disappointed by vinegar/bicarb wonder solutions

[HotI]

i have read so many blogs etc that claim that various mixes/pastes/solutions of vinegar/bicarb/water do awesome things to ovens etc without the need for scrubbing or harsh chemicals. But each time i try it, i am disappointed. Am i using the wrong chemicals, or is it all just a ruse?

[PumpkinZulu]

For the bath and shower I do the one part white vinegar, one part dishwashing liquid...spray it on, leave it for a bit, wipe off, magic! I love it.

[danita]

For oven I sprinkle bi carb on spray vinegar out of spray bottle. Leave 20 mins then wipe off.

[Mum2twoBoys]

I soak my oven racks in vinegar and hot water, and the build up ends up just wiping off.

[Frangipani Lou]

For the oven, a bicarb paste works. For extra tough bits, lemon adds some acidic grunt. Turn oven on to 100 degrees for 10 minutes after applying the paste before wiping off.

[LionsandBears]

For the bath and shower I do the one part white vinegar, one part dishwashing liquid...spray it on, leave it for a bit, wipe off, magic! I love it.

Do you find this works on grout as well? We've been using a mix of baking soda and white vinegar in the showers and it hasn't been working well. There's a pink build up on the grout.

[Rouge]

Magic shower spray is great!!! Works on grout here. The soap traps the vinegar so it stays instead of sliding off.

[PumpkinZulu]

Yep it's worked on grout here, soap scum, everything. Love the stuff. DH was so sceptical when I told him about it bit now he's a total convert.

[little_O]

I haven't found much success with bicarb and vinegar, not without scrubbing as well anyways.

The detergent and vinegar works for me though. But I have to leave it a couple of hours.

[LionsandBears]

My thing is to be chemical free. I dont know what's in detergent. I'm wondering if the useful component is glycerin, to make it stick. I tried finding some at the local Coles today but no luck.

[AnyDream]

An earth friendly dishwashing liquid is pretty low-impact, FWIW.

Alternatively, a lot of other create your own cleaning recipes use loquid Castile soap, which is a plain soap liquid based on olive oil & glycerine.

I find bicarb & vinegar to be useful but only when used separately, because the addition of the vinegar (acid) to the bicarb (alkaline) neutralizes both. I use bicarb when I need scrub or deodorize factor, and vinegar when I need to cut thru grime/grease.

[Babyluv]

I find vinegar and water on its own without the bicarb amazing for burnt on mess. Soaking oven racks in vinegar and water means they just wipe clean. Hubby burnt a pot dry with pasta and a little vinegar and water left to sit meant it was easily wiped clean.

[luna moth]

Go to a chemist for glycerine L&B. you could also make a soap nut liquid soap. That might work?

I find wonder solutions only work if you're not dealing with heavy soiling. The more often you do it, the better it works. Don't know if that helps. I love bicarb paste for cleaning the oven, then vinegar spray for getting it off.

[Butterfly Dawn]

Have you tried washing soda? its like baking sodas big brother or straight vinegar and a wire pot scrub?

[Butterfly Dawn]

Oven cleaner- 1 cup each of washing soda and baking soda, mixed. Sprinkle over the bottom of the oven and spray with water to moisten, spray every few hours to keep moist but let it set over night. In the morning, scrap off. If really tough stuff- add some vinegar and let fizz for 10 mins. Scrub and reapply if needed.
Clean the window with malt vinegar is really good too.

[Mrs P]

I really need to clean my oven - must try these ideas!

[tellytubby]

The dish washing + vinegar for a shower/bath cleaner has intrigued me..

I ran out of Jiff and used bi-carb + vinegar last week. I found I needed too much elbow grease for my lazy liking. Will give the dish detergent + vinegar mix a go this weekend.

Do you find a difference between homebrand white vinegar and the more expensive brands?

[PumpkinZulu]

I figure there can't be too many vinegar factories competing for the market here in Aus...I think it would all be much of a muchness, we just use the cheap stuff.