- Washing Up To a bowl of hot water, add 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda & the juice of half a lemon .
- Dishwasher Powder Make up a powder for the dishwasher by mixing 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with 2 tablespoons of borax substitute.
- Cleaning Sinks Either place bicarbonate of soda directly onto a damp cloth or make up a paste of soda with a little water. Wipe around the sink & rinse well.
- Cooker Tops As above, make a paste of soda & water and apply with a cloth. Wipe over well and rinse with cold water.
- Blocked Drains Pour about 16 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda down the sink and then pour in about 120ml of white distilled vinegar. Put the plug in for a couple of minutes as the 2 chemicals will fizz. Rinse through with boiling water
- Scouring Powder Mix together equal quantities of bicarbonate of soda, borax substitute & salt as a scouring powder on heavy grease and dirt.
- Oven Cleaner Dampen the floor of the oven, sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda and dampen again. Leave the mixture overnight and then remove with a cloth. Rinse with hot water.
- Fabric Conditioner To make your own fabric conditioner, mix equal quantities of water, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar in a storage bottle, take care as the vinegar & soda will fizz up. Add ¼ cup of conditioner to your wash.
- Deodorising Drains To freshen drains & help prevent blockages, pour a cup of bicarbonate of soda down the drain and then wash down with some boiling water.
- Bathroom Cleaning To clean all areas in the bathroom, including baths, sinks, tiles etc, make a paste of bicarbonate if soda and water. To give a fresh smell add a couple of drops of lemon essential oil. Using a cloth, wipe around the bathroom & rinse well to remove the white residue.
- Toilet Cleaning To clean the toilet bowl, sprinkle in bicarbonate of soda, add white vinegar and scour with a brush.
- Grout Cleaning To clean grout make up a paste of 2 parts bicarbonate of soda and one part vinegar or lemon juice (this will fizz up). Apply the paste to the grout with a toothbrush, leave for 10 mins and then rinse off with warm water
- Pet Odours To help freshen carpets, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on the carpet, leave for 10 mins and then vacuum up.
- Fridge Odours To eliminate smells in the fridge, leave a box of bicarbonate of soda, opened in the fridge. Stir occasionally and replace after about 3 months.
- Air Freshener Mix 8 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with 3- 4 drops of essential oil and place in a bowl.
- Clean Fruit & Vegetables Place the fruit or vegetables in a bowl of water with a sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda, wash and then rinse.
- Laundry Add ½ cup of bicarbonate of soda to a load of washing to help with the removal of stains and grease.
- Thermos Flasks To get rid of smells in a thermos, fill the thermos with hot water and add a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda. Leave to soak for at least 30 mins then empty and rinse.
- Chopping Board. Regularily give your chopping board a deep clean by spreading bicarb over the surface and spray with vinegar. Let it bubble for a while and then rinse with hot water.
- Onion Odour. To remove the odour of onion and garlic from wooden or other porous surfaces, sprinkle some bicarb on to a damp cloth and rub into the surface. Rinse with water.
- Dishwasher Cleaning. Freshen up your dishwasher by adding about 150g of bicarb and running it through a rinse cycle.
- Plastic Food boxes. Remove odours from plastic food boxes by filling them with very hot water, add 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda. a few drops of liquid detergent and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Leave to stand for 15mins, or longer, then rinse clean.
- Tea & Coffee stains. Use a paste of bicarb to remove tea & coffee stains from cups.
- Microwave Cleaning. To clean the microwave wipe the inside with a solution of 4 tablespoons of baking soda to 2 pints of water. Another method is to p lace some bicarb and water into a microwave-safe cup and place in the microwave. Allow to boil for 3 – 5 mins. The damp inside walls of the microwave can be now be easily wiped clean with a cloth.
- Cleaning Silver. Remove tarnish from silver by applying a paste of water and bicarb with a damp sponge, rinse & buff dry.
- Rust. To remove rust from metal chair or table legs, make a paste of 1 tablespoon baking soda with a teaspoon of water. Apply to the rust with a damp cloth, scrub lightly with a piece of aluminium foil & wipe clean with a paper towel.
- Wooden floors. Remove water spots from wooden floors by applying a bicarb solution on a damp cloth. (Remember not to get the wood too wet as this may damage it)
- Walls. To clean marks, such as crayon, pencil or grease, off washable walls use bicard on a wet sponge and scrub gently.
- Carpet Stains. Remove wine or grease stains from carpet by lightly sprinkling area with baking soda. Dab it up and add a little more if necessary. Leave on until the wine is absorbed, then vacuum up any residue left.
- Septic Tanks. Wash a cup of baking soda down a toilet or drain once a week to help maintain or restore the pH of a septic tank. The regular addition of baking soda helps prevent corrosion of concrete as well as metal septic tanks.