- kitchen
- soak dishcloths & washing-up sponges overnight in hot water & bicarb
- sprinkle about 150g of bicarb in the bottom of a dishwasher and run it, empty
- for nonstick pans boil a mixture of water, 250ml vinegar & a few tablespoons of bicarb. Leave overnight. Wipe clean and rinse well
- use a paste of bicarb & water on tea or coffee-stained cups. Leave the paste on for a while then rub & rinse
- hot water & bicarb to wash down work surfaces
- to clean a sink use either dry bicarb on a damp cloth or make a paste with bicarb & water & use like a cream cleaner
- once a month put a handful of bicarb, a handful of salt & a cup of boiling water down the sink drain. Leave for half an hour. Then pour down a kettle-full of boiling water
- to clean the cooker top make a paste of bicarb & water & use like a cream cleaner. Rinse with clean water
- to clean the inside of the oven scrape off as much you can, make a thick paste of bicarb & water. Apply this to the cold oven & leave overnight. The next day wipe down with clean hot water. Repeat if necessary. Any stubborn areas can be scrubbed with dry bicarb, rinsing well afterwards
- to clean a microwave remove the turntable plate from the microwave & wash in a sinkful of hot water & some bicarb. Dry well. Wipe the inside of the microwave with a solution of 1.5 pints of hot water & 4 tablespoons of bicarb. Dry well
- wipe all fridge & freezer surfaces with a mixture of hot water & bicarb. Rinse & dry carefully
- leave a small container of bicarb in the fridge to remove odours. Stir the contents regularly & replace every 2 months
- scrub wet hands with bicarb to get rid of food smells from cooking
- clean Tupperware by washing them in a solution of hot water & bicarb. Then sprinkle 3 tablespoons of bicarb into the container & top up with hot water. Put the lid on & leave for a few hours. Rinse clean & dry
- sprinkle bicarb into the bottom of the bin (bin liner perhaps?)
- wash vegetables in a sinkful of cold water & 200g bicarb
- bathroom
- a paste of water & bicarb can be used as an all-over cream cleaner
- to clean taps mix bicarb with vinegar & scrub the taps with the fizzy paste. Leave for half an hour. Rub gently and rinse clean
- mix a solution of two parts bicarb, two parts salt & one part white vinegar & pour down the sink/bath plug. Put the plug in & leave in for half an hour. Run the hot tap to rinse
- clean the shower head by soaking it in a mixture of 250ml vinegar & 3 tablespoons of bicarb until the limescale has dissolved
- once a month sprinkle some bicarb in the toilet cistern. Leave overnight & flush in the morning
- to clean grouting mix a paste of two parts bicarb & one part of vinegar or lemon juice. Apply to the grout, leave for 10 minutes & rinse clean with warm water
- furnishings & surfaces
- sprinkle the sofas & cushions generously with bicarb. Leave for 10 or 15 minutes then hoover up
- grease marks on the sofas can be treated with one part bicarb & one part salt. Brush the mixture in lightly & leave overnight. Hoover it the next day (test on a hidden area first)
- dissolve a handful of bicarb in the mop bucket with hot water to clean the kitchen & bathroom floors
- for carpet stains sprinkle with bicarb, brush in gently & leave it for several hours to absorb the stain. Sweep up the powder with a clean brush then dab with a mixture of bicarb & warm water. Leave to dry completely then hoover the area
- when hoovering first sprinkle with bicarb & leave for 10-15 minutes
- to clean up vomit (rubber gloves at the ready), scrape up any excess (bleugh), cover the area with a layer of bicarb, scrub from the edges inwards with a sponge or brush that is dipped in clean warm water repeatedly. Sprinkle the area with bicarb & leave to dry completely. When dry, hoover the area
- clean windows with a wet cloth or sponge sprinkled with a little bicarb. Rinse with clean water. Polish with crumpled newspaper
- wipe down window frames with a mixture of one part vinegar to two parts bicarb
- sprinkle mattresses with bicarb & leave for a few hours before hoovering
- personal care & health
- sprinkle bicarb in shoes after wearing
- mix two parts bicarb with one part shampoo to remove build up from hair
- clean hairbrushes with hot water & bicarb
- mix 200g of bicarb in hot water to soak tired feet
- when steaming sinuses use 1 teaspoon salt & 1 teaspoon bicarb to hot water
- to settle indigestion add 1 teaspoon of bicarb to a glass of water & drink
- general household
- when getting luggage down from the loft, do it a day earlier. Sprinkle with bicarb, leave overnight then hoover
- if mildew spots appear on luggage when it has been stored in the loft rub the affected areas with a paste of bicarb & water. Dry off with a clean cloth
- clean a barbecue by sprinkling some bicarb on a damp brush. Brush this on to the barbecue well, scrub then rinse well
- clean the path by sprinkling with bicarb then scrubbing with a stiff broom
- clean the decking by sprinkling with bicarb and brushing off with a dry broom. Wash well afterwards
- laundry & clothing
- to remove ink from leather sprinkle a little bicarb on the stain & leave for a couple of hours then brush off & buff up the leather
- to clean suede gently rub dry bicarb on with a soft brush. Leave it to set then brush off carefully (try on a hidden area first)
- clean the plate of the iron (unplugged & cool) by rubbing a paste of bicarb & water over with a sponge or cloth. Wipe over with a clean dry cloth & buff dry
- clean the inside of the washing machine by sprinkling with bicarb & leaving overnight, with the door open. The next day clean the inside with bicarb sprinkled on a damp cloth or sponge
feb 24 2014 ∞
feb 26 2014 +
