[1]Since last week's first experiment with washing soda [2], I've done a lot more research. I discovered our instincts were right about the stove pans, that's one of its primary natural cleaning uses.
Washing soda is not only ideally suited for baked-on grime like stove pans, it can STRIP OLD FLOOR WAX AND PAINT [3]! Yikes! Don't use it on anything you want to retain a shine, like waxed floors, painted walls, fiberglass and the like--anything with a finish, essentially.
Washing soda is caustic, and if you're going to have your hands in it for any length of time, wear gloves. I should have said that last week--I knew this from dyeing.
It's also quite alkaline [4], which makes it a very effective water softener for laundering. Using it in hard water areas will cut down on the amount of laundry detergent you have to use.
And it's also a great descaler. We've successfully used it to remove gunk from the coffee maker. Use one tablespoonful for every 8 oz cup of water your maker holds. Be sure to rinse well! We usually run one "potsworth" of washing soda solution through the coffee maker and then one "potsworth" of vinegar [5] water (half and half), and then a couple of pots of just plain water.
 [6] | The Naturally Clean Home: 100 Safe and Easy Herbal Formulas for Non-Toxic Cleansers [7]asin: 158017194X |
 [8] | Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, 55 oz [9]asin: B0006M64XE |
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