How to clean with bicarbonate of soda

Bicarbonate of soda is something I always have in my kitchen cupboard for those rainy days when the children and I fancy a little baking. However our bulk pack is perfect for my favourite household cleaning hacks. It’s a very versatile cleanser with mild abrasive properties, it’s also a great scouring agent, deodoriser and cuts through dirt with ease.

1. Clean limescale

Limescale can be a real irritant, especially around taps and other metal fixtures in the bathroom. If you live in a hard water area like me (Norfolk is gorgeous but suffers from very hard water), your bathroom will be especially susceptible. 

You’ll need:

Six tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda

Four tablespoons of water

Simply combine these two ingredients in a bowl until you have a nice thick paste. If it’s a little too stiff, add water to loosen. Similarly add more bicarb of it’s a little loose. Apply to problem areas and scrub. Rinse with clean water and buff

2. Brighten your whites

We’ve worked hard to omit optical brighteners from all of our garment washes - the chemicals used to give the appearance of brightness in your white linen. Whilst it makes your washing line look instagram-worthy, they bioaccumulate and are harmful to aquatic life when they enter the waterways. They also can cause skin irritation. A big no-no for me. 

Use this hack to get your whites gleaming in an eco-friendly way.

You’ll need:

224g of bicarbonate of soda

Your usual washing detergent - we recommend our naturalClothing Wash

Just add straight into the drum of your washing machine along with your washing. The water will dissolve it. You can also use the bicarb as a spot cleaner for any stains in your white garments.Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste, apply to the stain (leave for 15 minutes for stubborn stains) and rinse off in water.

3. Get rid of the residue in your cooking pans

After cooking a meal for the family, sometimes you need a little extra scrubbing power with the washing up - particularly after something like a Sunday roast. This tip makes cleaning baked-on residue from pans or trays a little easier.

You’ll need:

Two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda 

Hot water and a dash ofdish detergent

Combine the above, and allow to soak for up to 20 mins. The residue should come away, but you can always help it a little by scrubbing with a scourer orcopper pad 

4. Tackle those fridge odours 

This one is super easy, and can be used not only in fridges, but microwaves too, and even in your trainers. Bicarbonate of soda is a great deodoriser as it neutralises odours. Just take a small bowl or container (no lid) and pop it in the fridge, or wherever you want to eliminate odours. You only need a few tablespoons. Replace it weekly to keep the odour-fighting powers of the bicarb potent. 

5. Reclaim your white walls

If you’re a parent, I’m willing to bet that you’ve experienced the rite of passage that is discovering your child unleashing their inner Picasso on your home’s walls. But you needn’t despair, just mix equal parts bicarbonate of soda and water, apply to the crayon stain, allow to dry and wipe away.

These are but a few of the ways you can use bicarbonate in the home, and I’d be delighted to hear your favourite ones. Tag @norfolknaturalliving on Instagram and our favourites might just receive a special treat

Bella x