Baking Soda Cuts Household Bills
Cleaning Everything in the Home from Bathrooms to Blocked Drains
Oct 11, 2008
Bicarbonate of soda or baking soda as it is also called, is as effective as many of the commercial products available now for eco friendly household cleaning. Perhaps the final test in these economically challenging times will be the cost and the healthier environment will be the side effect.
Dry Baking Soda for Household Cleaning
Using it dry, the tiny particles are rough enough to scour surfaces without damaging them.
For natural cleaning of kitchen surfaces, taps, baths and basins, dab a damp cloth or sponge onto bicarbonate of soda and wipe away splashes and marks. To add strength and fragrance, add 4 drops of Oil of Lemon or Lavender to a bowl of water and rinse the cloth or sponge between dabs. Both Lemon and Lavender are effective at killing unwanted bacteria.
Wet Baking Soda for Blocked Drains
Mixed with water the alkaline solution baking soda creates will remove grease and grime on surfaces or in drains.
To clear a blocked sink it used to be thought that only the toughest caustic solutions or corrosive sulphuric acid cocktails were helpful. Then the eco friendly drain cleaners were developed. But there are ways to cut household bills by using this recipe to make an anti bacterial solution strong enough to unblock drains. Use it regularly to keep things flowing normally.
- 8oz (250 gms) Bicarbonate of soda or Baking soda
- 8oz (250 gms) Ordinary salt
- 6 drops of Thyme Essential Oil
In a large jug mix together the bicarbonate of soda and salt. Add the thyme essential oil and stir very well. Pour the mixture down the sink and leave for 5 minutes while you fill up the kettle and put it on.
Pour boiling water down the sink. The mixture will fizz and work its way through any greasy build up in the drain.
To keep the kitchen sink clean and clear, mix up half this quantity and pour down the drain every couple of weeks.
Baking Soda to Remove Odors
Baking soda is magical at removing odours. Wipe the inside of the refrigerator with a damp cloth sprinkled with bicarbonate of soda and it will not only be clean, but will smell fresh. Place a small bowl of bicarbonate of soda in the fridge to absorb and neutralise food smells that don’t mix well. Replace every month for an odor-free refrigerator.
Other nasty odours that baking soda will eliminate are
- Sweaty sports shoes – sprinkle inside the shoe immediately after taking them off
- Ashtray smells can be removed by washing them in hot water with baking soda
- Pet smells on carpets – sprinkle rug with bicarbonate of soda and leave for a few minutes before vacuuming.
Other ways of cutting household bills include reducing grocery expenses and saving electricity.
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