Go Green, Go Clean with Bicarbonate of Soda

There are proprietary brands of household cleaners for every conceivable job, nowadays. They come in powders, creams, pastes, sprays, foams and what have you. There are dedicated cleaners for the bath, the shower, kitchen worktops, ovens and hobs, drains, floors, windows…etc etc. If you buy all these you need a separate cupboard to put them all in! Most of them are expensive and have you considered the size of their carbon footprints? There’s the energy used in the manufacturing process, they’re rarely packaged in recyclable materials and then there are transportation costs. Scary.

The thing is we’re encouraged to think they’re necessary to achieve a really clean home. Well, you may be surprised to hear that they’re not.

You can do most of the jobs mentioned above with bicarbonate of soda.

For instance, bicarbonate of soda is a great degreaser. I use it regularly to clean my stainless steel hob. When my partner has cooked himself bacon and eggs you’d be amazed at how much grease he leaves behind. I just sprinkle the hob with bicarbonate of soda and wipe with a dishcloth. Rinse several times with hot water and dry off with a nice soft duster and the hob’s all shiny again. The grease just disappears. Total cost: a few pennies.

Bicarbonate of soda is also good at eliminating bad smells, especially those that emanate from the kitchen sink from time to time. I simply pour about 2 tablespoons down the plug hole and follow that with a kettle of boiling water. This will also unblock a sink.

Window cleaning couldn’t be simpler. Dissolve a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda in 2 pints of hot water. Using a soft, clean cloth wipe over your windows with this solution. Rinse out the cloth and go over them once more then rinse your windows with clear warm water. Dry with a soft duster and you’ll have sparkling, streak-free windows.

You can use the same strength solution bicarbonate of soda to

·        Wash down paintwork

·        Clean worktops

·        Clean mirrors and picture frame glass

·        Make your drinks glasses sparkle

·        Clean UPVC window frames and doors

Using a stronger solution – 2-3 tablespoons in 2 pints of hot water- you can

·        Mop your kitchen floor tiles

·        Clean  ceramic wall tiles

·        Clean your bathroom washbasin/bath/ shower

Or sprinkle neat bicarbonate of soda inside your oven and rub briskly to remove cooked on stains.

When it comes to doing the laundry you can buy packs of soda crystals for less than £1, to put into your washing machine with your clothes.

I measure half a coffee mug for a medium sized wash. You’ll find you get good results even on a 40 degree wash cycle and no need for fabric conditioner!