One way to reduce the number of cleaning products you bring into your home is to clean with products you already have. People have been cleaning with household staples like vinegar, baking soda and lemons (or lemon juice) for a long time, and believe it or not, these items are safe and often effective. Baking soda can do a and vinegar can do a lot more than just sit in the back of the fridge. Try these easy tricks and tips on cleaning with baking soda and vinegar!
REMOVING CARPET STAINS
You can lift out many stains from your carpet with baking soda and vinegar. Rub light carpet stains with a mixture of 2 tablespoons baking soda dissolved in 1/2 cup white vinegar. Let the solution dry, then vacuum. For larger or darker stains, add 2 tablespoons borax to the mixture and use in the same way.
CLEAN COFFEEMAKER
You could clean your coffeemaker using 2 simple ingredients- baking soda and vinegar! Run the machine with equal parts water and vinegar+ ¼ baking soda. Halfway through the cycle, turn it off and let it sit for an hour. Then complete the cycle.
REFRESH FRIDGE
Use equal parts white vinegar and water with 20-30% baking soda to wash both the interior and exterior of your fridge, including the door gasket and the fronts of the vegetable and fruit bins. To prevent mildew growth, wash the inside walls and bin interiors with some full-strength vinegar on a cloth. Also use undiluted vinegar to wipe off accumulated dust and grime on top of your refrigerator. Of course, you’ll still want to put that box of baking soda inside your refrigerator to keep it smelling clean when you’re done.
DEODORIZE DRAIN
To deodorize a drain, pour about ½ cup baking soda down the drain, followed by ½ cup vinegar. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clean residue.
Note: Use this method only if your pipes are metal. And never mix with other cleaning solutions. Don’t try this if you’ve recently used a commercial drain product.
CLEAN THE OVEN
In a small bowl, mix a 1/2 cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of vinegar. Adjust the ratio of both as needed until you have a spreadable paste. Spread the paste all over the interior surfaces of your oven, steering clear of the heating elements. The baking soda will turn a brownish colour as you rub it in; it also might be chunkier in some places than others. That is fine. Just try to coat the whole oven to the best of your abilities, paying attention to any particularly greasy areas. Allow the baking soda vinegar mixture to rest for at least 12 hours, or overnight before wiping it off with damp cloth.
BATHROOM CLEANER
Clean soap scum and mildew. Mix baking soda and liquid soap in a bowl. Dilute with water and add the vinegar. Stir the mixture with a fork until any lumps have been dissolved. Pour the liquid into the bottle. Shake well before using.
GARBAGE DISPOSALS
Pour a half cup of baking soda down the drain, then a cup of white vinegar. Boil a kettle of water. Pour the boiling water down the drain. Add two cups of ice and one cup of rock salt to the drain and turn on the disposal until it goes down. Take a lime or lemon, cut it in half, and send each half down the disposal.