Meanwhile, people in the UK and Australia tend to refer to baking soda as bicarbonate of soda. This is often shortened to bicarb. It's the exact same substance, just with a different name. So when you see the words 'baking soda' in an American cleaning recipe then go ahead and use bicarbonate of soda.
Separately, both vinegar and baking soda work well for cleaning. Alone, baking soda can dissolve grease and dirt, while distilled white vinegar breaks down minerals without adding any coloring to stain surfaces (as apple cider vinegar might).
For cleaning the machine: Add 1 cup of baking soda into the drum and then run your machine on the hottest possible cycle. For extra cleaning power, “You can also put some baking soda on a sponge or microfiber cloth and scrub the inside of the drum prior to running the cycle,” Maker says.
The reaction is: Sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid reacts to carbon dioxide, water and sodium acetate. The solid baking soda was placed in liquid vinegar producing carbon dioxide gas, which is evident because of the formation of bubbles in the foaming mixture.
Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid; when the two are combined, you get a fizzy chemical reaction that has some properties that can eat away at a clog. However, when you use this combination to unclog a drain, it's just plain ineffective.
For really tough black mold removal, mix two parts baking soda with one part white vinegar and one part water. Stir the mixture until it becomes a thick paste. Spread your mixture liberally onto the surface and let it dry. Scrub away the black mold and stains, and wipe down with water.
Cleaning Grout with Baking Soda
Mix baking soda, a few drops of dish soap, and enough water to make a cleaning paste. Apply the paste liberally, let it sit for 20 minutes, then scrub the grout with a toothbrush and rinse.
Vinegar, lemons, baking soda, and other natural homemade cleaners do a fabulous job of cleaning, disinfecting, removing stains, and more.
Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste, apply to the stain (leave for 15 minutes for stubborn stains) and rinse off in water. After cooking a meal for the family, sometimes you need a little extra scrubbing power with the washing up - particularly after something like a Sunday roast.
FRONT LOAD (HE) WASHER: If you have a HE (front loading) washer, place your towels in the washer with 1 cup of baking soda (no detergent). Start the washer let the water fill for about 1 minute. Add 2 cups of vinegar to the “liquid” cup (again no detergent) and allow the load to run through.
Leave it in the drain for an hour or two or overnight, and then flush the drain with hot tap water. For larger drains, such as tubs and kitchen sinks, use about a quarter-cup of baking soda, a half-cup of water to move the powder down, and 2 cups of vinegar.
Leaving those products in water overnight can also release fumes into your bathroom. The aforementioned baking soda and vinegar is a safer alternative for keeping your toilet bowl sparkling. You can add them to the toilet bowl at the end of the night for a good, cleansing soak until morning.
Baking soda and vinegar, when mixed together, can form a chemical reaction that looks sort of like an eruption. This chemical reaction can help clear your toilet and any pipe clogs that you might have.
Simply pour a kettle of almost boiling water into the bowl, follow up with 250ml of citric acid, and leave it for some hours – preferably overnight. The next day, scrub and flush. What's good for those caked-on pots and pans after cooking dinner is also good for removing a brown stain on the bottom of the toilet bowl.
Make a baking soda paste with water and spread over tile and grout. Leave on overnight and spray with vinegar in the morning. Follow with your regular morning shower and rinse off any baking soda/vinegar residue. No scrubbing needed!
Baking Soda
You can use it to safely clean mold, even though it isn't always as effective as bleach. Method One: Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with one gallon of water, and put the solution in a spray bottle. Apply the mixture to the affected area, and let it sit for half an hour. Then rinse the surface with warm water.
For a natural solution for getting rid of black mold, combine one part baking soda with five parts distilled white vinegar and five parts water in a spray bottle. Alternatively, you can use a chemical-based mold and mildew remover, all-purpose cleaners, bleach or dish soap.
To clean mould and mildew and kill their spores you will need white distilled vinegar – the cheapest brand from the supermarket will do just fine. Mix 1 part of vinegar with 1 part water and pour into a spray bottle. Apply the solution onto the mouldy area and leave it to sit for one hour.
Coke and Pepsi are loaded with phosphoric acid, which breaks down the buildup that can clog your drains! Phosphoric acid can even remove lime scale and another tough buildup that regular cleaners struggle with.