DIY misconceptions #1: combining baking soda and vinegar

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be dispelling some myths about DIY practices, for those who make their own homemade cleaning products.

Today, we’re tackling the classic combination when it comes to making your own cleaning products: baking soda . baking soda & its friends white vinegar andcitric acid.

There are a plethora of recipes on the Internet that call for this mixture to be made in advance. In our opinion, this is a mistake, as it is totally unnecessary and even counter-productive… Why is this? Find out below!

Preparing liquid baking soda and vinegar in advance is a bad idea!

Ditto if you use a mixture of baking soda & citric acid + water.

In all cases, the combination of base (bicarbonate) and acid (vinegar or citric acid) produces an effervescent reaction when it comes into contact with water (CO2 is released).

Basically, it pschhht down your drains, down your toilet, onto your oven tray, etc.

If you mix baking sod a with vinegar, as there’s already water in the vinegar, the reaction is instantaneous.

If you mix bicarbonate of soda with dehydratedcitric acid (the most commonly used granular form), the reaction won’t take place until you bring them into contact with water.

Knowing that, it is not recommended (because useless) prepare your product à in advance at creating this reaction effervescence.

Why?

Once the foam has subsided, you’re left with sodium acetate, i.e. salt water. The molecules decompose and the desired properties of the base and acid are lost.

Baking soda and acid are assembled in a minute! Because the peak performance of your 2 ingredients occurs when they foam.

Combined with a little elbow grease, it’s a must 🙂

PS: Looking for the basic ingredients for your homemade cleaning products? We’ve got just what you need in our store! Take a look around this way !