Natural Cleaning With Baking Soda, Vinegar and Lemon

Three cheap kitchen staples handle most everyday cleaning: bicarbonate of soda (also sold as baking soda), white vinegar and lemon. Each one works in a different way, so knowing what each is best for, and what you must never mix, gets you a spotless home for pennies. Here is how to use all three safely and well.

Bicarbonate of soda: the gentle scrubber

Bicarbonate of soda is a mild alkali and a soft abrasive. It lifts grease, neutralises smells and scours without scratching the surface underneath.

• Make a paste with a little water to scrub sinks, hobs and oven doors
• Sprinkle it over carpets, leave for 15 minutes, then vacuum to freshen
• Sit an open pot in the fridge to soak up food odours
• Shake a little into trainers, gym bags or the bin to kill smells
• Loosen a burnt pan by simmering water with a spoonful, then scrubbing

White vinegar: the limescale buster

White vinegar is a mild acid, which makes it ideal for hard-water homes across London and the South East.

• Dilute one part vinegar with one part water for windows and glass
• Soak a cloth over limescaled taps for an hour, then wipe them clean
• Run a cup through the kettle or coffee machine to descale it, then rinse well
• Add a splash to the rinse drawer to keep the dishwasher fresh

Do not use vinegar on natural stone, marble, granite or unsealed grout. The acid etches these surfaces and leaves dull marks. Keep it off cast iron and waxed wood too.

Lemon: the natural freshener

Lemon contains citric acid and leaves a clean, bright scent that many people prefer to vinegar.

• Rub a cut lemon over chopping boards and taps to freshen and shine them
• Heat a bowl of water and lemon slices in the microwave for two minutes, then wipe away the loosened grime
• Use lemon juice to brighten white fabric, then dry it in sunlight

A simple all-purpose spray

For a cheap everyday cleaner, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and add a strip of lemon peel for scent. Use it on glass, tiles and sealed worktops, but keep it away from stone. Shake before each use and label the bottle clearly.

What you should never mix

Natural does not always mean safe to combine.

• Never mix vinegar or lemon with bleach. Together they release toxic chlorine gas.
• Mixing vinegar and bicarbonate of soda in a bottle mostly cancels both out. Pour one then the other down a slow drain, but do not store them pre-mixed as a cleaner.
• Always work in a ventilated room and test a hidden patch first.

With these three staples you can clean most of your home cheaply and safely. When you want the deeper jobs handled for you, GlowSpark cleaners are vetted and cost from £19/hour pay-as-you-go with a first hour for £9 on your first Home Cleaning booking. Book a GlowSpark cleaner today.