bicarbonate of soda (CLEANING 500g refill)

This bicarbonate of soda refill is a super-effective cleaning ingredient that acts as a gentle abrasive cleaner and natural deodoriser. Also used as a leavening agent in cooking, it’s a form of salt that causes dirt and grease to dissolve in water, as well as being brilliant at absorbing odours. 

INGREDIENTS

Sodium Bicarbonate

INSTRUCTIONS

As a general rule, the instruction is either to sprinkle the bicarbonate of soda, leave and vacuum; or to apply with damp sponge and wipe off

Kitchen Cleaning

• pots & pans - sprinkle with bicarb, add some hot water and washing up liquid and leave to soak for at least 15 minutes before washing it off
• microwave - wiping it over with bicarb on a clean, damp sponge that has been dipped in warm water and wrung out, before rinsing thoroughly
• oven - mix bicarb and water into a spreadable paste, spread the paste all over the walls of the oven but avoid the heating elements, for best results, leave overnight. Wipe the oven walls clean with a damp cloth, removing as much bicarb as you can. Then use a spray bottle to squirt white wine vinegar onto the oven walls, wait for the foaming reaction when the vinegar comes into contact with any residue of bicarb and then wipe it off with a damp cloth. Clean the racks and trays with a similar method by sprinkling bicarb on them and then spraying them with vinegar. Once the foaming reaction has occurred, soak them in hot water for a while to loosen the baked on grime before scrubbing it off.  
• fridge -  leave a small open pot of bicarb in your fridge it will absorb any strong food odours. Stir it up occasionally so that it continues to be effective, replacing it with a new batch every few weeks

Bathroom Cleaning

• unblock drains - pour 125g of bicarb down it, followed by 125g of hot white wine vinegar. Cover the plughole with a wet cloth to contain the fizzing effects. Wait for five minutes before flushing it through with water. 
• remove mould and mildew - use bicarb on a damp sponge
• toilet - add 50g of bicarb to the bowl, use toilet brush to swill it around and give it a scrub
• tile grout - form a paste of half bicarb and half water, apply to grout and leave for about 10 minutes. Use a toothbrush to gently scrub the grout once the dirt has loosened, and then wipe over with a damp cloth.

House Cleaning

• laundry - add 200g of bicarb to your load to brighten your laundry whites and colours.
• walls - bicarb on a damp sponge can remove crayon from walls.
• carpet, mattress, pet bed, household smells, shoes - sprinkle bicarb, wait for 15 minutes or overnight, and then vacuum / shake.

Outdoor Cleaning

• oil spills - sprinkle the area with bicarb and then scrub it with a damp brush, rinsing and repeating if necessary
• patio furniture soft furnishings - as mattresses; barbeques - as ovens
• bins - sprinkling a layer of bicarb in the bottom of them to stop your bins smelling
• weeds - sprinkling bicarb into the cracks in your paving t discourage weeds 
• de-icer - scatter bicarb onto icy paths, it is as effective as salt, but not as corrosive.