its high acidity and ability to disinfect and kill germs.

The true beauty lies in the gentle nature of these cleaners, setting them apart from harsh substances like bleach and other commercial cleaning products. Despite their mildness, they possess comparable, if not superior, cleaning abilities, making them one of the best organic choices when cleaning.

Here’s how you can clean with baking soda and vinegar around the home. 

Shower Head

The showerhead can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and organic matter if left unattended. While the surface of the showerhead may appear clean at first glance, it gradually accumulates dirt, minerals, and bacteria over time, potentially compromising hygiene and the overall quality of our showering experience. 

In cases where the showerhead lacks sufficient force or becomes clogged, using a combination of vinegar and baking soda can significantly improve its performance. Soak the showerhead in vinegar and scrub any remaining buildup using baking soda.

Related post: DIY | How to Replace a Dual Shower Head in Under an Hour

Dishwasher

Make the ultimate cleaning solution when cleaning your dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda. While it may seem counterintuitive to care for an appliance dedicated to cleaning and sanitizing your dishes, regular maintenance is necessary for maintaining its performance and ensuring consistently clean dishes. 

While the primary purpose of a dishwasher is to clean your dishes and utensils, there are instances when this appliance could benefit from a good, old-fashioned cleaning. This is especially true if the dishes come out dirty and your drinking glasses appear cloudy or, worse, an unpleasant odor begins to linger.

Clear out the Drain 

Baking soda and vinegar can help clean and deodorize a sink or bathtub drain. It can also help to remove those pesky drain flies that tend to appear during warmer months. 

Pour some baking soda down the drain and follow up with vinegar. You will start to see a bubbling effect. Allow it to work its magic, then complete the process by flushing it down with hot water. 

Using baking soda and vinegar can eliminate the need for products containing chemicals that could ultimately damage the drain pipes. 

Refresh a Smelly Garbage Disposal

Like the drain, the combination of vinegar and baking soda is ideal for cleaning and eliminating unpleasant odors from your garbage disposal. The pair will loosen any stuck-on food and debris in the garbage disposal, helping it dissolve better thanks to its bubbling effect. 

Coffee stains from a cup

If you’re a coffee lover or enjoy a good cup of coffee at home, your coffee mugs may have some lingering stains. The tannins that give coffee its flavor can leave behind a coffee ring stain, which can be unsightly.

Both products can be used by themselves, producing the same effect. 

Add Shine to Luxury Vinyl Plank Floors

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring is the go-to choice for many new homeowners due to its affordability, style, and ease of maintenance. This type of flooring often mimics the look of traditional hardwood while offering the practicality of vinyl. 

When it comes to cleaning LVP floors, baking soda and vinegar are the optimal solutions. Combine warm water with a cup of vinegar in a bucket and gently wipe away with a mop. A paste-like mixture of Baking Soda is required to remove those stubborn, stuck-on stains.

Washing Machine

Your washing machine does a lot of work to help keep your household clean – from cleaning clothes, linens, and towels. Now and again, it needs a special cleaning of its own. And while it may sound counterintuitive to clean your washing machine, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. 

Not only is vinegar and baking soda exceptional at cleaning a washing machine, but combined, the dynamic duo can get rid of mold and mildew in the washing machine. 

Dirty Grout

Whether you have white or black grout in the bathroom or kitchen, baking soda and vinegar are the perfect combination to clean your grout. Grout can be a challenge to clean in general, but these cleaning agents make the process much easier. 

Related post: How to Clean Your Tile Grout

Shower Doors

Vinegar possesses the remarkable ability to tackle complex water stains, while baking soda adds the necessary abrasiveness. Combined with these two powerhouse ingredients, they create a powerful solution that effectively eliminates soap scum and other stubborn hard water stains. 

With this method, you must saturate a sponge in vinegar, then layer on baking soda. Scrub the shower door until the dirt and soap scum vanish. 

Related post: How to Clean Shower Doors with Vinegar

Coffee Maker

If you frequently use the coffee maker in your household, then the rule of thumb is to clean it at least once a month. The cleaning process requires flushing out the coffee machine using vinegar.

You then use baking soda to create a gentle scrub to clean the inside of the coffee pot. The baking soda will scour the buildup of coffee stains, removing existing stains. 

Microwave

The microwave stands as a workhorse in the kitchen, regularly serving our heating and reheating needs. It is likely the one area that often needs attention when it comes to cleaning. Given its frequent use, it’s no surprise that this appliance can unintentionally become a haven for food splatters, spills, and lingering odors.

That’s where vinegar and baking soda come in. The most effective way to clean a microwave is by placing a cup of vinegar inside and heating it. The steamed vinegar will break down the gunk in your microwave, allowing you to wipe it down quickly.

For hard-to-clean areas, use baking soda and a damp cloth to wipe them down and finalize the cleaning. 

Brings Towels Back to Life

Did you know baking soda and vinegar can be a laundry detergent? If you have towels that are stained, you can quickly bring them back to life with baking soda and vinegar.

The baking soda will soften the water and keep your whites looking whiter. The vinegar will cut through the stains. 

Refrigerator

The refrigerator is a common household appliance that requires a thorough cleaning every now and then. Add vinegar to a spray bottle and spray the refrigerator surfaces after removing everything from the fridge. Then, wipe it down with a damp cloth.

Use baking soda to help remove stubborn and stuck-on dirt. 

Mold and Mildew in the Shower

Baking soda and vinegar can independently clean mold and mildew that might be present in the shower. Just add vinegar to a spray bottle and spray the impacted area. Allow it time to soak in before removing it.

With baking soda, you will create a baking soda paste by mixing it with water. Make it just thick enough to cling to the mold. 

Clean Thrifted Shoes 

If you enjoy the art of thrifting, you likely have drifted into a pair of shoes. If so, figuring out how to clean it can be pretty daunting. That’s where baking soda and vinegar come in.

You can use vinegar to wipe down the shoes and sprinkle baking soda inside the shoes to soak up and absorb any lingering odors. 

Related post: 12 Ways to Get Smells Out of Clothes

Oven 

These two ingredients are the best natural way to clean an oven. This eliminates the need for harsh products like Easy Off. While it may require more elbow grease than most commercial products, it is effective. 

The process involves making a paste of baking soda with water and then spreading the paste over the oven’s interior, specifically targeting areas with dark spots, burnt marks, and grime. Let it sit for 24 hours. Once it has soaked and broken down the dirt, wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

Once you finish wiping it down, you finalize the cleaning by spraying the inside of the oven with vinegar and then wiping it down again. You will be amazed at the results.

Coffee Stains in Carpet 

It is common for coffee stains to accidentally get into many areas of your home, including the carpet. If you have an unsightly brown mark on your carpet, it can be easily cleaned up with vinegar or baking soda. Both have the power to eliminate the presence of coffee on the carpet, and even work to clean your couch or other upholstered furniture.

Pots and Pans

Cleaning your pots and pans has always been a challenge, especially when using baking soda and vinegar. This combination, including a burnt pot or stained pan, is excellent for heavy-duty cleaning.

You can add some baking soda and vinegar to the stained pot and set it to boil. This will help to remove the stain from the pot. If you have a burnt pot, you can use baking soda to remove the burnt areas, as it has a mild scrubbing power.

This article originally appeared on Hello Sensible.