For years I kept a whole shelf of sprays under my sink, each one meant for a single job. Today that shelf is mostly white vinegar and a box of baking soda, and the house is just as clean. These two cheap things are not magic, though, and using them badly gives poor results. Used well, they beat the store sprays on a handful of specific jobs.
Here are seven of those jobs, which one of the two to pick for each, and the few places where you should never use vinegar at all.
Why They Work, and Why You Should Not Mix Them
Vinegar is a mild acid. It dissolves mineral deposits, such as the chalky film that hard water leaves behind, and it cuts through soap scum. Baking soda is a mild alkali with a very fine, soft grit. It lifts grease, scrubs without scratching most surfaces, and soaks up odors.
Because one is an acid and the other is an alkali, they cancel each other when they meet. The fizzing looks impressive, but what is left in the bowl is mostly salty water. A paste or a spray made of both is far weaker than either one alone. So I use them separately, or one after the other with a rinse in between, and I give each the job it is good at.
Buy plain white distilled vinegar, the kind sold for cooking. Stronger bottles labeled as cleaning vinegar exist, and they can be harsher on rubber and finishes, so read the label before you dilute or skip diluting. Keep baking soda dry in its box, because it clumps in damp air, and label every spray bottle with a strip of tape so nobody mistakes it for water.
Four Jobs for Vinegar
- Kettle and coffee maker scale. Fill the kettle halfway with equal parts vinegar and water, bring it to a simmer, turn it off, and let it sit for an hour. Rinse twice and boil plain water once before you drink from it. For a coffee maker, follow the maker’s manual and run several cycles of plain water afterward.
- Streaky windows and mirrors. Mix half water and half vinegar in a spray bottle, spray lightly, and wipe with a dry cloth that leaves no lint. An old cotton shirt works well. If streaks remain, the cloth is usually too damp or too dirty, so switch to a fresh dry one.
- Splattered microwave. Heat a bowl of water with a splash of vinegar for three minutes, then leave the door shut for five more. The steam softens dried food, and one wipe removes it. Take the bowl out with oven mitts, because it will be very hot.
- Clogged showerhead. Pour vinegar into a plastic bag, tie it around the head with a rubber band so the nozzles are covered, and leave it for an hour or two. Wipe, then run the water for a minute to flush loosened bits. A soft old toothbrush clears any nozzle that stays stubborn. The full method for faucets and glass doors is in our guide to hard-water stains on faucets and shower doors.
Three Jobs for Baking Soda
- Stained sinks and tubs. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub porcelain or stainless steel in small circles. It removes tea rings and light scuffs without scratching. Rinse until the water runs clear, because dried powder leaves a dull haze. Skip this on glossy acrylic tubs if the maker warns against powders, and test a corner first.
- Scorched pots. Cover the burned spot with water, add two tablespoons of baking soda, simmer for ten minutes, and let it cool. The black crust usually slides off with a wooden spoon. For a very stubborn pot, repeat the next day rather than scraping hard, which scratches the metal.
- Smelly spots. An open box in the refrigerator or a light dusting on a carpet, left for a few hours and then vacuumed, takes up odors instead of covering them. A thick paste of baking soda and water is also the gentlest way to start on baked-on grease, as I describe in how to clean oven glass without harsh chemicals.
When to Use Them One After the Other
Sometimes both belong in the same job, just not in the same bowl. A greasy, mineral-spotted sink is a good example. Scrub with baking soda first to cut the grease, rinse well, and then wipe with vinegar to dissolve the mineral film. Each one does its own work on a clean surface, and nothing is wasted by neutralizing.
What You Should Never Clean With Vinegar
- Natural stone. Marble, granite, limestone, and travertine are etched by acid. Use plain water and a mild soap made for stone.
- Bleach. Never mix vinegar with bleach, ever. The mixture releases chlorine gas, which is poisonous. Do not mix vinegar with ammonia cleaners either, and rinse a surface fully before using a different product on it.
- Cast iron. Vinegar strips the seasoning from the pan.
- Unsealed grout and some finishes. Test on a hidden spot first, and keep vinegar off waxed wood and special metal finishes.
One more caution is the dishwasher and the washing machine. A little vinegar now and then is fine, but frequent soaking can wear rubber seals over the years, so I keep it for an occasional rinse and not for every load.
Always open a window while you clean, and keep every bottle away from children and pets.
Quick-Fire FAQ
Does mixing vinegar and baking soda make a stronger cleaner?
No. The two neutralize each other, so the fizz is mostly for show. You get better results using them separately.
Can I use vinegar on my granite countertops?
No. Acid dulls and etches granite, marble, and other natural stone over time. Use warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap instead, and wipe it dry afterward. If you spilled vinegar on stone by accident, wipe it up at once and rinse with clean water.
Is it safe to use vinegar after cleaning with bleach?
Not unless you have rinsed the surface thoroughly with plenty of water and the room is well ventilated. The safest habit is to pick one product per job.
How long does vinegar smell last?
The smell fades within an hour once the surface dries and the window is open. It leaves no film behind, which is one reason I like it. Lemon peel left to steep in a jar of vinegar for a week makes it smell sweeter, though strain it before you pour it into a spray bottle.
— Grandma Gigi
