what do you use soda crystals and white vinegar for?

[maxmissie]

Have read a few threads exalting soda crystals and white vinegar recently and have tried searching but there are so many threads coming up...so I though I would ask what people use them for instead.

I read the looooong thread on washing machines and adding soda crystals or white vinegar when doing a maintenance wash.

I also read that you can descale kettles with white vinegar but no clue how to do this.

Any other ideas would be greatly received. I use bicarb of soda for cleaning the bathroom so am keen to try and use other more natural cleaning products.

Thanks very much.

[TheSydenhamSet]

We once had lots of limescale at the bottom of our taps. I soaked cotton wool in white vinegar, placed all around taps, left overnight. Worked a treat!

[RaspberryLemonPavlova]

Currently have a pan with burnt on bits soaking in hot water and soda crystals.

[maxmissie]

Great, thanks, anymore tips out there?

[crustyonion]

Clean the loo with vinegar & bicarb of soda - makes a foamy chemical reaction & leaves it spotless

A 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water - general cleaning spray. Has antibacterial qualities so good for kitchens and bathrooms. Excellent on windows (use with a microfibre cloth).

Never used soda crystals so will watch this thread.

[MrsKitty]

Need to ask a stupid question about white vinegar . The only 'white' (I presume this means clear?) vinegar that I've found on the shelf in the supermarket is distilled malt vinegar - is that the right stuff or am I missing something?

[maxmissie]

Thanks again for the tips. Will give them a try.

MissKitty - think its called distilled malt vinegar on the label rather than white vinegar, although haven't looked for it yet myself. Apparently Wilkos sell it as does some of the supermarkets.

[MayasPapaya]

I've descaled our kettle with white vinegar. Just fill the kettle (think I used two small-ish bottles) and boil it, the limescale just comes away! Re-boil if it doesn't get it all off and then do a fresh water boil afterwards to clean it out. Bloody stinks, mind.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Yes white vinegar is clear.
I put soda crystals in my shower tray when it looks grotty, block the plug and spray a bit of water in, then leave to soak. Comes up lovely and clean.
I used to use these a lot, but I must admit I now use Method-type sprays - more convenient and effective than vinegar/bicarb and still eco-friendly.

[RatDesPaquerettes]

It is recommended to use soda crystals in your drains on a regular basis to keep them clean.

I only use them when the drains are getting a bit blocked.

I think you can also use soda crystals in your washing machine when doing a normal wash, particularly if you are washing whites. In that case, you need to reduce the amount of washing powder you will use.

[workshy]

white vinegar is good for getting rid of nits

disolves the glue attaching the eggs to the hair and they comb out really easily

[befuzzled]

dumb question: are "soda crystals" and "bicarbonate of soda" the same thing - or are they same chemical different form?

[RatDesPaquerettes]

They are different, befuzzled.

[mousymouseafraidofdogs]

I put soda crystals in with dh's smelly shirts. works a treat.

[befuzzled]

whats the difference - which do you use for which jobs?

[HappyAsEyeAm]

I put white vinegar down the loo as ours is srained. Leave it overnight without fklushing and clean the loo the next morning. Comes up a treat.

I also clean the showe door with white vinegar and it comes up really nicely.

May have something to do with us living in a hard water area.

[ahandbag]

Some great tips here, thank you.

Can I ask a question about white vinegar and water as a spray cleaner.....do you use it in a 50:50 mixture and how do you stop everything smelling if vinegar afterwards...?

[ItsallGreektome]

White vinegar and white wine vinegar are different though aren't they. I can't get white vinegar here in Greece. Just the white wine vinegar.

[rockinhippy]

I second the nits advice & mixed with rosemary aroma oil it makes a great, lice repelling hair tonic, lovely shiny hair without any vinegar smell & headlice hate it

Vinegar for cleaning as tips above is brilliant, windows, mirrors & stainless steel come up beautifully - I only ever use a spray bottle mix of vinegar & lemon & sprinkle bicarb on more difficult stuff like cookers & then spray, just as good as any bought cleaner & chemical free - & I second it being a great limescale remover

Vinegar is also a good soil tonic for gardening,

vinegar is a great disinfectant, I keep a small bottle mixed with lavender aroma oil in my handbag for cleaning cuts & grazes

Soda as above in washing machines, dishwashers etc etc, its does the same job as far more expensive Calgon stuff

[oreocrumbs]

You can clear a blocked plug by pouring bicarb down into it then vinegar and it foams up when they re act together! Pretty effective (and impressive).

Put some soda crystals down the plugs followed by a kettle full of water to de grease.

If you live in a hard water area add some soda crystals in the washing machine, it softens the water.

Throw in soda crystals to the dishwasher when empty to do a maintainence wash in there. Better than buying a dishwasher cleaner.

Use SC to clean your kitchen, its a very good de greaser and shifts limescale, disolve in hot water and slosh around the place!

Sprinkle bicarb on your carpets, rub in then hoover off to freshen. (shake and vac without the nasty artificial smell)

[mousymouseafraidofdogs]

soda crystals: softens water so you can use less detergent, degrease (great for stubborn stains)

vinegar: great descaler (don't worry about the smell, that dissapears as soon as it's dried.

greek maybe white vinegar is sold under a different name? in germany it is called vinegar essence. you could use any vinegar, but distilled/white is stronger.

[gems77]

Guys Im sorry to but in as its nothing to do with what your talking about. Im wondering if any of you know how I would get tomato soup out of vertical blinds?
Iv tried baby wipes and a small amount of bleach. Its alot of soup and I cant afford to replace.
Any tips would be appreciated.

[hathorinareddress]

Gems can you get them down and get them in the bath?

Then I'd try bio washing powder and a bit of ace bleach (the green bottle from the supermarket)

[gems77]

Yes I can I will try that thankyou :-)

[hathorinareddress]

If you can get them down I'd be very tempted to steep them in the bath and then bung them in the machine on a very gentle wash - see here

[gems77]

Thankyou so much :)