Your granny may well have used soda crystals, borax, white vinegar and other naturalcleansing agents to keep her home and clothes clean. These natural cleansers have fallen out of fashion in recent years, with the advent of detergents and other products. However, many of the household cleaners and detergents you’ll find on the high street contain some pretty powerful chemicals, which can exacerbate skin complaints and aren’t exactly kind to the environment. Thankfully, there are now a wide range of skin-friendly, eco products to choose from, and, if sales are anything to go by, traditional cleaning agents are firmly back in fashion.
Using soda crystals
Buy Soda Crystals here >>
Soda crystals have a multitude of uses, from removing stains to unclogging drains. We sell Dri-Pak Soda Crystals, which are extremely popular with our customers. (Most reviewers award them the top five stars.) You’ll usually want to dissolve them in hot water to clean with. Dri-Pak recommends the following combinations:
- Mild – 1 tablespoon (20g) to one pint (500ml) of water
- Regular – Half a cup (100g) to one pint (500ml) of water
- Strong – 1 cup (200g) to one pint (500ml) of water
Try using your soda crystals for:
Cleaning your washing machine
Soda crystals can help to remove lime scale and detergent build-up, as well as deodorising your machine. Run a hot wash, with an empty machine and one cup of soda crystals.
Preventing drains from becoming clogged.
Pour a cupful of crystals down your sinks each week, with hot water, to help break-up any blockages. And yes, soda crystals are fine to use with septic tanks.
Removing stubborn, burnt on food from your pots and pans
Make a strong paste and wipe it on the burnt on food. Leave overnight and wash off in the morning. Minimal scrubbing required!
Boosting your laundry detergent
People have been using soda crystals to clean clothes for at least 100 years, so it’s no surprise they’re often referred to as ‘washing soda’. Soda crystals can help to remove stains and soften water. Just add a tablespoon to your detergent.
Removing stains from clothes
Make up a strong solution and soak clothes for one hour before washing.
Softening towels
If your towels are feeling a bit crunchy, it may be that they’re suffering from lime scale and detergent build-up. Try soaking them in a medium strength mixture of soda crystals and warm water. Rinse well, then wash them as normal, with half a cup of white vinegar in the fabric conditioner drawer.
Cleaning patios and paths
Soda crystals can kill moss and algae. Just sprinkle them on the moss and dampen with a watering can. Leave for a day or two, until the moss goes brown, then brush off and rinse with plenty of water.
Now soda crystals are pretty powerful, so you’ll want to use gloves if you’re going to be immersing your hands for any length of time. You’ll also want to keep them away from aluminium, lacquered surfaces, ponds and plants.
Our Dri-Pak Soda Crystals are great value for money. Lots of our customers have shared their tips for using them, so do take a look at the reviews on the product page.
Looking for a natural carpet cleaner? Check out our top tips for using Borax Substitute.