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.

^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^

I'm glad I came on this thread, mine need a damned good clean too & I was wanting to do that, but DH insisted it would ruin them - he can sod off I'll be doing it now:)

why didn't the s work ??

I take my blind down wash in a machine on a gentle wash then hang on the line.

my parents have vertical blinds and my mum takes them down, bungs them in the machine on a gentle wash and hangs back up so they dont crease.

Thanks again for all the tips, am definitely going to try putting the soda crystals down our drains and plugholes, they are grim!

Where do I get soda crystals from?

Marking my place - all the questions I'm interested in have already been asked. Thanks all!

I bought mine when I was over in England as I can't find them here in Greece. They have them in the supermarkets by the laundry products. They are in a green packet and cost about a pound.

ahandbag yes, equal parts water & vinegar & you can add a few drops of essential oil to mask the vinegar whiff. Tea tree is good, so is orange. Whatever you like really.

I buy all my white vinegar, bicarb of soda, essential oil from www.summernaturals.co.uk
They do soda crystals, etc and everything you need to make your own soaps, bath bombs... and delivery is quite cheap too.

I promise I am not associated in any way with the company, just a very happy customer!

supermarkets sell soda crystal and white vinegar, but you can buy online at 'natural product' companies too.

I do need some essential oils so will have a look at crusty recommended site.

I agree with Crustyonion: Summernaturals are great for stocking on basics.

I must confess that I went a bit wild when I placed my order with them... I ordered a 5kg bag of sodium bicarbonate 3 years ago; I think I still have about 4.5kg left.

Their essential oils are great and long-lasting too: I got some lemon, tea tree, eucalyptus, pine which I am using to make some natural cleaning products.

Thanks again everyone, this has been so helpful! :)

I have just started machine washing my clothes in white vinegar and am rather impressed with the results.
I wonder if I can also use soda crystals in the mix as I did with detergent, or will it be too foamy (or cause an unwanted chemical reaction)?
Anybody had any experience or can offer advice, please?

Good question. From what I’ve read here, all I need for washing clothes and cleaning the house is white vinegar, soda crystals and bicarbonate of soda. Or am I being too optimistic?