Baking Soda and Vinegar: Practically the Only Cleaning Products You’ll Ever Need

You’ve probably heard so much about toxins in commercial household cleaning products that you’re wondering how you can stay healthy and keep your house clean at the same time. It’s not as hard as you might think.

You can clean your house using natural products. Two of the most popular – and most effective – of these are baking soda and vinegar.

Baking soda is naturally abrasive. It will scrub away the toughest mess. The acetic acid in vinegar acts as a disinfectant and will break down the chemicals in stains to make clean-up easier.

Here’s how you can use baking soda and vinegar to freshen and beautify your home while keeping it toxin-free:

Clean all your surfaces

Mix white vinegar in a spray bottle to use as a disinfecting cleanser that won’t irritate your eyes, nose or throat. Clean up baked on dirt and grease with a paste made of baking soda and water.

Keep your sink shiny

Use baking soda’s abrasive powers and vinegar’s disinfectant properties to keep your sink clean and germ free. Pour baking soda on the inside of your sink and scrub. Rinse, then spray your sink with white vinegar and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing again. Put some vinegar on a paper towel and use it to clean your faucets.

Clean your mirrors and windows

Vinegar makes a great toxin-free glass cleaner. Just mix a tablespoon of vinegar with about a quart of water in a spray bottle, then spray on glass surfaces for a gorgeous shine.

Keep your glasses spot-free

Add a cup of vinegar to the bottom of your dishwasher before you run it. Your glasses will come out sparkling.

Get rid of tea and coffee stains

Scrub your mugs with a solution made up of equal parts of baking soda and vinegar, then rinse.

Clean your microwave

Place some vinegar and water in a bowl, and then microwave on high for about 10 minutes. This should loosen any dried food stuck to the walls.

Clean your oven

Make a paste of baking soda and water, and then spread it all over the inside of your oven. Avoid getting it on heating elements. Leave the baking soda to dry overnight. In the morning, wipe off as much as you can, using a spatula to remove any pieces that have caked on.

Now spray some vinegar onto the spots of baking soda that remain. The baking soda will foam, making it easier to wipe off.

Wipe everything down again for a clean, fresh smelling oven.

Do your laundry

Pretreat stains with white vinegar. Then create a natural, toxin-free laundry detergent by adding baking soda to a chopped up bar of unscented soap. The baking soda will brighten your colors and make your whites whiter.

Clean up carpet stains

Spray with a half and half vinegar and water solution, and then wait for two minutes. Blot the stain with a clean, white cloth, then vacuum.

Get rid of marks and scuffs on your wall

To get rid of ink, pencil, crayon and scuff marks, sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge.

Gently rub away the stain, then rinse with water.

Unclog your drain

Pour ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda down your drain to break up a stubborn clog. Let the mixture sit for a while, then rinse.

Get rid of bad fridge smells

An open bottle of baking soda in your fridge will keep it smelling fresh and clean, no matter what kind of food you are storing. You can use vinegar to clean your fridge’s walls and shelves.

Keep mold and mildew away

Mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray on your walls and shower curtains. Vinegar’s disinfectant properties will prevent mold and mildew from forming.

Clean your toilet

Mix ¼ cup of baking soda with a cup of vinegar, pour it in your toilet, wait a few minutes, then scrub with a toilet brush.

Avoid trash can smells

Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your garbage can to keep bad smells from permeating your home.

While baking soda and vinegar are amazing cleansers on their own, consider adding lemon juice or essential oils to any of your natural cleaning products to give your house a refreshing, chemical-free smell.