There are two particular tasks required to keep your washing machine in good health:

• Cleaning - Low temperature washes and liquid detergents in particular aren't always effective at removing build up. This encourages the growth of bacteria, with the resultant odour.
• Limescale Removal - Mineral deposits can build up on internal components, particularly the heating element. Limescale reduces the efficiency of your machine and may reduce its service life.

We advise the following for a trouble free washing machine:

Every wash

Add Soda Crystals to every wash. Use the soft water dose of your regular detergent and make up the difference in Soda Crystals. You can even use Pure Liquid Soap instead of your usual powder/liquid detergent. Particularly useful if you have a baby or people with sensitive skin in your family. Liquid Soap is also recommended for cleaning delicate and waterproof clothing.

Use the following amounts of Soda Crystals, depending on your water hardness:

• Medium - 25g
• Hard - 50g
• Very Hard - 75g

Obviously put the crystals in the drum if you put the liquid in the drawer, or vice versa.

Soda Crystals soften the water to help prevent limescale building up on internal surfaces. It also helps with the cleaning of your laundry. You can also use Borax Substitute which is slightly better at softening water if you live in a very hard water area.

For tough stains, use Oxi-Boost. It also helps flush out residual detergent and grime, which can act as a breeding ground for bacteria, which cause the smell.

You can also use diluted citric acid or white vinegar in place of conditioner. This also helps keep the machine clean and free of limescale.

Monthly

Run an empty hot wash of 500g of Soda Crystals, placed in the main drum, to eliminate gunk and clean out any bacteria. If you've not done this before, it may take more than one cycle. If the smell gets worse or you see black bits, it's a sign that the gunk has been lifted and needs flushing out. Hence the need for a second run with Soda Crystals.

Use White Vinegar to clean the detergent drawer and door seals, where bacteria and fungus can accumulate.

If you live in a hard water area

If you have hard water, you can alternate your monthly maintenance clean by using Citric Acid instead of Soda Crystals. Although if you have exceptionally hard water, you may want to carry out these maintenance washes fortnightly.

On alternate months, run an empty hot wash with a box (250g) of citric acid to remove limescale. Not only does limescale build up mean higher energy bills, it can cause corrosion of the heating element. It also can provide a breeding ground for bacteria.

There’s some great advice at this Appliance Care website (click through please), but here are our tips for clean dishes and sparkling glasses & cutlery.

• Always fill the salt reservoir (usually in the base) with dedicated granular salt. Never use food salt. ‘Salt action’ tablets do not replace the need for dishwasher salt.
• You can use or Opal dedicated Rinse Aid or our DP White Vinegar in the rinse aid compartment. This prevents water marks and keeps glasses clear.
• Scrape away food residue before washing, rinsing if necessary, but items don’t need to be spotless. Small items can work their way into the drain area beneath the filter and prevent it draining if the impeller gets jammed.
• Avoid mixing metals as one can deposit on another, turning them a dull grey.
• Remove and clean the dishwasher filter periodically to get rid of any scraps of food that can clog up the dishwasher. To clean the inside of the machine, remove limescale build up, and cut through odours, position two bowls of White Vinegar or Citric Acid on the top and bottom racks of the empty dishwasher, return the drawers and run the machine on a long, hot cycle. Here’s a video showing you how.
• Clean the hinges and seals occasionally with white vinegar or Liquid Soda Crystals as the water jets don’t reach there.
• Remember to clean the filter (usually in the base) regularly. They will also need replacing periodically. Liquid Soda Crystals are again ideal for cleaning the greasy gunk that develops

There are often misconceptions about dishwasher use, particularly surrounding the use of dishwasher salt.

• Spots of rust on silver cutlery is not caused by the salt. Dishwasher salt does not actually enter the wash chamber. It may be deposits from other metals.

• Streaky glasses are not salt deposits, but are limescale deposits or the sign of a dirty machine. A clean machine, coupled with the use of salt and rinse aid will ensure sparkling glasses.

Dealing with blocked sinks

Most blockages in sinks are the results of grease and oil congealing in the pipes as the waste water cools. The build up can also trap food debris, further restricting the flow of water through the pipe. Bacteria can grow on this, giving the resultant bad odours.

If neglected, this can cause a total blockage. It's best to tackle the issue as soon as you notice water draining more slowly. Or even better, to prevent it happening in the first place.

Tackling a blocked or slow draining sink

BLOCKED SINKS - Remember, prevention is better than cure! Once a pipe is totally blocked, your best options are plunging and rodding, but Soda Crystals might sort the problem. It's certainly worth trying.

We don't like to recommend toxic products like caustic soda (not to be confused with Soda Crystals) because of the health & safety implications. If you do resort to such measures, please ensure you use gloves and safety goggles and limit the amount of skin exposed that could be affected by splashes.

Slow Draining Sinks

Step One: Dissolving Grease with Alkali

In all but the worst blockages, Soda Crystals will remove a 'normal' blockage. Simply pour some boiling water down the sink; once it has all but drained away (albeit slowly), pour in a mug of Soda Crystals. Then add another mugful of boiling water and leave for 5 mins. Then pour in a kettle full of boiling water to see if the issue is resolved. If it isn't repeat the process until the drain flows freely. All being well, you should see the drain rate improve with each treatment. It works because Soda Crystals are alkali and therefore dissolve oils and fats. Bicarbonate of Soda can also be used, but it will be slightly less effective because it's less alkali.

Step Two (if required) : Physical Reaction to Dislodge Debris

If the blockage is particularly bad, you could also try Soda Crystals and Citric Acid. We'd recommend this after trying with Soda Crystals and hot water alone. By mixing the alkali Soda Crystals and Citric Acid, the two will react with each other when combined with water. Note that it's not particularly a chemical reaction that's having an impact in this case, but a physical one as the two chemicals neutralise each other. A similar effect can be obtained with White Vinegar (acid) and Bicarbonate of Soda (alkali) but it costs more (the largest constituent of white vinegar is water).

AVOIDING THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE - Simply put a mugful of Soda Crystals and hot water down your drains each week and you shouldn't have a problem. They are biodegradable and can even be used in houses with septic tanks. There are other things you can be doing to prevent a blocked drain.

Why you need to descale your home kitchen appliances regularly

If you have water hardness, then every time you use an appliance like a kettle or iron, then limescale will be deposited as the element heats up. Not only does this make the heating element less efficient (as energy is expended heating up the mineral deposits), but it causes corrosion of the metal.

We recommend regular descaling to prevent corrosion taking place on appliances such as your kettle and washing machine. In a washing machine cycle you can improve the protection and save money on detergent by softening the water with Soda Crystals or Borax Substitute.

So what can you do?

As with many cleaning tasks, regular 'preventative' steps can help prevent costly remedial action down the line. Citric acid is best for descaling, although you can also use white vinegar. The acid dissolves limescale, which is alkali. The process is enhanced if the water is hot. Therefore the easiest kitchen appliance to descale is a kettle. Simply make sure there's enough cold water to cover the element (or base) and add some citric acid. A couple of tablespoons should do it. Switch on the kettle and as the water heats, you'll see the limescale fizzing (dissolving). Ordinarily, the kettle won't even get to the boil and the limescale will be gone. If it hasn't and the fizzing reaction has stopped, repeat the process. Remember to rinse out the kettle after use.

A similar approach can be taken with irons and coffee machines, but you'll need to dissolve the crystals in warm water first. If your coffee machine has a descale setting, simply run that, or just run some empty cups through. You can also use white vinegar, or even better, Extra Strength White Vinegar which has 50% more acetic acid. Remember to flush through with clean water afterwards.

How traditional products can help with water treatment systems

Hollicarrs is a luxury holiday home estate at Escrick, just south of York. The timber clad lodges are set amidst woodland so that holiday home owners can enjoy the natural surroundings and wildlife. With around 160 lodges, the treatment of waste is of paramount importance and because they have their own water treatment system on site, the cleaning products used by the park's home owners is the primary concern . Because the treated water is eventually discharged to the local water course, the Estates team must ensure that levels of ammonia and other chemicals are within permissible limits.

Although home owners were requested to use environmentally friendly cleaning products and even sold a well known 'eco' brand of cleaning products, the estates team suspected that not all owners were doing so, possibly because of the cost of the products or perceived effectiveness.

The Park Manager Dawn Buck contacted Dri-Pak for advice on the matter. The answer to the first question was very straight-forward: our traditional cleaning and laundry products are perfectly safe for use in a septic tank system when used in a domestic setting.

Dri-Pak's Marketing Manager Paul Brook visited the park and gave a presentation to owners with a lively Q&A session with attendees asking questions about how common cleaning tasks can be tackled. The audience was thrilled to find that the vast majority of cleaning and laundry tasks can be tackled by Dri-Pak products without introducing phosphates, enzymes, bleach or fragrance that might affect the delicate micro-organism eco system that is required for the on site water treatment system. They were further delighted to discover the cost of the products, how versatile they are and are often more effective than modern variants! 

Following the visit, Hollicarrs now stocks the Dri-Pak products for sale in the Reception shop. The team also provides a selection of all the products as a welcome gift to new owners, along with a brochure packed with cleaning tips using Dri-Pak's traditional products. As the owners embrace their new cleaning regime, the estates team can be sure that the water discharged to the nearby local stream will comply with regulatory levels.

Dawn concludes, 'We take environmental matters very seriously at Hollicarrs and we were delighted that following Paul's visit, a number of our owners have embraced the need to care for the environment and have joined a number of environmental/conservation projects."

If you sprinkle soda crystals on your drive or patio, it will help remove the moss without harming the environment, please see video

Put Soda Crystals in the Dishwasher by mistake?

If you have, don't worry, you aren't the first and you certainly won't be the last.

Dishwashers use a special granular salt to soften the water. It works via an ion-exchange process and salt doesn't actually enter the wash chamber. Here is some more information about how a dishwasher water softener works. Salt action tablets do not replace the need for salt in the softener and some manufacturers may void your warranty if you don't use dishwasher salt.

It's possible to mistake your bag of dishwasher salt for your bag of Soda Crystals....so what should you do if you have filled up the reservoir with Soda Crystals instead of salt?

How to remove Soda Crystals from the salt reservoir

• If you've filled the reservoir to the top you may be able to scoop a fair amount of the crystals (why not put them down the sink to help keep it fresh?).
• Once you've manually removed as much as you can, boil a full kettle of water and pour it into the reservoir; the hot water will dissolve the Soda Crystals and displace them in solution.
• Fill the reservoir with Dishwasher Salt and run an empty wash to remove the Soda Crystals residue.

Cleaning the Dishwasher

Although Soda Crystals are ideal for cleaning your washing machine, they should not be used to clean your dishwasher; for that you require White Vinegar or Citric Acid.

Have you read the small print?

There is a bewildering array of toilet cleaners on the market and many are simply 'pop in the bowl' (or cistern) and forget. But have you actually read the back of the packet? You'll find that most of them contain a line 'Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects'. When you flush the loo and admire the brightly coloured liquid flowing off to the sewer, do you really consider where some of those chemicals are ending up and the effect they may be having on watercourses, the environment and aquatic life? Many of them are corrosive to skin and eyes so should be handled with care and most definitely kept away from the reach of children.

Cleaning the toilet the responsible way

Maybe the marketing bods have convinced us that our toilets need to be sanitary enough to wash the pots in, but is it really necessary? You can of course clean your toilets with bio-degradable traditional products and keep the toilet smelling fresh without an artificial smell. 

Remember never use bleach in combination with any other cleaning product as it can give off dangerous gases.

We'd recommend a three step approach, that's both simple and low cost:

• Pour some Soda Crystals into the bowl and scrub the bowl and rim with a good old fashioned stiff toilet brush
• If there's limescale, don't just bleach it, eliminate it with Citric Acid. The effect is very quick and visible, especially so when used with hot water. The simple instructions are at the bottom of our page on Citric Acid.
• Give the toilet seat a regular wipe after spritzing with white vinegar or a clean with Bicarb Cream.

Soda Crystals in your wash

There are many benefits to using Soda Crystals in your washing machine, both in each wash and as a periodic clean.

• As an in-wash additive to shift organic stains. Simply add a tablespoon of Soda Crystals to your normal detergent.
• Remove tough stains from clothes by using it as a pre-soak. Make a strong solution of Soda Crystals and warm water and soak the garment for one hour before washing normally.
• Save money! Soda Crystals soften water in the washing machine so less detergent is needed.
• Ideal for tackling stubborn odours for items such as dog blankets, without simply masking the smell and leaving fragrances that can irritate your pet's skin.
• Prolong the life of your washing machine by preventing limescale build-up.
• Clean smelly bacteria from the machine. Run a maintenance cycle with 300 to 500g of Soda Crystals in an empty machine on the hottest setting.

Soda Crystals can be used in every wash. Simply add the required amount to the detergent drawer, along with your usual washing powder, or directly into the drum. If you have particularly stubborn stains, dirty workwear or washable nappies to tackle, you may want to consider using Soda Crystals Laundry Boost which has added oxygen bleach. 

Alternatively, you can use Liquid Soda Crystals on tricky areas, such as grubby collars, cuffs and underarms!

How much to use in the wash

Soda Crystals can save you money by allowing you to follow the soft water dosage for your usual detergent. Use the following amounts of Soda Crystals, depending on your water hardness:

• Medium - 25g
• Hard - 50g
• Very Hard - 75g

If you put the liquid straight into the drum, put Soda Crystals into the drawer and vice versa, so the liquid doesn't cause the Crystals to clump.

Remember that you can use white vinegar or citric acid in place of fabric conditioner. It helps keep your machine limescale free and your towels fluffy. It doesn't leave an odour and you can even add some drops of essential oil if you like a fragrance. Instructions here.

Could Fabric Softener be damaging your clothes?

Fabric conditioner (or softener) is designed to eliminate static electricty and make clothes softer to the touch. They also impart a fragrance. They work by leaving small amounts of chemicals on the surface of the garments. But do you actually need to use it? Is it worth the extra expense? Here are some of the arguments against using it:

It can accumulate in washing machines, providing a breeding ground for bacteria, resulting in odours.
It clogs the fibres of towelling products, making them stiffer over time
They are heavily fragranced - one of the biggest causes of skin irritation.

This could be why sales of fabric softener are on the decline. This is partly because increasing number of people are concerned about the number of chemicals being used in the home and the possible effects on the body. 

The laundry aisle is increasingly full of artificial HEAVILY SCENTED laundry products. There is an alternative!

The alternative to fabric conditioner

Another reason clothes like towels can feel hard is residual elements from hard water that can be left if the water hasn't been softened sufficiently. Soda Crystals soften water in the main wash. White Vinegar can then be used in place of fabric conditioner. It removes static electricity but also helps remove any residual minerals and helps keep the washing machine clean too. It can also help keep your colours vibrant by helping prevent pigment dyes bleeding. You can also save money and avoid the use of plastic altogher by dissolving some Citric Acid to make a handy white vinegar substitute.

You can add a couple of drops of essential oil if you do want a fragrance.

How to make towels fluffy again

It may not be too late to rescue stiff towels. This video shows you how to remove the sandpaper feel with Soda Crystals and White Vinegar.

Although the video shows the towels being air dried, it's actually a good idea to tumble dry them, with a couple of dryer balls or tennis balls.

Cleaning & Laundry options for skin sensitivities

Eczema is a common problem, particularly amongst children and rates appear to be on the rise. In the UK, 1 in 5 children and 1 in 12 adults have eczema. It can be very debilitating. The National Eczema Society are a charity working hard to make life easier for sufferers and spreading awareness of the issue.

As part of their activity, they have published several factsheets. Some people believe that having a house too clean could be contributing to the problem. Many household cleaners can irritate sufferers, particularly those with irritant contact dermatitis (ICD).  However, the advice from the charity is as follows:

"If you are sensitive to regular cleaning products, try using ‘old fashioned’ agents – white vinegar (as an alternative to a proprietary glass cleaner), bicarbonate of soda (as an alternative to bleach) and soda crystals (as an alternative to bathroom/kitchen cleaners) – as they do not contain added chemicals and preservatives."

Laundry Products and Personal Care Use

Laundry is another issue for people with skin sensitivities. Here is a very interesting article from a lady who went to great lengths to relieve her son's suffering from eczema. It details the decline of soap and the rise of detergents. She states that detergents can affect skin permeability. Babies' skin is very delicate so you may want to follow similar advice if the skin is dry, red or irritated.

Don't forget that our Liquid Soap is ideal for people with eczema as they contain no fragrances, artificial colouring or preservatives (including MI). Not only can you wash your clothes in them (including in the washing machine), but we've been told for years by customers that they use Liquid Soap as shower gel and hand wash as they are very gentle, being derived from just vegetable oils. We've therefore had them independently tested and have recently updated the packaging to highlight the fact that they can be used for personal care.

That's in addition for general cleaning purposes, including wooden floors and leather. Here's what one reviewer said.

You may also want to use Soda Crystals or Soda Crystals Laundry Boost in conjunction with Liquid Soap, especially if you use emollients as they will be effective at removing the greasy residue from clothing. You should also consider swapping your fabric conditioner for white vinegar, which will ensure that any residue and hard water minerals are removed in the final rinse.

Did you know that Soda Crystals are actually a 'wet' product? It's a physical characteristic that at above 32oC, they start to 'melt'. As their temperature drops, they will set solid. In the UK, this doesn't usually present too much of a problem as temperatures rarely reach, or stay at, those temperatures. Some people may think that they have somehow got wet, but that isn't the issue.

Our advice is to keep them away from high temperatures: On warm days, don't leave them in your shopping bags for extended periods in the boot of your car.
Keep them in a cool dry place and away from bright lights. Don't store them in airing cupboards, sheds or porches and never leave them out on window ledges
If storing under the kitchen sink, keep them away from hot water pipes or any hot appliances such as ovens or washing machines
Try to keep them below 25 deg C and if that's hard in extreme temperatures, consider storing them in the fridge until the heatwave passes.

What to do if they have gone hard

If there are just some lumps, they can normally be broken up with pressure. But if they have gone totally solid, like a brick, they still retain all their great cleaning and degreasing properties. We advise that you peel back the top of the bag and dip the block into warm water. It will readily dissolve, and you can use the resulting solution for any suitable application. For example, you could leave them to dissolve in warm water and use as your regular drain clearing maintenance. 

Using Citric Acid or Bicarb for culinary/drinks uses

Throughout the year we are asked if our bicarbonate of soda can be used in baking. In summer we are asked whether Citric Acid can be used for making elderflower cordial. Our answer is the same for both products.

They are both food grade products of the highest quality, however they are not packed on a 'food safe' line, and we do not recommend their use