We have all heard of Bicarb and its million uses around the home, but its cousin Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate) is just as brilliant, if not better! See how this one simple ingredient can replace virtually a whole cleaning isle in the supermarket. Check out all the wonderful uses below and make sure your comment if you have any other tips or tricks, I would love to hear from you!
The one really words of warning you need for this product are:
- Do not use washing soda on aluminium or fibreglass products
- Do not eat it, snort it or rub it on your body parts (hahaha)
1. Clean your Oven, Range hood, BBQ’s and grills:
Soak those greasy exhaust filters in a solution of ½ cup washing soda dissolved 4 litres of hot water. For stubborn, crusted soils, sprinkle washing soda dry on a damp sponge and scrub.
Make a paste with water and cover the inside of your oven, let sit and then scrub off with warm water. (Make sure the oven is off!!) Try combining with Citric Acid and essential oils for extra power.
2. Taxidermy & Mummification
Sodium carbonate is important in taxidermy for preparing hunting trophies. When added to boiling water, it helps in the removal of flesh from the skulls and bones of dead animals. It was also used in ancient Egypt during the mummification process.. (perhaps don’t try that one at home!)
3. Clean your pots and pans:
To remove greasy, burned-on stains from cookware, add hot water, ¼ Washing Soda and 1 teaspoon Castile Soap to the pot, bring it the Boil, then set simmer for about 10-15 minutes and wash like normal.
4. Cleaning your Kettle and stained cups:
Tannin can leave stubborn brown stains in kettles or cups. Soak for one hour or overnight in a solution of washing soda and hot water to clean stained items.
5. Plastic Housewares
Clean and freshen garbage cans, tablecloths, shower curtains and small appliance covers with a solution of ½ cup washing soda dissolved in warm water.
6. Dishwashing
Washing Soda is a common ingredient found in commercial Dishwashing Tablets as well as Homemade. There are a multitude of DIY Dishwashing tablet recipes to try and test – majority will call for some Washing Soda. Check out my recipe on the Recipe Page.
7. Chopping boards
Sprinkle on and scrub your chopping boards to remove smells and disinfect. I like to add some essentials oil as well like Eucalyptus, tea tree or lemon
8. Mops and dishcloths
I hate dirty mops, really defies the purpose of cleaning the floor! Keep those mop heads clean by soaking in a strong solution in hot water to remove dirt and grease.
9. Clogged Drains
Use washing soda on your drains once a week to keep them clear by pouring 1/4 cup down the drain, and then flushing with water.
If you already have a clog, try pouring 1 cup of washing soda down the drain followed by three cups of boiling water. Repeat two or three times. May also like to try Borax
10. Baths, basins and showers
As washing soda cuts through grease, soap scum and lime scale – make a paste with water and essential oils and scrub that bathroom!
11. Toilets
Flush some washing soda down the drain to clean and freshen, and to help prevent blockages. Use them to clean toilet brushes too. I also like to make ‘mini toilet bombs’ to freshen up after another type of bomb!
12. Floors, Tiles & Grout
Dilute some washing soda in hot water, pour into a spray bottle and use on the wall tiles You can also make a paste with water for the grout. * Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleach and perfect accompaniment to whiten that grout.
13. Pest control (whitefly and mites)
Spray trees or plants with a solution of 1/4 cup washing soda and approx. 3 litres of water.
14. Mildew and blackspot
Spray roses with a solution of 1/2 milk and 1/8 cup washing soda to approx. 2 litres of water.
15. Concrete Stains
Pour washing soda generously on spills and sprinkle lightly with water until a paste forms. Let stand overnight. The following day, scrub with a damp brush, hose down, and wipe surface clean.
16. Balance the pH in Hard water
Is your pool too acidic? Dissolve washing soda in water and add progressively, testing as you go. Once your pH is how you want it, jump in! It manages the pH level in Hard water
17. Paint stripper
Make a thick paste of washing soda and water. Smear it on the area; let dry and then rinse. Should assist in removing paint – but may also need some elbow power.
18. Upholstery and carpets
Washing soda is ideal for getting out wine stains. Dab upholstery with a mild solution to get rid of stains or simply to freshen up the fabric. Take care not to scrub wool or other upholstery fabrics as it could damage them.
REMEMBER: Always ‘Dab’ out a carpet stain and don’t scrub – otherwise you push the dirt deeper into the carpet fibres
19. Trash cans
A solution of hot water and washing soda will clean your indoor and outdoor bins. Keeping them clean and odourless.
20. Cleans Silverware
To put the shine back into silverware and silver jewellery, make a solution of 1/4 cup washing soda approx. 1.5 litres of hot water and soak for 15 minutes in a bowl lined with aluminium foil. The tarnish will simply melt away. Rinse off and buff.
21. Laundry Powder
Nearly every Laundry Powder recipe will call for Washing soda, it softens hard water and the alkaline solution assist clean those clothes. Can combine with ground soap, bicarb and Borax for a complete wonderful laundry powder. Check out my recipe on the Recipe page
22. Greening Citrus Leaves
If your citrus tree has leaves that are a sickly yellow colour, simply measure out about 50 grams of washing soda per metre of tree height, and place in 3-4 shallow holes around the tree’s drip line.
23. Moss Removal
Clear slippery moss off walkways by sprinkling washing soda on the moss-covered surface, adding water to form a paste and then letting the paste sit for a day or two. Rinse the area with a hose to clear away the dead moss and washing soda.
24. Clean the Fridge
Use a dilute solution to clean the fridge, it leaves no smell behind, and you can also put a small dish of it in the fridge to absorb odours.
25. Reduce Joint Swelling
An old-fashioned remedy that I here works! Stuff a stocking with Washing Soda and wrap around the swollen joint (do not apply direct)
So, get your hands on some PURE HARVESTED WASHING SODA and replace a tonne of toxic products hiding under your sinks.
Happy Green Cleaning!!
