Bicarbonate of Soda and Vinegar

[electron800]

Hi,

I was wanting to use bicarb of soda and vinegar in my washer to remove odours, problem is I don't know how much I should use. The machine is a Hoover Ecologic front loader, with a 5kg or 11lb capacity, or I think about a 45l or 1.6 cubic foot drum. So how much do you rekon I will need? The vinegar will ofcourse go in the final rinse.

I should mention that this is for washing dark and coloured items so if anyone has any other tips on how best to remove odours without fading colours please let me know.

Matt

 

[danemodsandy]

It'll Be Interesting...

...Bicarb is alkaline, and vinegar is acid, so you're going to get a lot of foaming when you mix the two. Nothing particularly dangerous will happen, but depending on the amount, the foaming might be a detriment to your front-loader.

 

[electron800]

well I was thinking I would put the bicarb in with the detergent, then the vinegar in the final rinse.

There are 3 deep rinses between these, that should be enough to rinse the bicarb out before the vinegar is added shouldn't it?

Matt

 

[danemodsandy]

Matt:

In that case, you should be fine. But vinegar alone is often enough to remove odours, so perhaps just trying that would work.

Just be sure to use white vinegar and save the good stuff for fish and chips.

P.S.: Love fish and chips! Especially when they're the "bad" kind fried in proper chip fat. Can't get those on this side of the pond, more's the pity!

 

[sudsmaster]

I'm not quite clear on what the point is of cleaning anything by combining an acid (vinegar) with a base (baking soda). What you will get is a lot of CO2 bubbles and the sodium salt of acetic acid. Neither of which is as good a cleaning agent as either of the original components.

In other words, baking soda and vinegar neutralize - think neuter - each other.

 

[sudsmaster]

PS- yes, adding them separately, bicarb in wash, vinegar in rinse, would be better. Even better for removing odors and killing mold would be good old borax.