Bicarbonate of soda is something that you probably have sat in your kitchen cupboards, but do you know how much money it could save you on cleaning jobs around the house? Here’s a few of my tips on how bicarbonate of soda can be used.
Drains
Unclog a drain by pouring a handful of bicarbonate of soda down then follow with half a cup of vinegar. Leave for a minute and then rinse well with boiling water. – Please Note – Do not use this method immediately after using a ‘shop bought’ cleaner as the two could react.
Cover slow drains with bicarbonate of soda and pour a pot of boiling water over it and it cleans the drains. Do this at least twice a month
Drains Use a sink strainer to avoid blocked drains. To unblock, try a plunger and boiling water. Or pour in a quarter cup of bicarbonate of soda and add a quarter cup of white vinegar. Hold the plug in while the drain fizzes.
Irons
To clean the bottom of your iron use bicarbonate of soda mixed with water to make a fairly stiff paste and then rub over the base of the iron. Remove the paste with kitchen towel and run the iron (heated) over some scrap material to make sure it has all been removed.
Stainless steel sinks
a paste made of dishwashing liquid and a generous amount of bicarbonate of soda takes brown stains out of stainless steel sinks. Rub with white flour. Use a dry cloth to clean and shine.
Fridges
Put an opened box of bicarbonate of soda in the fridge to absorb odours. Use it with warm water to wash the inside of the refrigerator
Laundry
Put about 1/4 cup of bicarbonate of soda in washing machine It helps soften and boosts cleaning power.Great in laundry to remove cigar/cigarette smells and stains
Silver
Clean with a solution made from one and a half teaspoons of salt and one and a half teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in one litre of water, bring to the boil and drop silver cutlery in, boil for 3 minutes and then polish with a soft cloth. If the silver is badly tarnished, add a piece of heavy duty aluminum foil. This will react with the soda to lift the tarnish.
Sinks & baths
Bicarbonate of soda cleans porcelain sinks and baths easily when you put a little powder onto a cloth and rub gently.
Dishwasher
Put some bicarbonate of soda in the dishwasher to help eliminate streaks and spots from the extremely hard water.
Thermos Flasks
Thermos flask Soak thermos flasks with about 3 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda and hot water. It takes out coffee and tea stains. Also sprinkle bicarbonate of soda into the dry thermos before putting the cover back on and storing it. It keeps it fresh. JUST remember to rinse out the bicarbonate of soda before you fill it next time.
Carpets
Also works great for carpet deodorising, just sprinkle onto carpet before going to bed and vacuum in the morning.
Cookers
Cooker & tiles Use bicarbonate of soda to clean the cooker and tiles behind it. It does a great job on dissolving grease.
General Kitchen Use
Use bicarbonate of soda as a pan scrubber. Make it into as paste with water and scrub stainless steel pots and pans with it.
Use a scrubbing brush with bicarbonate of soda and table salt and then rinse thoroughly with hot water to clean wooden chopping boards.
Also use bicarbonate of soda on plastic cutting boards before washing with dishwashing soap and hot water. Sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda. Wipe with a damp cloth.
Use bicarbonate of soda to clean your coffee pot, run dissolved through coffee maker then two more runs with fresh water.
Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda directly on coffee or tea stains in cups and mugs, rub gently with sponge or washcloth and rinse. Stains are gone!
