• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Hello Nest

The Art of Making a Home

  • Green Cleaning
    • Air Fresheners
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Kitchen
    • Laundry
  • Natural Living
    • Homemade Recipes
    • Essential Oils
    • Plants & Flowers
    • Zero Waste
    • Organizing & Simplifying
  • DIY & Decor
    • Candle Projects
    • Holiday Projects
    • Sewing Projects
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

2 DIY All Purpose Cleaner Recipes (+ When To Use Baking Soda vs Vinegar)

67 · Feb 27, 2022 · Stephanie Gerber · 4 Comments

Baking soda and white vinegar are staples of green cleaning. But the two ingredients are very different, and the science behind how each one works is helpful to understand. Then you can make a DIY all purpose cleaner for both ingredients and know which one will solve your cleaning dilemma.

Vinegar is acidic while baking soda – along with washing soda and borax – is alkaline. A neutral pH is 7 and baking soda ranks around 8 or 9 while vinegar is a 3.

When used together, vinegar and baking soda neutralize each other. So combining them doesn’t make a more powerful cleaner; it makes both ingredients ineffective! (Though you will get a fun bubbling action.)

When should you use an acid cleaner? Or an alkaline one?

Acidic versus Alkaline CleanersAlkaline cleaners like baking soda and washing soda can cut through grease, dirt, proteins, oils, and wax so try them instead of commercial solvents. Both act as an abrasive; baking soda is very mild and washing soda is more heavy duty. Alkaline cleaners are effective in neutralizing acidic odors (like urine) and removing acidic stains (like wine).

Acidic cleaners cut soap scum and dissolve hard water mineral buildup, which is helpful in cleaning sinks and bathtubs. It also removes calcium, rust, and other minerals. Vinegar neutralizes alkaline odors and is effective on alkaline stains (like grass).

Here are two all-purpose household cleaners to keep on hand.

Alkaline DIY All Purpose Cleaner

This gentle cleaner is effective against most household messes!

Alkaline DIY All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

Alkaline DIY All Purpose Cleaner

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon Epsom salt
  • 2 teaspoons borax
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent
  • 2 cups hot water

Instructions
 

  • Combine baking soda, borax, Epsom salt and soap in a spray bottle. Add the hot water and swirl to dissolve and combine the ingredients. Replace nozzle then spritz to clean and wipe with a clean cloth.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Acid DIY All Purpose Cleaner

Use this cleaner to remove hard water buildup and soap scum.

Acid DIY All Purpose Cleaner with Vinegar

Acid DIY All Purpose Cleaner

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup infused-vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap/detergent not Castile soap
  • 1 cup warm filtered water
  • Spray bottle

Instructions
 

  • Using a measuring cup and funnel, add the vinegar, detergent, and water. Replace cap and swirl to mix them together.
  • Spritz the area to be cleaned and wipe up with a cloth.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Photos by Ana Stanciu

67

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Bathroom, Kitchen baking soda, vinegar

More Posts from Bathroom

  • 7 Tips for Washing a Lot of Dishes – Fast!

  • Banish Odors with DIY Coffee Garbage Disposal Deodorizers

  • A Simple 4-Ingredient Produce Wash You Can Make at Home

  • How To Clean Your Stainless Steel Sink

    How To Clean Your Stainless Steel Sink

  • 3 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

    3 DIY Traps for Getting Rid of Fruit Flies

  • A DIY Dish Soap Recipe That Actually Works


Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a ReplyCancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Nicole says

    September 19, 2019 at 12:13 pm

    HI there, I’m interested in making your all purpose cleaners. I was wondering what kind of liquid soap/detergent you use for your Acid all purpose cleaner and why can’t you use castle soap? Can you use castle soap in your Alkaline all purpose cleaner?

    Thank you,
    Nicole

    Reply
  2. Rose says

    October 13, 2019 at 6:57 am

    Every single time I make the alkaline cleaner it only works for a day (if that) then the spray nozzle will break and it stops spraying anymore… any thoughts as to why this keeps happening and suggestions on how to fix it please?

    Reply
  3. Akiko says

    March 24, 2020 at 7:09 am

    hello.. can i still make the alkaline cleaner without the borax?

    Reply
  4. Miesha says

    January 1, 2022 at 5:09 pm

    Hello! Thank you so much for this breakdown! What is the function of the salt in the alkaline recipe?

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Get updates + more!

Get the exclusive content you crave straight to your inbox.

Featured DIY

27 Green Cleaning Uses for Baking Soda

27 Green Cleaning Uses for Baking Soda

DIY Lemon Lavender Rug Freshening Powder

DIY Beeswax Wood Polish

7 Tips for Washing a Lot of Dishes – Fast!

How to Make Citrus Infused Vinegar + 17 Ways to Use Vinegar for Cleaning

More

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Hello Glow
  • Hello Veggie

Copyright © 2023 · Seasoned Pro