The Forgotten Soda

Most people are well aware of the amazing powers of baking soda; everything from freshening clothes, to deodorizing the refrigerator, to cleaning jewelry.  But many people are unaware of its even more impressive sibling, washing soda.

Sometimes tricky to find, it is usually located in the laundry aisle of the grocery store.  You can also buy it in several places online.  I have mentioned it before, in my homemade laundry detergent recipe, but it has so many other uses!

• Drains and disposals. Sometimes grimy build-up can occur in drains and garbage disposals that, if left untreated, can start to emit an odor.  While they making fancy (and overpriced) cleaners to take care of this problem, I recommend the cheaper alternative: washing soda and lemon juice.  Just dissolve 1/2 cup washing soda in a gallon of hot water.  Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice.  Pour down each drain or garbage disposal.  Let stand for five to ten minutes and run hot water to rinse the drain.  The odor should be gone.  If not, repeat and let stand longer.  (Note: this does not unclog drains.  It just removes odor from grimy build-up around pipes and drains.)
• Dishwasher. If your dishwasher is starting to accumulate some greasy, grimy build-up, try using washing soda to effortlessly scrub it clean.  With your dishwasher empty, fill the dry detergent compartment of your dishwasher and run as usual.  Washing soda is suds-less, so no worries about adding too much.
• Greasy stove top. All stove tops tend to get covered in grease at one time or another.  Washing soda is the perfect degreaser on almost any surface (avoid aluminum).  Dissolve 1/2 cup washing soda in a gallon of warm water, then use a cloth to wash down the surfaces of your stove top and surrounding counter tops, tiles, and walls.  Rinse with a clean, wet washcloth.  No elbow grease needed!
• Shower/Bathtub. If your tub is prone to soap scum, washing soda may be just what you need.  Dissolve 1/2 cup of washing soda in 2 cups of water and scrub all over your shower or bathtub.  Rinse clean with water.  The washing soda should break up all of the soapy residue.
• Clothing. Along with being used in homemade laundry detergent, washing soda also serves many purposes on its own when it comes to stains and odors in clothing.  If you have clothes with armpit stains or strong body odors, simply soak in a bucket of water with 1/2 to 1 cup of washing soda.  You can also create a paste of washing soda and water and rub directly onto stains like ink, mustard, or blood.  Rub fabric gently and toss in the washer as usual.  Have a grease stain on an article of clothing?  Sprinkle washing soda onto the stain and let stand for five or ten minutes.  The washing soda will break down and absorb the grease.
• Crayons. Have children that love to color?  Then you have probably had crayon markings on tables, floors, and sometimes walls.  Dissolve washing soda in warm water and use to wash the markings.  It breaks down the waxy residue quickly and easily.  It also works great for spilled candle wax.

Are you convinced yet that washing soda is the long forgotten gift for the homemaker?  Go ahead and pick up a box and let the magic in your home begin!