Vinegar and baking soda are really wonderful cleaners! They do a quick and excellent job, and there is no concern about toxic residues because they are food grade products. If they are safe to cook and bake with, they are safe to clean counters, floors, and children’s toys. They are also very inexpensive!
Here are some simple tips for cleaning your house naturally with vinegar and baking soda.
1. A standard, all-purpose cleaner: 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water, in a small spray bottle. Good for kitchen and bathroom counters and sinks, windows, mirrors, the stove top and inside the fridge, even coffee tables and washing the floor. For light cleaning, just spray and wipe with a damp or dry cloth, and for something that is really stuck, let the vinegar sit for 5 minutes. If there is oil present, add a drop or two of dish soap.
2. For sinks, bath tubs, and counters, if a mild abrasive is needed, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda over the area and let sit for 5 minutes. Then spray with the above all-purpose cleaner, and scrub with warm water and a gently abrasive cloth or scrubbie. Make sure the area is rinsed and dried to remove all the baking soda.
3. For stronger cleaning, you can use full strength vinegar, with baking soda as needed. Just refill your spray bottle and thoroughly cover the surface (kitchen and bathroom counters and sinks, the stove top, inside the fridge, the bathtub and shower) and let sit 5 or 10 minutes. Then either wipe dry, or sprinkle baking soda, scrub, rinse, and dry. Simple!
4. For general cleaning around the toilet, I spray full strength vinegar, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then wipe with disposable paper towels or a dry cloth as needed. For the toilet bowl, pour 1-2 cups of vinegar around the inside, scrub down with a brush, and let sit 15-60 minutes.
5. Laundry: Baking soda helps brighten and deodorize clothing; just add 1/4 cup to the wash cycle. Then, vinegar makes a wonderful fabric softener as well as an additional deodorizer; just add 1/4 cup to the rinse cycle. If clothes smell quite strongly of smoke or dust, increase amount to 1/2 cup each and add an extra rinse cycle.
6. For children’s toys that can be washed, wipe or soak in a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts warm water. Add a drop or two of dish soap if there is any oil to wash away.
If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, don’t worry – it fades away as it dries. Perhaps try these things on a day when you can open your windows? It won’t be long and I hope you’ll find it a refreshing smell that represents a clean house.
What do you think? And, if you already use baking soda and vinegar, what tips and tricks have you found?
Warmly,
Lily