Posts Tagged ‘cleaning with baking soda’

Baking Soda Sink Unblocker

Blocked or Slow Running Sink/Bath Plughole

Its a common problem especially in a heavily used shower or shower/bath that over time the soap build up begins to restrict the water flow. You may also notice a rather unpleasant odour coming from your sink or shower drain too.

You can use this method even if the drain still runs freely as those who you use baking soda regularly know, its a great deodoriser.

If your bath or sink drain is severely clogged or blocked with something other than accumulated soap scum, then this method might not be strong enough or may need repeating until the blockage is cleared. If you are in doubt, better to get a plumber to take a look first.

You’ll need 3 tablespoons of baking soda and upto 3/4 cup of white vinegar. To flush you will also need a freshly boiled kettle of water. Take common sense precautions when handling boiling water.

Baking Soda & White Vinegar

You’ll need to fish out as much of any hair or detritus that may have collected there before starting the unclogging process. Use some tweezers and/or rub a sponge or cloth across the drain plug which should lift out any hair etc. I will smell pretty bad, so best flush it down the toilet as quickly as possible!

Once you have removed any hair, then sprinkle in 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda – carefully push any that collects around the plughole into the drain. Now slowly pour in 1/2 – 3/4 cup of white vinegar, you will immediately see a chemical reaction taking place as the vinegar mixes with the baking soda which gently fizzes and bubbles. Keep pouring in the vinegar till the fizzing subsides.

Odour Free Unblocked  Drain

Once the fizzing subsides, pour a 2-3 litres of freshly boiled water from your kettle – but please take precautions when handling boiling water.

Once flushed you should have a free flowing, odour free drain plug. Fantastic!

Tags: baking soda, cleaning with baking soda, cleaning with white vinegar, eco house cleaning, house cleaning, house cleaning products, House Cleaning Tips
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Baking Soda vs Washing Soda

You’ll see many articles and cleaning tips on the web extolling the virtues of natural cleaning products, indeed we’ve tried a lot of them!

The thing is I was confused about the difference between baking soda and washing soda, so I imagine are quite a few of you judging by how often this question is asked. So I thought I’d write a quick article about it.

For some purposes, the only difference between washing soda (sodium carbonate) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is that washing soda will consume two equivalents of acid, while baking soda will only consume one equivalent.

Washing soda and baking soda are indeed chemically different things, and there is no way you want to get them confused, especially if you’re planning to cook – it really could end in tears.

The Chemistry

Washing soda is sodium carbonate (Na₂CO_3), baking soda is sodium bicarbonate – the same ingredients, but with a hydrogen atom replacing one of the sodiums. Both compounds are alkaline, meaning that they can neutralize acids. One common source of washing soda is the ashes of plants and its for this reason, it is sometimes called soda ash.

Baking soda, otherwise known as bicarbonate of soda (NaHCO₃₎, sodium bicarbonate, and, less commonly, saleratus, is a chemical salt with diverse practical uses. The most common practical use for baking soda is as a leavening agent in baking. In combination with a liquid and an acid, baking soda undergoes a chemical reaction that releases bubbles of carbon dioxide. Trapped in batter or dough, these bubbles enable the baked good to rise. Baked goods leavened with baking soda, therefore, generally have a light crumb and are aerated with many holes left by the escaping bubbles of carbon dioxide.

So whilst you can substitute one with the other for some things, for goodness sake, don’t cook with washing soda!

Tags: cleaning with baking soda, domestic cleaning, eco house cleaning, home cleaning tips, house cleaning products, washing soda
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