The autumn all-purpose cleaner
Baking soda, black soap, a dash of vinegar and half a litre of hot water. Enough to go all round the house.
An everyday cleaning recipe to keep under the sink. The black soap degreases, the baking soda loosens dirt, and the vinegar prevents streaks as it dries.
What you need
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of black soap
- 1 tablespoon of white vinegar
- 500 ml of hot water, not boiling
- A few drops of pine or orange essential oil, optional
The method
Mix the baking soda and black soap in a bowl until you have a paste.
Add the vinegar slowly: it fizzes, which is normal, so let the reaction finish.
Pour everything into a spray bottle and top up with the hot water.
Shake before each use.
Why it fizzes
Vinegar is acidic and baking soda is alkaline: when they meet, they release carbon dioxide. Once the fizzing stops, only the black soap is left to degrease, and it does most of the work. If you want the full effect of vinegar on limescale, use it separately, as a rinse.
The doses for our products are on their packaging, and that is what counts. If swallowed or splashed, call the Poison Centre on +32 70 245 245 and keep the packaging to hand.
