Please Stop Mixing Baking Soda and Vinegar to Make Cleaning Paste
Acidic cleaners like vinegar are particularly effective at removing mineral buildup and soap scum, according to Michael Capracotta, head of technical service, and Kayleigh Foster, director of marketing and technical services, at BASF, a chemical manufacturing company that makes ingredients such as enzymes and surfactants for home cleaning products.
Vinegar, which has a pH of about 2.4, can dissolve hard-water stains, soap scum, and mineral buildup on bathroom fixtures and shower doors, Capracotta and Foster pointed out. I’ve also had great success using it to descale my espresso machine. That’s because the acid reacts with alkaline minerals like calcium carbonate in limescale or hard-water deposits and breaks them down into soluble salts, water, and carbon dioxide, which you can easily wipe away.
As a general rule, it’s best to start with the least powerful cleaning product and then move up to heavier solutions if necessary.
If food-grade vinegar isn’t cutting it for a particular task, you might consider using a cleaning vinegar, which typically contains a higher concentration of acetic acid, or a stronger acid cleaner. Lipke suggests using citric acid (3 pH to 6 pH) or citric-acid products, which are usually more acidic (and smell better than vinegar).
Bar Keepers Friend (1.5 – 2.5 pH) is another acidic cleaner — and a favorite among Wirecutter staffers. It utilizes oxalic acid and excels at cleaning stainless steel, grout, and even mineral deposits from inside toilets.
You should not use acidic cleaners on natural stone, such as marble, granite, or limestone, or on hardwood, as they can etch or dull those surfaces. Some acidic cleaners work well on metal surfaces like stainless steel or copper, but always check the manufacturer’s instructions and test the cleaner on an inconspicuous patch before cleaning an entire item.
Whenever you use an acidic cleaner, wear gloves to prevent skin irritation. And never combine bleach with any acidic cleaners, as that can produce toxic chlorine gas.
