Mumsnet Talk

I've had it online from Summer Naturals before, but I was wondering whether I can get it anywhere cheaper, or without having to pay for postage.

Any ideas?

Well, you can get it on eBay pretty cheap. I just checked and someone is selling it for £4.35 a kilo, including postage.

Do you live near a Chinese supermarket? I get mine there - about 2.50 for a big 3kg bag!

Wow! That really is cheap! I've heard they're also good for big jugs of vinegar.

Are you making bombs or something?!

Sometimes, it's the fastest way to clear a room! ;)

I like the Chinese supermarket idea - none here, but I think there's one near where my parents live so I'll investigate that. Sounds very cheap - Summer Naturals is £4 for 2kg (cheaper /kg for bigger quantities) but you have to pay £7 postage.

I use it with vinegar for cleaning, laundry and de-greasing pans.

I'll ask if they do vinegar too - I normally buy it from Wilko's but I bet you can get it cheaper in bulk.

This sounds good. Natural cleaning stuff (and useful for bombs I expect!) How do you use it? What parts do you mix it to? (Oh how my Saturday nights have changed these past few years!!!)

It's also useful in the manufacturing of crack!

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Oooh, this is getting a bit more 'Saturday nightish' now. Who'd've thought, crack chemists on mumsnet!

Ooh, Saturday nights here are fun too - though I've yet to do the bombs/crack experiments - must add them to my to-do list.

With pots & pans, I have a flour shaker with bicarb in, and shake it over greasy roasting tins. I spray with 50:50 white vinegar/water, then rinse off just before washing. We're on a weird high-fat eating plan so we have lots of greasy tins.

For laundry I use soapnuts in the washing machine drum and 1 tbs each of bicarb & vinegar in the dispenser drawer for extra cleaning power.

I also use it for cleaning plugholes - shake bicarb over the plughole, add vinegar or vinegar/water for fizz.

And bicarb is supposed to be good for stains / smells on things like carpet - sprinkle over, leave to dry and then hoover up.

It's good for making erupting volcano models with toddlers too.

I saw it in either poundworld or poundland- I can't remember which! Yellow or orange box iirc. In cleaning section

It's wonderful for cleaning fridges too.

But I am also looking for a supply of white vinegar.

Ah, I'll check out the poundshop then - we have at least one of the above here.

Yes, bicarb and vinegar combo is good for cleaning out the tube that runs out of the bottom of the fridge.

I stick it in the bath - it stops itching (chicken pox etc), relaxes you and promotes sweating (tmi, sorry) so you sleep better.

Thanks for tips on where to buy and other cleaning tips

Just get your chemist to order it for you.

Angel, you clean the tube that runs out of the bottom of the fridge?? I'm not sure whether to admire you or suggest you get out more.
Doesn't vinegar (acid) cancel out bicarb (alkali)?

fallen, only when it got so full of gunk it grew an alternative lifeform in the tray at the bottom and stank out our whole kitchen took at least a week for us to track down the smell. I'm actually a slattern, me.

Dunno about the acid/alkaline, but the combination of the two fizzes very nicely.

herewego, yes, I've heard it recommended for detox baths too.

What's the best thing for old (slightly dull and scratched) stainless steel sinks?

You could buy Soda Crystals AngelDog. Its Sodium Carbonate rather than Sodium Bicarbonate. Fab de-greaser for just about everything and good in your washing, but I wouldnt sit in a bath of it! Comes in big bags from supermarkets, Wilkos etc. More here

Foly, that was a really useful link - thank you. I have some soda crystals already - I'd not thought to use them for degreasing.

Just bumping this up because it's absurdly fascinating! And because no-one's advised me in the sink I mentioned!

I was just about to start a thread about how brilliant soda crystals are - 69p for a big bag in Tesco. I've just cleaned my teapot and its like new. All that brown tanin gunk has gone. It was a very satisfying (rare) cleaning moment.

We're a sad lot arent we Soda crystals are great for porridge pans - the milky sticky gunk just slithers off after a bit of soaking.

Re sinks, that Barkeepers Friend is supposed to be brilliant.