Why is vinegar and baking soda so good for cleaning?

It's alkaline (and acidic).

According to Reader's Digest, more and more people are throwing harsh chemicals out of their cleaning routines and turning to natural products like baking soda and vinegar to remove dirt, disinfect surfaces, and make spaces shiny and clean. So, why are these household items such effective cleaners? The answer is simple - baking soda and vinegar lie on opposite ends of the pH scale.

Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Most people probably associate it with cooking because it makes your cakes and breads big and fluffy. Vinegar is a dilute solution of acetic acid (HC2H3O2) produced by bacteria during the fermentation process. Both of these kitchen ingredients are effective cleaning agents because they lie at opposite ends of the pH scale. pH is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is, ranging from 1 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic), with a neutral value of 7. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, pure water has a pH of 7. Baking soda has a pH of 9, while vinegar has a pH of 2.

As a base, baking soda dissolves organic compounds such as dirt, grease and other sticky ickies. in addition, the mineral structure of each baking soda particle provides a mild abrasive to clean without leaving scratches. As an acid, vinegar breaks down minerals that form in hard tap water and create unsightly stains on sinks, tubs and countertops.

Combining these two common household substances can produce incredible results in the kitchen, but it's important not to combine them in equal amounts because you need to keep the mixture on the acidic or alkaline side of the neutral value. When baking soda is mixed with vinegar, the acid breaks down the baking soda, releasing carbon dioxide gas that can help remove dirt from the surface being cleaned.