What the title says. Sure, it’s gentle on the environment, but it doesn’t remove soap scum, grease, grime etc anywhere nearly as effective as other products. I also doubt its efficiency as an antibacterial compared to say alcohol or most detergents.
There, I’ve said it.
I feel like it’s worth noting that the baking soda + lemon juice probably doesn’t work as well as just lemon juice alone. By mixing an acid and a base, you’re neutralizing one of them and leaving yourself with just a smaller concentration of the other.
I see this misconception all the time, but it’s particularly bad when people say to mix baking soda and vinegar to clean with. We’ve all made baking soda volcanoes, right…? I wouldn’t wanna clean with something that behaves like diet coke and mentos, not to mention the fact that it’s literally just not as effective as either chemical alone.
The actual good way to do it that I’ve seen recommended and used myself to good effect is a baking soda paste that’s left to set and seep in a bit, and then wiping with a rag soaked in vinegar so that the exothermic reaction helps, refresh vinegar as needed. But that’s a lot more work than telling people “use baking soda and vinegar, the fizz means it’s working” and that’s the reason they put lauryl sulfates in shampoo despite it doing nothing