Cleaning Without Harsh Chemicals Using Vinegar and Baking Soda

Baking Soda and Vinegar may very well be the most versatile chemicals in your kitchen, and possibly even your whole home. Both are fabulous cleansers in addition to their culinary uses.

You probably have a box of Baking Soda in your refrigerator for its deodorizing properties, but it also can be used as a mild abrasive for scrubbing. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) can also be turned into Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate), and the process for doing so is much easier than you might imagine!

Most of us have an old bottle of vinegar laying around, so we're likely aware of it's uses for cooking. Vinegar can also be used as a general cleanser, mild disinfectant, deodorizer and grease cutting agent. Vinegar has also been used with some success as a fabric softener, and a conditioner for your hair. Don't worry about any odor from the Vinegar, because as it dries, the smell disappears.

Now, a few words of caution, Baking Soda is an alkali and is mildly caustic. Washing Soda is a stronger caustic than the Baking variety and should be handled accordingly (gloves). Vinegar on the other hand is a mild acid. Combining these agents will produce results. Just use a little common sense and you'll be fine.

Below are a sampling of recipes and ideas for these useful chemicals.

•General Spray Cleaner - Combine 3 parts Vinegar with 1 part water in a spray bottle. Use just as you would any commercial spray cleanser. This does make for a strong brew, and can be tailored to fit your needs.

•General Abrasive Cleaner - Sprinkle damp surface with Baking Soda. Use just as you would any commercial abrasive cleanser. This is a great oven cleaner!

•Making Washing Soda From Baking Soda - Spread a thin layer of Baking Soda on a cooking sheet. Bake at 300°F until steam is no longer generated (about 30 minutes depending on size of batch). That's it. Makes you wonder why Washing Soda is so much more money than Baking Soda doesn't it?

•Laundry Soap - Combine the following;

2-1/2 cups Baking Soda

1-1/4 cups Washing Soda (Use gloves)

1-1/4 cups Borax (Use gloves)

1 bar grated bar soap (this is used to add scent to the recipe, you can achieve the same effect with a couple drops of essential oil on a damp cloth in the dryer)

Also be aware that laundry soap made this way will not suds up like the toxic commercial variety.

•Carpet Cleaner - Combine the following into a shaker container;

1 part Salt

2 parts Baking Soda

Sprinkle over entire carpet and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming up. This will kill flea eggs, as it dries them out.

This is only a drop in the bucket for these incredibly versatile chemicals. And not only are they safer to use than their toxic commercial cousins, they are cheaper too!