Cleaning With Baking Soda And Vinegar: How To Do It Effectively

Baking soda and vinegar have long been among my favorite natural cleaning ingredients. With a slightly alkaline pH of 9, baking soda is great for cleaning greasy surfaces, especially when combined with liquid to create a paste. (Check out my all-natural “Soft Scrub” cleanser for more on that!)

Vinegar, on the other hand, is acidic — it lies somewhere between 2-5 on the pH scale, depending the concentration. Many kinds of vinegar are useful for cleaning and deodorizing household surfaces (though there are some things you shouldn’t clean with vinegar!) Vinegar breaks down mineral deposits and hard water stains too, without the need for harsh chemicals.

But as awesome as these two cleaning agents are, you shouldn’t combine baking soda and vinegar in a cleaning solution you plan on using later. It won’t do any harm, but it won’t do you a whole lot of good, either! In this post, we’ll learn not only why that is, but a few effective ways you can use these two powerhouse ingredients together for cleaning purposes.

What Happens When You Mix Baking Soda And Vinegar?

While mixing the two in a model volcano makes a great science experiment, the baking soda and vinegar reaction is less useful in terms of mixing up homemade cleaning solutions, because the two effectively cancel each other out.

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a base (like washing soda), while white vinegar is an acid. On the molecular level, bases want a proton, while acids have a proton they want to get rid of.

The fizzy chemical reaction that occurs when baking soda and vinegar are combined is the result of their molecules exchanging protons. The first stage of the reaction produces sodium acetate and carbonic acid; during the second stage, the carbonic acid decomposes into bubbly carbon dioxide gas.

When the reaction stops, all that’s left behind is liquid water, sodium ions, and acetate ions. That’s why it doesn’t make much sense to mix up a vinegar and baking soda mixture ahead of time — you’d be left with a solution of mostly water!

Can You Use This Chemical Reaction For Cleaning?

So, can you use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning? If you’re referring to the actual chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar, then the answer is “yes!” The bubbling reaction can help to break up gunk and grime in certain cleaning applications.

But as I said, once the reaction ends, what’s left behind is essentially just water, so you may as well just use water if that’s what you’re going for!

But there are plenty of situations where you can use baking soda and vinegar separately or consecutively for cleaning, and you’ll see both in the list of effective cleaning tips below. (I recommend using white vinegar or cleaning vinegar for the best results!)

10 Ways To Clean With Vinegar And Baking Soda

1. Remove Hard Water Stains From Shower Heads

If you have hard water, I’m sure you know all too well how quickly limescale and mineral deposits can form on your shower head. Luckily, it’s easy to use white vinegar and baking soda to eliminate hard water stains, mineral buildup, and soap scum from your shower head overnight.

Just place it in a large ziplock bag, add enough vinegar in to submerge the shower head, then seal the bag and let it sit overnight. The next morning, remove the shower head and sprinkle some baking soda over the surface. Wait until the fizzing stops, then use an old toothbrush to scour the loosened gunk from your shower head with the baking soda paste. Rinse with warm water before replacing.

2. Deep Clean Your Dishwasher 

Cleaning your dishwasher once a month can help keep it in good working condition, which means cleaner, spot-free dishes. It’s not hard, either — just check the drain, run a hot wash cycle with vinegar, then run a second hot wash with baking soda!

3. Clean Toilet Bowls

To clean a toilet bowl, spray the inside with white vinegar until wet, then sprinkle a fair amount of baking soda over the wet surface, adding more vinegar as necessary to initiate the reaction. Let it fizz for a minute or two, then scrub the bowl thoroughly with a toilet brush.

To keep your toilet bowl clean, you can make an inexpensive DIY toilet bowl cleaner using baking soda, borax, and Castile soap. If stains under the rim are a problem, soak a few paper towels in vinegar and tuck them under the rim, or use duct tape and vinegar to clean the siphon jets.

4. Clean Greasy Stove Tops

One easy way to clean a glass stovetop is to spray the stovetop with vinegar, then sprinkle baking soda over the top. While the fizzy reaction happens and starts breaking down grime and grease, dampen a kitchen towel with hot, soapy water, then drape it over the stovetop.

Let the steam and soap work their magic for about 15 minutes, then remove the towel. Use a sponge or microfiber cloth to scrub away any lingering gunk, then rinse and dry.

5. Remove Pet Stains From Carpet

You can even use baking soda and vinegar together to remove pet stains from your carpet! Saturate the affected area with vinegar, then sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the top. Leave the spot alone until the baking soda and vinegar have dried completely, then vacuum the area. The stain will be gone, along with the smell!

6. Polish Silver Effortlessly

Here’s an easy way to clean and shine silver and silver plated items. Put a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of your sink, then fill the sink with hot water and add a tablespoon of baking soda and a splash of vinegar. Place your silverware (or other silver items) into the water and let them soak for a couple minutes until the tarnish disappears. Rinse the items well and buff with a soft, dry cloth.

7. Unclog Drains

Commercial drain cleaners can be caustic, hazardous, and can even damage your plumbing, but the fizzing reaction of baking soda and vinegar can help you safely clear drain clogs. To clear a drain with baking soda, sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda into the drain, then pour in 1 cup of white vinegar, cover the drain, and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Next, pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain to flush out the loosened drain clog.  This natural drain cleaner can help fix a slow drain, but it may not be enough to clear a serious clog. (For more, check out my other clogged drain remedies and tips for preventing clogged drains.)

8. Clear A Clogged Toilet

The same method I outlined above for sinks can also unclog the drain in your toilet. If the water level in the bowl is higher than normal, bail some of the water out, then add 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar to the toilet bowl.

Let them sit for half an hour, then pour a kettle of hot water into the bowl and flush. (If that doesn’t totally fix the problem, there are 4 more ways to unclog a toilet that should get you sorted out!)

9. Eliminate Laundry Residues And Odors

Baking soda and vinegar can both make valuable additions to your laundry routine. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your wash load to brighten colors, dissolve buildup or residue, or to soften hard water. Add one cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle as a fabric softener and deodorizer.

I also use baking soda and vinegar to freshen smelly towels and help restore their absorbency. (The process involves separate baking soda and vinegar wash cycles, because as I mentioned earlier, adding them both to your load of laundry wouldn’t be all that useful!)

Vinegar can even help keep your bedsheets soft and clean. Just toss the sheets in your washing machine along with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to eliminate body oils, odors, and detergent or fabric softener residue. Repeat once a month or as needed to keep your sheets soft and clean.

10. Clean Grimy Grout

Vinegar and baking soda can dissolve grime on grout lines, too. Make a paste of baking soda and water, smear it onto grimy grout, then spray with vinegar. Give it a good scrub with a small scrub brush, then rinse with water or a damp cloth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baking Soda And Vinegar

What’s The Difference Between White Vinegar And Cleaning Vinegar?

Standard distilled white vinegar contains about 5 percent acetic acid, while cleaning vinegar is around 6 percent. Because it’s less diluted, cleaning vinegar is slightly more effective at cutting through grease, soap scum, and other messes, but the regular stuff works just fine in most cleaning applications!

Are Baking Soda And Vinegar Safe For Septic Tanks?

According to Septic Tank Pros, baking soda and vinegar are both biodegradable and thus safe for septic tanks. (This sets them apart from bleach and other cleaners that can kill the enzymes that keep septic tanks working properly.)

Can I Use Baking Powder Instead Of Baking Soda?

I wouldn’t advise it! Baking powder includes both cream of tartar and cornstarch alongside baking soda, so it won’t work as effectively (and it’ll be more expensive!)

Can I Use Apple Cider Vinegar Instead Of White Vinegar?

You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Apple cider vinegar is less acidic than white vinegar, so it’s better for cooking than it is for cleaning.

Is It Safe To Mix Vinegar And Baking Soda?

Absolutely! The only gas they produce is carbon dioxide, the same stuff we exhale on an everyday basis. (The vinegar fumes can be a bit pungent thought, so you may want to use them in a well-ventilated area!)

Is It Safe To Mix Vinegar and Dish Soap?

Again, absolutely! Vinegar and dish soap not only make an incredibly effective shower cleaner, but there are plenty of other ways to use this combo for household cleaning.

Is It Safe To Mix Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide?

Yep! I use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to clean sheet pans, bathroom fixtures, and plenty of other items and surfaces around the house.

It Is Okay To Use Old Baking Soda For Cleaning?

After putting a new box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb odors, there’s nothing wrong with using the old box for cleaning purposes! But if you’re planning to combine it with vinegar, keep in mind that the reaction may be less fizzy due to the age of the baking soda, or it may not fizz at all. (If that’s the case, you can still use the baking soda to, say, scrub your kitchen sink!)

Do you use baking soda and vinegar to keep your home clean?