Baking Soda and Vinegar

[*~Member~*]

I was told to put baking soda in my bathtub and spray it with vinegar and scrub it. I just did that. The smell was very strong.

Should I worry about breathing in these two things mixed together? Or is it pretty safe?

[Jojo F.]

When I use the two together I tend to spray the vinegar on the baking soda and then let it sit so I don't have to scrub too hard.

I did a quick search and didn't find much about the fumes of these two but I personally wouldn't lean over it and breath the fumes. But I think it's much better then say bleach.

[DaytonsMom]

i'm going to try this on the tub tomorrow! Lord knows the tub needs it!!

[jenji]

I had the same issue using vinegar and baking soda in the tub last week. I ended up just scrubbing the tub with baking soda mixed into a paste with a little leftover shampoo then rinsing and spraying with vinegar after to sanitize

[DaytonsMom]

used the vinegar and baking soda on the tub and it worked great!! so nice and clean!! even let it sit for a while before scrubbing off like pp suggested! Maybe i'll have to start cleaning the tub more often!!

[Marni]

DEFINITELY no harmful fumes from combining these two. I do it all the time. I am very chemical-sensitive, and can use almost nothing else to clean my home.

[CompostMom]

I use a baking soda paste first then spray with the vinegar as someone said above. Used together they cancel each other out so to speak except when trying to unstop a clogged drain. Then after pouring baking soda down the drain follow with very hot vinegar and it will bubble alot-hopefully unclogging the drain.You may have to repeat a couple times to work. The whole base vs acid thing.

[ecoteat]

It's totally safe. All you are making in the reaction is water and carbon dioxide. Baking soda is HCO3. When the baking soda meets the hydrogen from the vinegar, it makes carbonic acid (HCO3 + H ---> H2CO3). The carbonic acid quickly breaks apart to make water and carbon dioxide (H2CO3 ---> H2O + CO2 ).