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Instead of washing up liquid – use a tablespoonful of Borax in a sinkful of water– for very greasy dishes, maybe add a little washing up liquid as well. Use a tablespoonful of borax in the rinsing water for glassware. Make your own automatic dishwasher powder by mixing a tablespoonful each of Borax and Bicarbonate of Soda.
Cleaning Blackened/Burnt Pans
A strong soda solution or Liquid Soda Crystals are very effective for removing burnt-on grease and food from pans, dishes and grill pans. Soak stubborn debris overnight. NB Soda Crystals are NOT suitable for aluminium pans. For aluminium pans, you can use Borax. It’s a mild and gentle cleaner for porcelain and aluminium cookware. Sprinkle Borax on pots and pans and rub with a damp dishcloth – and don’t worry about scratching, because Borax is not abrasive. Rinse items thoroughly.
Cookers and work tops
Grease and burnt on food are easily 'dissolved' by a strong Soda Crystals solution. Leave to soak for a few minutes for stubborn marks and dirt. More conveniently, use Liquid Soda Crystals for surface cleaning jobs.
Scouring powder
A cupful each of Borax, Bicarbonate of Soda and Cooking Salt makes an effective multi-purpose scourer.
Teapots and cups
Tannin stains can be easily removed by leaving a regular Soda Crystals solution to soak for one hour or overnight. Then simply wipe away the film with a cloth. An alternative quick, effective method of removing stubborn stains from tea and coffee cups is to apply equal parts of White Vinegar and salt into a paste and wipe around the cup with a cloth. Rinse throughly.
Cleaning fine china
Fine china will shine brilliantly when rinsed in a solution of Borax (1/2 cup in a sink full of warm water). Hand-painted designs will not fade using this method. Rinse thoroughly with clear water.
Chopping boards
Scrub with Liquid Soda Crystals or a regular solution to remove stains and odours. Soda Crystals will leave no residual smell or taste once rinsed.
Kettles
Descale your kettle by boiling a regular Soda Crystals solution and a raw potato inside. Rinse thoroughly before use.
NB. Do not use if your kettle has any aluminium components.
Another effective method of removing limescale build up is to fill the kettle to just above the element with White Vinegar. Bring to the boil and leave to cool. Rinse thoroughly before using again.
Cleaning and deodorising fridges and microwaves
Borax is excellent for cleaning your fridge. Spilled food can be washed away with a sponge or soft cloth using a solution of 1 litre warm water and 1 tablespoon of Borax. Rinse with cold water. As a fridge deodoriser, place an opened box of Bicarbonate of Soda inside and replace every three months – but don’t waste it when you’re finished; throw it down the drain! It will deodorise that too!
For microwave cleaning use Bicarbonate of Soda on a clean damp sponge to clean gently inside and outside the microwave – without leaving a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water. For freshening between uses, place a box of Bicarb in your microwave (but don’t forget to remove the box while using the microwave and be sure to replace it every three months).
Silverware
Line a large bowl with aluminium foil, mix a strong solution of Soda Crystals with very hot water and fully immerse silverware or jewellery for up to 15 minutes. Watch as the dirt dissolves away. Buff with a dry cloth. Or, use a paste of Dri-Pak Laundry Starch and water. Apply with a damp cloth, let dry, and then remove with cheesecloth. Soft stones such as Opals should not be cleaned using Soda Crystals.
Floor and quarry tiles
Use a strong, hot solution to cut through ground in dirt and grease and leave tiled surfaces sparkling clean. Be aware that Soda Crystals will remove any wax on the surface. For gentle cleaning, use a solution of Soap Flakes; this will not remove oils and sealants from terracotta tiles.
Blocked/Dirty Sinks
Simply allow one of the new Dri-Pak soda crystal Sink Clear tablets to dissolve in the plughole. With a pleasant lemon fragrance, the soda crystals tablet will go to work to dissolve grease and grime. Use regularly to prevent blockages and to keep water draining freely. The blister pack contains four 20g lemon fragrance tablets for four separate treatments and will retail around 99p, making them considerably cheaper than comparable products on the market. To remove limescale and watermarks from your draining board, spray a small amount of White Vinegar and wipe. Especially effective on stainless steel.
Waste disposal units
Borax helps deodorise waste disposal units by neutralising acidic odours. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons in the drain, let it stand for at least 15 minutes, then flush with water for a few seconds with the unit switched on. This treatment can be used for sink drains too.
Cooker Hoods
To help get rid of grease and odours mix a strong solution of soda crystals and/or borax in the sink and leave the filter to soak for 15 minutes before rinsing. Use liquid soda crystals weekly on the exterior to keep grease from building up.
Vegetables
For tender vegetables and pulses that retain their colour, simply add a couple of Soda Crystals to soaking and cooking water.
Steaming fruit
A pinch of Soda Crystals added to stewing water prevents apples from going brown.
NB. Do not use in Aluminium pans.
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