Alright, so I have used a LOT of cleaning hacks, too many. Some of them were seriously absurd (thinking of the toothpaste-on-everything trend), and some of them actually worked. But nothing—and I mean nothing—caught me off guard more than this odd little concoction I saw on YouTube: Coca-Cola, vinegar, salt, and dish soap. Yep. In one bottle. For cleaning. I know.
It sounded ridiculous. Like something a bored teenager would do on a dare. But I had just spent a whole afternoon scraping at a charred pot that wouldn’t budge, so I thought: why not? Worst case scenario, it will make a mess; best case, I don’t have to buy another overpriced cleaner that smells like a chemistry lab. So I made the concoction, used it on various cursed surfaces around my house and… yep. Weirdly effective.
I still don’t fully understand why this Frankenstein cleaner actually worked this well, but here is what I’ve figured out:
Why the Coke Concoction Works (Somehow)
So first, Coca-Cola isn’t just a sugary, marketing-laced invention. It’s actually slightly acidic. Coca-Cola has carbonic and phosphoric acid which, apparently, break down mineral deposits and stuck-on grime surprisingly well. Not just a soda. Also a mini liquid crowbar.
Then we have white vinegar, which is obviously just vinegar—classic antibacterial, soap-scum melting, smell-neutralizing MVP of any DIY cleaner. The salt adds just enough abrasion to help scrape stuff off without scratching. And dish soap—especially the classic blue Dawn I used—cuts through grease like it’s on a deadline.
So you’re essentially combining all three of the major weapons against dirt and stains into one oddball little bottle. Somehow it works better than half the stuff I have in my cabinet.
Here’s How to Make the Thing
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