 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Soda Crystals and Soap Flakes are both gentle products that are tried and trusted and have been used for cleaning clothes and linen for over 100 years.
They are a recognised way of softening water, loosening dirt and dissolving grease. Below are instructions on how to clean fabrics with Soda Crystals. By adding Soda Crystals to your general detergent will mean that water is softened and you will need to use less of your usual washing powder.
Click here for instructions on how to wash with Soap Flakes - which are ideal for woollens, delicates and special 'breathable' fabrics like Goretex and Isotex.
General machine wash
By adding half a cup of Soda Crystals to your wash load you will soften the water and need to use less of your usual powder. Borax too is a natural laundry booster, acts as a water conditioner and gives your laundry a really fresh smell; simply add half a cup to your wash load, along with the recommended dose of soap or detergent.
If you have particularly hard water (high calcium and magnesium content) use Aqua Softna – available as powder, tablets or gel – regularly in your washing machine. The Aqua Softna will remove the hardness and prevent limescale building up in the pipework, heating element and pump. This will mean that these components will last longer with less maintenance. Since the heating element is kept clear of limescale, it will use less electricity to provide the hot water for your programmes. Using Aqua Softna also reduces the amount of detergent needed; follow the detergent instructions for ‘soft water’.
Descaling the machine - if you have not used Aqua Softna Laundry Water Softener regularly - it's easy with Aqua Softna Washing Machine Descaler. These can also be used in domestic dishwashers to both clean and descale. White Vinegar can be used to descale kettles, coffeepots and other small domestic appliances.
There also 20g Aqua Softna tablets available for use in descaling kettles, coffee pots and other small domestic appliances.
Rinse cycle - Just a half cup of Bicarb in the rinse cycle neutralises and eliminates harsh odours. There’s no perfume cover-up, only clothes that smell naturally fresh and clean. This is ideal for towels, sheets and sportswear.
Clean your Washing Machine
To clean the drum, remove smells and kill bacteria add two cups of Soda Crystals to the detergent dispenser on an empty cycle and run on the longest hottest wash.
Once the cycle is complete, add 500ml of White Vinegar to the drum, and run another empty cycle on the longest hottest wash. This will eliminate any limescale and detergent from the pipes, leaving your washing machine sparkling and working more efficiently. This should be repeated every 4 – 8 weeks to ensure unpleasant odours and germs do not accumulate.
Ironing
When using Starch, add 1 tablespoonful of Borax for every 4oz (110g) of starch. Dissolve in hot water and add to the starch to prevent the iron from sticking.
Aqua Softna Water Treatment will prevent your iron becoming furred up with limescale
Stains
Remove heavy stains on cottons or linens by soaking in a strong solution of Soda Crystals or use Liquid Soda Crystals directly on the stain. Soda Crystals can shift grease, blood, ink, tea and coffee stains.
White Vinegar also acts as an effective stain removal aid on stubborn shirt collar stains. Simply spray onto the affected area, leave to soak for 30 minutes and wash as usual.
New woollens and blankets
Soak in a cold, mild solution of Soda Crystals before carefully washing - leaves blankets and woollens soft and fluffy.
Greasy work clothes and stains
Soda Crystals are renowned for their ability to dissolve grease. Soak greasy clothes and textiles overnight in a strong solution, before washing normally. Laundry Starch can also be used to remove some grease stains on washable clothing or tablecloths. Sprinkle spots with Starch, rub into the stain, and then brush off. Repeat until grease is removed, then launder as usual.
Delicate fabrics, silks and woollens
To hand-wash fine materials use a warm, mild solution of Soap Flakes. Rinse in clear, cool water, blot with a towel, lay woollens flat to dry. Soap Flakes are approved by the International Wool Secretariat for washing all Woolmark merchandise. (Certificate No D3848), which means they have been thoroughly tested to ensure that they care for woollen clothing. This is provided that the garments are washed according to the instructions on the garment label and those on the Soap Flakes packet.
Bleaching
Whilst Dri-Pak products work effectively without bleach, if you need to use bleach on whites, Bicarbonate of Soda will boost its performance and reduce the amount you need to use. Add 1/2 cup of Bicarbonate of Soda with a 1/2 cup of bleach (instead of the usual 1 cup of bleach). It will reduce the bleach odours too
Nappies
Rinse out nappies and begin soaking immediately, using half a cup of Borax for each bucket of warm water or soak them in a strong solution of Soda Crystals. Follow soaking with a warm machine wash, use Aqua Softna to soften the machine water and save on detergent – this will also remove the need to use fabric softeners, which can affect the absorbency of nappies. Add a small amount of White Vinegar instead of fabric conditioner to produce a soft and absorbent fabric.
Outdoor wear and microfibres
Specially treated microfibre fabrics such as waterproof sports and outdoor clothing are best cleaned with Soap Flakes. Regatta, the number one family outdoor clothing brand recommend using Dri-Pak Soap Flakes when washing Isotex fabric garments. Soap Flakes are so delicate they will not affect the performance of the garment.
Starch linens and cottons
Mix a paste of 1 tablespoonful of Laundry Starch in 2 tablespoonfuls of cold water. Add a litre of hot water, stirring vigorously. Immerse articles in the mixture, then spin or wring (follow garment manufacturer’s instructions). Iron whilst damp with a hot iron.
For linens, add a tablespoonful of Borax to improve the finish and prevent iron from sticking. Make your own Spray Starch: Fill a spray bottle with a litre of cold water and mix in 2 tablespoons of Laundry Starch. Shake before each use. For normal Laundry Starch, stir half a cup of Starch into one cup of cold water. Add boiling water (2 litres for heavy finish or stiffness, 4 litres for medium finish, and 6 litres for light finish). Dip clothes into the mixture and dry. Sprinkle lightly with warm water and iron as usual.
NB Always test fabrics for colour fastness before using Soda Crystals to soak, wash or remove stains
Kitchen | Bathroom | Around the house | Dishwashing | Garden | Laundry