not sure on the precise chemistry involved in the reaction, but it works like a charm for getting stains and smells out of laundry, and takes smells out of counters etc. w/o using harsh chemicals. you should give it a try.

I personally use the vinegar instead, but one or another will do the trick.

But like you said, both at once make salt water, which is less effective at killing germs and removing funk.

it reacts. I can't explain the precise chemistry behind the reaction, but it breaks organic deposits / stains / crud and actually gets funky smells out of the wash. works better than any off the shelf product I've tried.