You may wonder if using Fabuloso alone is effective enough to clean your surfaces. Can you mix it with other products to make it more effective as a cleaner, such as baking soda? What cannot be mixed with Fabuloso?
This article covers the uses of Fabuloso, how to turn it into an effective disinfectant (since it is not a disinfectant), and how it can be used with baking soda to effectively clean your surfaces.
Can You Mix Fabuloso and Baking Soda?
Generally cleaning products should not be mixed as the result can be toxic.
Fabuloso contains the following ingredients:
Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate (A surfactant- to create foam and remove dirt & grease)
Sodium Chloride (commonly known as Salt)
C9-11 Pareth-8
Fragrance
Colorant
Water
The main ingredients of fabuloso, Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate and Sodium Chloride, don’t have any adverse reactions when mixed with Sodium bicarbonate (Baking soda). So in terms of safety, the solution will be safe. In terms of effectiveness, baking soda will provide little abrasion.
However, people still prefer to clean walls and a few other surfaces with this mixture.
Baking soda is used in cleaning because it helps in dissolving grease and dirt in a non-toxic way. But mixing it with chemical-based cleaners would not let it remain non-toxic. So it will be better to use baking soda alone (or with other allowable agents) when using it for cleaning purposes.
One of the Fabuloso products also comes with baking soda – the Fabuloso Citrus and Fruits with Baking Soda as part of their range of products.
The Best Possible Uses of Fabuloso
Fabuloso and Fabuloso Complete are both multi-purpose cleaners for hard surfaces. The Fabuloso Complete range of products is used for deep cleaning purposes as it contains additional active ingredients, compared to the Fabuloso range.
Fabuloso can be used on:
1- Walls
2- Floors – for wooden floors, dilute ¼ cup in a gallon of water
3- Bathrooms
4- Other hard surfaces in the home
5- Microwaves – make a spray by diluting 1/8 cup of Fabuloso in a water-filled spray bottle. Spray on and wipe clean with a cloth
6- Stove tops and counters – repeat as above
7- Toilet bowls – pour a couple of capfuls into the bowl and brush it with the toilet brush, then flush
You can use Fabuloso on non-porous surfaces. Use as per instructions and on surfaces specified on the label.
Using Fabuloso & Baking Soda to Clean Walls
People mix baking soda with fabuloso to clean walls. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a non-toxic cleaner that removes stains, dirt, and grease easily. It is a mild abrasive which cleans effectively without scratching the surface.
It is possible to clean the walls with Fabuloso and baking soda. The following steps will guide you on how to clean the walls:
1- Before cleaning your walls, protect your floor by putting a cloth underneath the wall area (on the floor) you are to clean.
2- Dust the walls before cleaning them.
3- Dilute a capful of Fabuloso in a bucket of water. Add half a cup of baking soda.
4- Dip a paint roller in the solution and start to clean the walls. It is better to test a small area of the wall before rolling an entire section with the solution. Replace the solution for different walls.
5- Rinse the wall with a different damp cloth.
The walls will become visibly clean, and stains removed. Do not over scrub to remove stubborn stains as this may damage the paint.
Is Using Only Baking Soda More Effective Than Using Fabuloso?
Baking soda is a natural product, thus less toxic. It is used as a cleaning agent as it is a mild alkali, which effectively removes grease, stains, and dirt when mixed with water. Baking soda is also a deodorizer. It is effective in removing pungent food smells and odors in the dishwasher and washing machine.
It is a useful product for those who cannot use commercial cleaners for health reasons, and also is safer to use around babies and pets.
The following are various uses of baking soda around the house:
1- Kitchen Appliances
Make a paste with ¼ cup baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Use this to clean your kitchen appliances. It can also be used to clean tile grout.
2- Cleaning Kitchen Sinks
Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda and use it to clean your sinks
3- Bathroom Uses
Clean your shower, bathtub, and sinks with baking soda by sprinkling it on these fixtures. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse with hot water.
4- Drains
Pour some baking soda into the drains and leave for 10-15 minutes. Pour hot water into the drain. This will deodorize the drain as well as remove debris.
5- Toilet Bowls
Sprinkle some baking soda into the bowl and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then pour some vinegar and scrub the bowl with the toilet brush. This will remove stains and nasty odors.
Whether to use a mixture of both baking soda and Fabuloso or to use either item on its own is a personal choice. There is no harm in creating a mixture of the two for more effective cleaning.
What Can I Mix with Fabuloso to Disinfect Surfaces and Items?
Fabuloso is a cleaning product. To disinfect surfaces, you can mix Fabuloso with the following items.
1- Hydrogen Peroxide
Since fabuloso, on its own, cannot kill mold, it has to be mixed with other mold-killing agents.
Hydrogen peroxide is a good anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-mold disinfectant. Mix hydrogen peroxide and Fabuloso and store it in a spray bottle for ease of use when disinfecting surfaces and non-porous items.
2- Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can also kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Pour some Fabuloso into cold water and add rubbing alcohol to get an effective disinfectant.
3- White Vinegar
White vinegar can also destroy certain bacteria. Add a small amount of white vinegar to Fabuloso to disinfect and clean surfaces.
If you are doing this for the first time, mix a small amount and use it on a small surface first for testing purposes.
What Can You Not Mix with Fabuloso?
Fabuloso is an all-purpose cleaner and there are certain products it should not be mixed with, such as:
1- Bleach
Mixing Fabuloso with bleach will produce chlorine gas. Chlorine gas is toxic and harmful to humans. Never mix the two items under any circumstance.
2- Other Commercial Cleaning Products
Other commercial products may have ingredients that may react adversely if mixed with Fabuloso. Example, Lysol may be bad to mix with Fabuloso. It is better to not mix such products. However, products with similar ingredients can be mixed, for example, fabuloso and pine sol can be mixed together.
Note: Fabuloso should not be heated or used as an air freshener. Hence, do not use it to refill a plug-in. Fabuloso should also not be used as a substitute for dishwashing liquid. Do not mix the two either.
What Should You Not Mix with Baking Soda?
Baking soda is one of the few versatile items that can be mixed with other products without causing a toxic reaction.
Vinegar, however, should not be mixed with baking soda. The combination is not toxic, but the result is just mostly water. It will be ineffective as a cleaner. However, baking soda and vinegar should not be mixed in a closed container as they can explode.
Some products from Lysol should also not be mixed with Baking soda, while others can be mixed safely.
Certain surfaces should not be cleaned using baking soda, such as:
1- Marble
Baking soda is a mild abrasive and can leave scratch marks on such surfaces if left for more than a few seconds. (Source)
2- Wooden Floors
Baking soda can remove the sealant on such floors, thus causing damage to the wood.
3- Glass
Baking soda will leave scratch marks on glass surfaces.
4- Aluminum
Baking soda can cause it to oxidize and turn brown, especially if it is not rinsed off immediately. (Source)
Before attempting to clean any surface, start with just a small spot to see the effectiveness. If it causes scratch marks, stop immediately. Switch to another alternative like warm water and mild soap.
Conclusion!
Fabuloso is an effective all-purpose cleaner that should be used as per the instructions on the label. There is a wide range of products and scents, so choose one which suits your needs. Do not attempt to mix it with bleach or other commercial cleaning agents.
Always test on a small part of the surface to see if it is effective. If not, wipe it off and rinse with water. Store the product in a cool, dry place, away from children and pets. Dispose of the recyclable bottles safely.
