Are you a fan of DIY cleaning hacks? If so, you may have come across the age-old trick of mixing baking soda and vinegar to clean just about anything. But did you know that this popular combination can actually do more harm than good? In this article, we’ll explore why you should avoid mixing baking soda and vinegar for cleaning, and provide you with safer and more effective alternatives. So, why is mixing baking soda and vinegar a bad idea for cleaning? Read on to find out!
Watch This Video
In this video, I wanted to explain why you should never use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning. I have seen many suggestions online that you should combine these two ingredients to create homemade cleaning solutions. It has even been suggested that the bubbles released are considered “scrubbing bubbles”. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, you will simply be wasting two very useful cleaning solutions by combining them.
Although we use both vinegar and baking soda in our natural cleaning products, you should never mix the two together.
I don’t want to go all high school chemistry teacher on you, but there is a lot of misinformation on the internet about using the two together. I have even seen some people writing about how you can use the “scrubbing bubbles” action of mixing the two together to get a better clean. Although well-meaning, this is simply not the case.
Mixing Baking Soda and Vinegar
What actually happens when you mix baking soda (a base) with vinegar (a weak acid) does not create “scrubbing bubbles”. It simply creates a chemical reaction that releases CO2 gas and ends up creating a weak salt solution. Not exactly what you want when you are trying to clean stubborn dirt or stains.
The cause of the bubbles when you mix the two is the release of CO2 (carbon dioxide) gas during a chemical reaction with vinegar. I believe it is safe to say that the CO2 gas released does not have any cleaning power. What you are left with when all the CO2 is released from the baking soda/vinegar reaction is water and sodium acetate. This solution is a weak salt solution. It has no cleaning properties whatsoever.
For instance, would you try and mix table salt and water and use it to clean your stove or sink? Well, this solution is similar, in that it is virtually worthless as a cleaning solution.
Never Mix Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide
I also covered in the video something else you should never mix when making homemade cleaning solutions. Never mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together. The result is peracetic acid, which can be caustic and can burn you if the solution is strong enough. This can lead to painful burns on the skin that could require medical attention. Keep in mind that if you accidentally mix the two, baking soda can help neutralize the acid on your skin while you seek medical attention.
Conclusion
So, just to recap, never mix baking soda and vinegar for cleaning. The result is that you have removed the cleaning properties of both products and wasted your money.
Never mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide because the resulting peracetic acid is caustic and can be harmful to your health, causing skin burns.
Although we do use all three of these in the natural cleaning products we make at home, you need to be careful not to waste money or worse yet, create a harmful substance by mixing the wrong things together.
FAQs:
Q: Why shouldn’t you clean with baking soda and vinegar?
A: While these are commonly used as cleaning agents, they should not be mixed together. When combined, they undergo a chemical reaction that creates carbon dioxide gas, water, and a small amount of sodium acetate. This reaction can be vigorous and may result in fizzing and bubbling. Mixing them in a closed container can even cause pressure buildup and potentially lead to an explosion.
Q: What happens if you put vinegar and baking soda together?
A: When they are combined, they undergo a chemical reaction known as an acid-base reaction. This reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, water, and a small amount of sodium acetate. The rapid release of carbon dioxide gas leads to fizzing and bubbling. However, this reaction is not suitable for cleaning purposes as it doesn’t provide effective disinfection or cleaning power.
Q: Can you mix baking soda and vinegar to clean?
A: It is not recommended to mix baking soda and vinegar together for cleaning purposes. Although the fizzing and bubbling reaction might seem effective, it doesn’t provide the desired cleaning power. Additionally, this combination may create a messy and potentially hazardous situation. It’s best to use baking soda and vinegar separately or explore alternative cleaning methods that are safer and more effective.
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