Baking Soda + Vinegar + Dish Soap: 6 Months Later, Here's the Verdict

Here’s the conclusion first: I haven’t bought a specialized cleaner in six months.

Not because I’m lazy—because I found an alternative that actually works better than the stuff from the supermarket.

The magic formula: baking soda + white vinegar + dish soap, ratio 1:1:5, mixed in a spray bottle.

Sounds too simple to be true, but after six months of use? Genuinely impressed.

Here’s what I tested it on:

Scenario one: kitchen exhaust fan filter.

This was the nightmare zone in my apartment. Used to cost me 50 yuan monthly for professional cleaning. Now I do it myself: spray down the filter, wait 15 minutes, scrub with a brush. Thick grease areas get extra spray and soak time. Whole process takes 20 minutes, costs less than 2 yuan.

Scenario two: water stains on faucets and shower heads.

Vinegar alone, let it sit for 15 minutes, wipe clean. I used to buy specialty cleaners for this that cost dozens of yuan—and they worked worse than vinegar.

Scenario three: fridge door seals.

These trap the most grime but are actually easy to clean. Dip a cotton swab in the mixture, run it along the seal edges, then hit any remaining gunk with an old toothbrush.

So what’s the total cost?

500g box of baking soda: about 5 yuan, lasts 3 months. 2L bottle of white vinegar: about 4 yuan, lasts 2 months. Dish soap: 3 yuan, lasts 1 month.

That works out to less than 5 yuan per month.

Vs. store-bought “all-purpose cleaner” at 20-30 yuan per bottle—and it doesn’t even work as well.

Of course, some tasks still need specialty products. Toilet cleaning, for instance—I still use bleach because sterilization requirements are different.

But for 80% of daily cleaning scenarios? This formula delivers.