Benefits and Uses of Bicarbonate of Soda

This blog will answer all of your questions about bicarbonate of soda, like what it is and what it does. Plus lots of tips on how to use bicarbonate of soda for laundry, cleaning, washing up and much more.

What is Bicarbonate of Soda and what does it do?

Bicarbonate of soda is a multi-purpose product, not just baking with, but also an affordable way to clean your home, toxin-free. Instead of buying all-purpose cleaner, limescale removers, chemical laundry detergents, softener, air fresheners and other household product, you can instead use Bicarbonate of Soda.

Is bicarbonate of soda the same as baking soda?

Yes, bicarbonate of soda and baking soda are exactly the same thing. In the UK, it is called bicarbonate of soda and in the US it is called baking soda and so there is no difference between them.

Benefits and uses of bicarbonate of soda when cleaning

Bicarbonate of soda for washing Up

• Odour left in reusable stainless-steel bottle: Just sprinkle with Bicarbonate of soda and leave overnight.
• Tea or coffee stains on porcelain: Scrub using a cloth soaked in a mix of water and baking soda and the stain will disappear in no time.
• Stubborn greasy dishes & pans: Mix with your eco-friendly washing up liquid or washing up soap bar.

Bicarbonate of soda for laundry

• Fabric softener: Put 1/4 glass of bicarbonate and 3/4 glass of water in the rinse tank of the machine.
• Stain remover: Soak for a few hours in a bowl of hot water with a glass of Bicarbonate of soda. Then rinse a little and put in the washing machine.
• Laundry: Add bicarbonate of soda to your laundry when washing your whites and coloureds to make them brighter. Combining it with your eco-friendly detergents (soapnuts for example) will increase the effectiveness of it. It acts as a deodoriser, revives the colours and avoids the accumulation of limescale.
• Laundry deodoriser: To remove the chlorine odour from your bath towels, add bicarbonate when washing, or in the rinse cycle water.
• Washing machine descaler: To prevent the formation of scale in your machine (valid for the dishwasher too, coffee maker, teapot by adjusting the dose), perform once a month, wash with 150g of baking soda.

Bicarbonate of Soda for cleaning

• Carpets and sofas: Sprinkle with Bicarbonate of soda, rub, let it stand for 1 hour, then vacuum. The fabric will be cleaned and deodorised.
• Clean chrome, stainless steel, gold and silver: Mix with water to create a paste. Apply, leave briefly, rinse with hot water, then polish. Scrub the sink, oven, cutting board, grill and more.
• Use powder as a scourer: Apply bicarbonate, rub and rinse.
• Stain and mould cleaning cream with vinegar: Attention, the chemical reaction makes the mixture lather! Protect yourself well before you start; or replace the vinegar with clean water or mix ¼ cup of bicarbonate with liquid vegetable soap. This mixture can be used to remove food stains and/or mould in a refrigerator and a freezer, in particular. Depending on the importance of the stains, increase the proportion of sodium bicarbonate in the water (3 measures of bicarbonate for a measurement of water). Apply this scouring cream with a sponge or cloth.
• Detergent for the oven: Make a paste with bicarbonate and water. Apply this paste on the oven walls and leave on for 12 hours. Then remove this paste with soapy water and rinse. Or spray the walls of the oven with water, cover with Bicarbonate of soda, spray again. Leave it all night. Remove the powder with a castile soap, rinse thoroughly with water.
• Cleaning jewellery: Just make a thick paste using 1/4 cup of baking soda and two tablespoons of water. Apply the mixture gently with a sponge, then rinse clean.
• Cleaning fruit and vegetables: Bicarbonate of soda mixed with water to form a paste can reomve dirt and the waxy coating on fruit and vegetables.
• Removing grout: Mix 1 part water and 3 parts baking soda mixed into a paste. Apply to grout and let sit, scrub with toothbrush, remove with sponge.
• Walls with crayon marks on it: Scrub the walls lightly with a damp sponge and a sprinkling of bicarbonate of soda.
• On your BBQ: Sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda on your BBQ brush before scrubbing.

Bicarbonate of soda for descaling and unclogging

• Clean the pipes: Sprinkle in the pipes, leave for a minute, and then run the water. Repeat if necessary.

• Unclog the pipes: start by pouring a pot of boiling hot water down the plughole. Then pour a cup of 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda and 250 ml white vinegar down the plughole. Wait 20 minutes. Pour another pot of boiling water down the drain. The bubbling of the solution should loosen whatever is clogging it and the last boiling water is to wash it away.

Bicarbonate of soda for smells

• For refrigerators: Pour at least one cup of baking soda into a shallow, open container, or leave the baking soda in its box with the entire top removed. Put the bowl or box of baking soda as close to the source of the smell as possible. Replace every three months.
• For bins: When you change your bin bag, add a spoonful of baking soda to the new bag and this will help absorb any nasty smells.
• For smelly shoes: Sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda into your shoes. Let them rest overnight, and then just empty them into the bin in the morning. Just be careful with this method if you have sensitive skin, as the product could irritate your skin.
• Air Purifier: Dissolve bicarbonate of soda in warm water, then add lemon juice, put it in your refillable purifier. You can also have cups containing bicarbonate of soda in the room.
• Smelly food containers: To make your containers smell fresher, wipe with a clean sponge sprinkled with bicarbonate of soda. Or erase tough stains by soaking in a solution of 4tbsp of bicarb and a litre of warm water.
• Smelly pet bed: Sprinkle with bicarbonate of soda, wait 15 minutes, then vacuum.

Shop Bicarbonate of Soda

Bicarbonate of Soda, £5.00

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