2. BAKING SODA + VINEGAR = WATER AND SODIUM ACETATE
Baking soda and vinegar are a bubbling combination, BUT those bubbles are not doing any deep cleaning.
The risk: Wasting your money. Baking soda is basic while vinegar is acidic, their reaction produces water and sodium acetate. This is an ineffective homemade cleaning solution of water with a tiny amount of salt in it.
How to use them effectively: Don’t waste your time cleaning with an ineffective cleanser! Instead use baking soda as a scouring agent to clean ovens, sinks, and bathrooms and simply rinse with tap water.
Use the vinegar as a scum busting glass cleaner or as an odor neutralizer. My favorite glass cleaner recipe combines vinegar and vodka to make your glass surfaces sparkle!
(Want to learn more about baking soda and vinegar? Read Why You Should Never Use Baking Soda and Vinegar to Clean Clogged Drains. If you are looking for a green drain cleaner check out How to Naturally Clean a Clogged Drain. I test and explain several green drain cleaning methods!)
3. CASTILE SOAP + VINEGAR = GUNK
Castile Soap and vinegar are versatile green ingredients with many uses, BUT combined in one cleaner they actually make your home dirtier.
The risk: Wasting money and time. Castile soap is basic while vinegar is acidic. When you combine the two you get a reaction that breaks down or unsaponifies the Castile soap, tuning it back out to its original oils. The mixture looks like a white, curdled gunk.
Instead of getting a great cleaner you are spreading ineffective gunk all over. Castile soap is expensive, don’t waste it!
How to use them effectively: Do not combine Castile soap with acids (including lemon juice and vinegar). Instead, use the soap first and use vinegar as a rinse agent in your washing machine, dishwasher, or cleaning rinse water.
I use Castile soap in my Borax free homemade laundry detergent and liquid laundry detergent followed by my easy homemade fabric softener. It also works great in this laundry stain treater.
Clean your home naturally and effectively by avoiding these ingredient combinations. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have made any of these green cleaning mistakes, it is a learning process!
GET MORE “DIRT” ON GREEN CLEANING INGREDIENTS
I used to clean my disposal and drains with baking soda and vinegar. Whoops! Read How to Naturally Clean a Clogged Drain to see the green methods that work much better.
Some green cleaning recipes combine hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. This combination should never be stored in a closed container because it can explode, leak, or spray all over when opened. Learn why in Natural All Purpose Cleaner.
The next time you find a new DIY cleaner that you’re not sure about stop by the Bren Did Facebook page and ask, I love trying new green cleaners!