In the supermarket you can find countless cleaning products, many of them specific for different surfaces or areas of the house, which often contain chemicals that are not recommended for health. However, there are natural substances that are equally effective (or more) and that are much more respectful for your health and that of the environment.
One of those that has the most cleaning power is baking sodawhich in addition to being biodegradable is very versatile and easy to use. Besides, you can enhance its effects or add other specific effects if you mix it with other natural products. Of course, there are also substances with which you should not combine it, because it can produce dangerous chemical reactions. Bleach is one of them. We tell you why and what the alternatives are.
The cleaning powers of baking soda
Baking soda is a white powder that has countless uses, both in the kitchen, in cosmetics and in the home. In fact, thanks to its multiple uses, it is considered the “powdered Swiss army knife” of the home.
The chemical formula of sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3 and should not be confused with other products with a similar name such as sodium percarbonate (Na2H3CO6) or sodium carbonate (Na2CO3).
For home cleaning onlyIn addition to being a natural and biodegradable product, it is very easy to use, cheap and multipurpose. It serves, among many other things:
In the article 45 surprising uses of baking soda at home and in the garden You will discover many different ways to use it in your home.
What you should not mix baking soda with
As we have seen, baking soda has great cleaning effects and you can enhance them by mixing it with other substances. Nevertheless, There is a substance that you should never mix it with, because the combination can be dangerous: bleach (sodium hypochlorite).
Mix baking soda and bleach It generates a toxic gas called chloramine, in addition to other substances and byproducts such as chlorate or chlorite. Exposure to these gases can cause irritation in the respiratory system and cause various problems such as coughing, difficulty breathing, burning or watering eyes. Additionally, the reaction created between these two substances can release heat and splatter, which could cause skin or eye irritation.
On the other hand, the mixture of these products can be corrosive to surfaces. It is for all this that it is convenient always use and store bleach and baking soda separately.
In fact, bleach should not be mixed with almost no other cleaning products (especially ammonia) because of the possibility of releasing toxic gases or creating dangerous chemical reactions, and should always be used with a very good ventilation.
How to enhance the effect of baking soda
To enhance the effect of baking soda, you can mix it with other natural products such as:
- Vinegar: When you mix baking soda (which is a base) with vinegar (which is an acid) you will see that an effervescent foam is created. It is a chemical reaction that generates carbon dioxide and water and is very effective for break down mineral and organic deposits. This mixture is very useful, for example, to unclog drains, to clean dirt in the toilet or to remove stubborn grease from the oven.
- Soap: Mixing baking soda with water and the soap (ideally a homemade liquid soap without chemicals) that you use to clean is very effective for remove dirt from surfaces or clothing.
- Hydrogen peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide enhances the cleaning and deodorizing effect of baking soda. A mixture of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and homemade liquid soap is effective, for example, in cleaning pet pee.
- Essential oils: Baking soda is very effective for eliminate bad odorsfor example in the refrigerator, the bathroom, closets, in houses where there are pets… If you mix it with a few drops of your favorite essential oil, in addition to eliminating odors, it will leave a pleasant aroma.