Clean Anything with Vinegar & Baking Soda

May 16, 2010, By Greg Hoard 0 comments

Greg Hoard

With due thanks to Gladys, here’s a short list of ways you can use vinegar and baking soda and simplify your life.

• A perfect glass cleaner: Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a clean spray bottle. Spray it on and wipe it away with newspaper, if you still get one. Little works better.
• Cleaning tile and linoleum floors: Mix two cups of vinegar with six cups of warm water. Use a cotton rag or old towel and hit the floors. It takes up dirt and grime as good as about anything.
• Tub and tile cleaner: Use two cups of baking soda with enough warm water to make a smooth paste. Apply the paste and allow enough time for it to work, 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse it with damp rag in circular motions. Once the paste is off, spray it with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. This removes residue and disinfects the area.
• Carpet cleaner: Sprinkle scented or unscented baking powder on the carpets. Let it stand for 15 or 20 minutes and then vacuum. If you choose, you can add a few drops of essential oils to the baking powder. It will freshen up the carpet. (This mix also works well on the carpets in your car. If the carpets are looking dull, sprinkle some salt around. Wait for about 15 minutes and run the sweeper. That will brighten the look.)
• General household cleanser: Use a mix of one part vinegar and three parts water for walls and counters. Again, you can add essential oils. Tea tree oil is a great disinfectant.
• Deodorizer: Spread baking soda on the bottom of your trashcans and garbage cans. It absorbs spills and reduces odor.
• Oven cleanser: If you are confronted with baked on food in the oven, mix salt and baking soda with some warm water and attack it with a toothbrush. You’ll be surprised how quickly the gunk comes up, and there is no toxic odor.
• Wood cleanser: One tablespoon of lemon juice with two tablespoons of olive oil. Pour mixture onto a clean rag and rub it into the wood with a circular motion. You can also use a spray bottle, but apply sparingly. Wipe it away with a clean rag. This goes a long way and if you use too much you will be cleaning it up for hours.
• Metal rust cleanser: Two tablespoons of salt and one tablespoon of lemon juice. Apply the mix. Give it time to work and rub it away briskly.Cleaning silver: Toothpaste. Rub it on the silver. Let it set and then rub it off with a smooth rag.
• Toilet cleaner: Mix baking soda with lemon juice. Rub into all those inviting crevices, cracks and surfaces – both seen and unseen – and then come back a few minutes later and hit it with a scrub brush.
• Dust rags: Try dryer sheets. You can also use these in heating vents and the vents for your air conditioning.
• A kitchen air freshener: Cut up bits of orange and lemon. Place them in a pot of water and add cloves and cinnamon. Simmer on the stove. It will fill the kitchen and drift into other parts of the house. It’s terrific. The cloves are absolutely key.
• Another air freshener: Turn off the heat, turn off the air and open the windows. Let Mother Nature take care of things her own way.
• Or, if you don’t like that idea, place a couple of drops of essential oils on your light bulbs. Scented candles are great, too, and serve as a mood-setter. Can’t go wrong with scented candles. No, sir! Ah-oooo!

These are just a few solid tips, derived from dear Gladys who was “green” long before “green” was glorified.

There are other uses. All you’ve got to do, as she said, is “Go to the library. Look it up!”

Greg Hoard is the senior writer and former editor of Cincinnati Profile magazine. He is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.