Baking soda is a naturally occurring mild alkali (base) that helps dirt and grease dissolve in water. The powder acts as a gentle abrasive to help loosen stuck-on grime without damaging surfaces. It also deodorizes by transforming both acidic and basic odor molecules into a more neutral, odor-free state. Vinegar (acid) is produced through the fermentation of fruits and vegetables. Distilled white vinegar is a five percent solution of acetic acid that is mild enough to dissolve greasy molecules without harming most finishes (do not use on natural stone). If you’ve ever made a science fair project volcano, you know that when baking soda and distilled white vinegar are combined there will be a chemical reaction—foaming. According to Anne Marie Helmenstine Ph.D., the reaction produces carbon dioxide gas. The gas created during the foaming action is beneficial when cleaning because the reaction helps loosen stuck-on grime in clogged pipes or surfaces. Once the foaming (reaction) stops, there is still the benefit of the abrasive texture of baking soda particles for removing grime but the mixture is not as powerful as using baking soda and vinegar separately for most types of cleaning. That’s why you should not mix the two in advance to have them on hand for cleaning. Learn how to use baking soda and vinegar together and separately for cleaning around the house. In a sealable glass container (essential oils can pit metal and some plastics), combine two cups of baking soda and one teaspoon of essential oil (tea tree, lavender, and pine all have disinfecting properties) stirring until all of the oil is well-distributed. This mixture will last for around 30 cleanings. When you’re ready to clean the toilet, add one tablespoon of the baking soda mixture to the toilet bowl. Pour in two cups of distilled white vinegar. The solution will fizz up. Allow it to work until the fizzing stops or at least 15 minutes and then scrub the bowl with a toilet brush and flush.
