No More Expensive, And Toxic, Cleaning Products
February 14, 2009 – 8:05 amIf you’ve experienced sticker-shock recently in the store when you buy cleaning products, join the club. It’s outrageous what we pay to pour down our drains, wipe up our floors, scrub our tubs, and boost our laundry detergent. Not only is it expensive, but often toxic. There is another way that’s cheap and safe. Baking Soda.
Everyone I know has a box of Baking Soda in their fridge. The refrigerator is a good place to become familiar with using Baking Soda. Deodorize your refrigerator by opening up a box and setting in the door. Be sure to replace the box about every 30 days so it keeps working at it’s best. That’s why I set it in the door, so I don’t forget to replace it.
After your box of Baking Soda has deodorized your refrigerator for 30 days, take it out and use it to clean your kitchen or bathroom drains. Sprinkle it down the drain, let it sit for 10 minutes, then run warm water down the drain. This will help clean those nasty pipes and keep them fresh smelling.
Scrub up your bathtub, shower, and bathroom sink with Baking Soda. Dampen the surface, then sprinkle the Baking Soda all over. Let it sit for a minute. Then with a clean, damp sponge, scrub the surface. You don’t have to worry about scratching, so this is great for fiberglass. Now, give the surface a good rinse and you can enjoy your bathroom without worrying about toxic residues touching your skin.
I love my laundry goodies, but hate the expense. So, Baking Soda has become my new laundry love. I add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda with my detergent in a full load to balance the pH of the water which makes the detergent work better and harder for me. The final rinse is another perfect place to give my laundry a little boost. I add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda in the rinse water to sweeten and freshen my laundry.
Use Baking Soda as a food-safe cleaner in your kitchen. Rather than spraying toxic cleaning products in your food preparation areas, dissolve a 1/2 cup of Baking Soda in a gallon of warm water. Using a clean dishcloths or paper towels, wipe down the counters, stove top, cutting boards, and any other areas or appliances that come in contact with food. Then, rinse thoroughly and you’ll be left with a grease-free, shiny surface that is non-toxic.
These are just a few ways that I use Baking Soda. And, yes, you can buy it in bigger boxes or bags now, so you don’t have to fill your pantry with those little boxes. Give it a try and I’m betting that you will get rid of your old cleaners and find your new true love. Baking Soda!