This article was co-authored by Jonathan Tavarez and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Jonathan Tavarez is a Cleaning Specialist based in Tampa, Florida. He is the Founder of Pro Housekeepers, a premium cleaning service catering to residential and commercial clients across the United States. Founded in 2015, Pro Housekeepers uses rigorous training methodologies to ensure high-quality cleaning standards. He has also since founded Germaphobix, a hygiene and sanitization product company, where he leveraged his expertise in the cleaning industry to make innovative products. Jonathan has over nine years of professional cleaning experience and has over six years of experience as the Communications Director for the United Nations Association, Tampa Bay. Jonathan earned a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2012.
There are 19 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Vinegar and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) are both gentle, natural cleansers. Plus, they’re kitchen staples, so there’s a good chance you already have both of them around the house! If you use them together properly, they can cut through grease, hard water deposits, and stubborn grime. Plus, they’re great for neutralizing nasty odors and killing bacteria.[1]
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I clean my sink with baking soda?Jonathan TavarezJonathan Tavarez is a Cleaning Specialist based in Tampa, Florida. He is the Founder of Pro Housekeepers, a premium cleaning service catering to residential and commercial clients across the United States. Founded in 2015, Pro Housekeepers uses rigorous training methodologies to ensure high-quality cleaning standards. He has also since founded Germaphobix, a hygiene and sanitization product company, where he leveraged his expertise in the cleaning industry to make innovative products. Jonathan has over nine years of professional cleaning experience and has over six years of experience as the Communications Director for the United Nations Association, Tampa Bay. Jonathan earned a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2012.
Cleaning SpecialistSprinkle a little extra baking soda in your sink and give the basin a scrub with a sponge or scrub brush. It will help buff away stubborn grime and kill odors in the basin. -
QuestionWhat household items can disinfect surfaces?Jonathan TavarezJonathan Tavarez is a Cleaning Specialist based in Tampa, Florida. He is the Founder of Pro Housekeepers, a premium cleaning service catering to residential and commercial clients across the United States. Founded in 2015, Pro Housekeepers uses rigorous training methodologies to ensure high-quality cleaning standards. He has also since founded Germaphobix, a hygiene and sanitization product company, where he leveraged his expertise in the cleaning industry to make innovative products. Jonathan has over nine years of professional cleaning experience and has over six years of experience as the Communications Director for the United Nations Association, Tampa Bay. Jonathan earned a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2012.
Cleaning Specialist -
QuestionHow can I clean my bathroom with vinegar and baking soda?Raymond ChiuRaymond Chiu is the owner of Maid Sailors Cleaning Service, offering affordable residential and office cleaning services. Since its founding in 2014 in New York City, Maid Sailors has expanded to several cities, including Boston, Chicago, and Austin. The company has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable and best cleaning services in the industry.
House Cleaning ProfessionalVinegar and baking soda work great to clean stains off of a showerhead. Take the showerhead off and put it in a bucket. Submerge the showerhead with vinegar and add a 1/2 cup of baking soda. Let it soak for an hour before rinsing it clean.
Tips
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When you put baking soda and vinegar together, you get a fun, fizzy chemical reaction. However, since vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base, they’ll also neutralize each other, leaving you with plain old salt and water![27] Avoid this by using them in separate stages of the cleaning process, or mixing them in unequal amounts to get a more acidic or basic product.[28]Thanks
References
- ↑ Jonathan Tavarez. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 13 September 2019.
- ↑ Jonathan Tavarez. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 13 September 2019.
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/what-happens-when-you-mix-baking-soda-with-vinegar-253035
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cleaning-with-baking-soda-and-vinegar/
- ↑ Jonathan Tavarez. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 13 September 2019.
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cleaning-with-baking-soda-and-vinegar/
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/carpet-stains-and-how-to-remove-them/
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/laundry-linens/products/whiten-brighten-laundry/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cleaning-with-baking-soda-and-vinegar/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cleaning-with-baking-soda-and-vinegar/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/bleach-and-vinegar/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cleaning-with-baking-soda-and-vinegar/
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/what-happens-when-you-mix-baking-soda-with-vinegar-253035
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/archive/home-cleaning-chemicals
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/archive/home-cleaning-chemicals
- ↑ Raymond Chiu. House Cleaning Professional. Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.
- ↑ https://www.today.com/home/it-s-not-just-cooking-50-ways-use-baking-soda-t75651
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/how-clean-stained-coffee-mugs
- ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/food-drink/how-to/a26737/how-to-clean-bbq-grill/
- ↑ https://earth911.com/living-well-being/health/cleaning-vinegar-baking-soda-lemon/
- ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-clean-grill-grates/
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/how-to-get-rid-of-stinky-household-odors/2018/05/21/12fff0ae-57bc-11e8-8836-a4a123c359ab_story.html
- ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/cleaning-with-vinegar-in-kitchen
- ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/2016/05/how-to-get-rid-of-smell-odor-refrigerator.html
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-an-oven-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-201191
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com.au/clean-white-shoes
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/green-cleaning-truth-about-diy-cleaners/
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/what-happens-when-you-mix-baking-soda-with-vinegar-253035
About This Article
Baking soda and vinegar are both excellent odor neutralizers. For example, freshen a smelly sink by pouring baking soda and salt down the drain, then following it with half a cup of boiling hot vinegar. You can also reduce laundry odors by mixing baking soda into the detergent and adding vinegar during the rinse cycle. If you’re trying to get rid of stains and dirt on a surface, such as a kitchen counter or the inside of your fridge, make a paste with baking soda and a little water. Gently scrub the surface with the paste and spray on some vinegar to dissolve stubborn grime. Rinse away the baking soda and vinegar with warm water when you’re done. For more expert cleaning tips, like how to use baking soda and vinegar to get stains out of your favorite mug, scroll down!