Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with 2 tbsp washing soda instead of reaching for powdered cleanser; the simple two-part mixture may help tackle grease and everyday grime

If you have ever scrubbed a greasy stovetop with a store-bought powder cleanser and wondered what you were actually breathing in, you are probably not alone. New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service has a household guide that suggests a simple alternative that requires only half a cup of vinegar and two tablespoons of washing soda. No smoke and no hidden ingredients; just two things that are probably already sitting somewhere in your home.

Why grease hates this combo

Grease is oily, and oil is not soluble in water. This is what makes the process of cleaning a stove or an oven tray difficult. Water simply slides off the grease. This is where washing soda steps in. Washing soda is highly alkaline, and when any alkaline material combines with any fat, a process known as saponification takes place. Simply put, this means that the fat starts to break down and convert into a substance that resembles soap, which can now be washed away by water. This alkali-fat reaction is well documented in basic chemistry: strong bases like washing soda break ester bonds in fats through hydrolysis, converting them into soap-like compounds that water can wash off, instead of merely moving grease around. Vinegar serves a different purpose in this case. Vinegar is mildly acidic, and its acidity helps to dissolve the accumulated dirt and mineral deposits. Once the two are mixed, they react to one another (that’s the fizzing you will notice), balancing the strength of both. The resulting mixture is not as strong as each ingredient alone, but the combination of loosened grease, dissolved mineral buildup, and gentle mechanical scrubbing still gets the job done on everyday stovetop grime.

It is not just about grease

Vinegar may also help with something beyond grease: everyday germs. A 2020 study published in BMC Microbiology tested acetic acid, vinegar's main active ingredient, at several concentrations, including 5 percent, which matches the strength typically found in bottled white vinegar, and found that it reduced E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus specifically on surfaces. The study also reports that vinegar was far less effective against MRSA, even at the highest concentration tested, so it should not be considered a substitute for a hospital-grade disinfectant. Still, for everyday countertop and stove grime, against those tested bacteria, it holds up surprisingly well. So this is not just a grease hack. It's two jobs at once: breaking down grease while also taking out a few bacteria that have accumulated there.

Why switch from powdered cleanser?

You might be thinking that your powdered cleanser works fine, so why change anything? A lot of us don't read the fine print on cleaning products. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, many household cleaning products are considered hazardous waste since they are flammable, reactive, or even corrosive and toxic. The agency also encourages people to look for alternative natural cleaning products as a way to reduce hazardous waste generated from homes. This is supported by the NMSU guide as well, which says burns, throat swelling, and irritation can occur if powdered cleansers are swallowed or come into contact with the skin. A homemade mix of vinegar and washing soda may be easier to handle, but it can still irritate skin.

How to actually use it

The NMSU guide recommends mixing half a cup of vinegar with two tablespoons of washing soda in a bowl. It might fizz a little, which is normal, and is simply the acid and base reacting with each other. Apply it directly to greasy spots with a sponge or cloth, scrub gently, then rinse with warm water. Another important thing to keep in mind with regard to safety: washing soda is highly alkaline and can be a little irritating to the skin. Wearing gloves while cleaning is a smart move. This is also stressed by the NMSU guide for the use of any homemade cleaning product. Do not mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, because the combination can produce hazardous gases.

The takeaway

You don't need a cabinet full of chemical sprays to clean a greasy stove. Two items you likely already have at home, backed up by actual science and research, can take care of most of the job. This isn't a hospital-grade disinfectant and won't replace every cleaning product in your home. However, for an effective and cheap solution to daily grease, it is hard to argue with the math or the chemistry here.