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White Vinegar at 7° and Washing Soda Crystals: preparing surfaces before steam disinfection
ÔME HOUSEKEEPING
August 15, 2026 at 8:18:31 PM
At ÔME HOUSEKEEPING, we don't mix everything together. Our process is based on two distinct steps: first preparing the surface with natural products, then disinfecting it with dry steam. White vinegar at 7° and washing soda crystals play a specific role in this process: removing limescale and grease so that the steam can then act on a clean surface. It's this two-step logic that guarantees a professional result, without any chemical products.
Step 1: descale and degrease before steaming
White vinegar at 7° is a natural descaler and deodorizer. Its acetic acidity dissolves limescale deposits on faucets, seals, tiles and appliances. Washing soda crystals, on the other hand, are powerful alkaline degreasers: they attack greasy residue, ingrained soap traces and stubborn stains. Used together or separately depending on the surface, they prepare the ground for the disinfection step. They are not disinfectants - that role belongs exclusively to dry steam.
We don't disinfect with chemical products. We descale, degrease, then disinfect with steam.
When to use white vinegar, when to use washing soda crystals?
WHITE VINEGAR AT 7° - Ideal for: descaling faucets and showerheads, cleaning limescale from seals, removing stains from tiles, maintaining appliances (dishwasher, washing machine), removing white deposits on windows and mirrors, neutralizing bad odors. To avoid on: marble, travertine, slate, waxed or oiled wood, iron and cast iron - the acid attacks these materials. WASHING SODA CRYSTALS - Ideal for: degreasing kitchen surfaces (stovetops, range hood, oven), removing stains from laundry and textiles, cleaning drains and pipes, removing soap residue embedded in bathroom fixtures. To avoid on: aluminum, painted surfaces, wood and materials sensitive to alkaline products. WARNING: Never mix white vinegar and washing soda crystals directly: the acid and base neutralize each other and lose their effectiveness. Use them separately, each on the surfaces that require them.
The complete ÔME process in 2 steps
Step 1 - PREPARATION: Application of white vinegar at 7° and/or washing soda crystals depending on the surfaces. Let it sit, scrub if necessary, rinse. The surface is descaled, degreased, clean. Step 2 - DISINFECTION: Dry steam is applied to the clean surface. At over 100°C, it eliminates 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, dust mites and mold without any chemical products. Zero residue, zero toxicity in indoor air.
Conclusion
This two-step process guarantees a truly clean and healthy home, with no compromise. Natural products do their preparation work, steam does its disinfection work. Result: zero chemical products, zero residue in the air, and a professional level of hygiene. We operate in the Basque Country and Southern Landes: Biarritz, Bayonne, Anglet, Bidart, Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Hossegor, Capbreton, Seignosse, Soorts-Hossegor.
Tip
Never mix white vinegar and washing soda crystals directly: the acid and base neutralize each other and lose their effectiveness. Use them separately, each on the surfaces that require them.