Baking soda and vinegar. Natures natural, non-toxic cleaners. I am still amazed by how well these two things together clean and deodorize. Plus they’re cheaper than commercial toxic cleaning options on the market!
When we had a funky odor that didn’t seem to want to go away in the linen closet in the new apartment we just moved into, we put a small dish of baking soda in the closet. The next morning all the odors were gone. This also works great in fridges and freezers!
When our drains get slow, we simply pour 1/4 – 1/2 Cup of baking soda down the drain.
Then follow with 1/2 Cup or more of white distilled vinegar. The vinegar and baking soda combined will fizz, helping to naturally clear drains without toxins and are safe for pipes. Let fizz for several minutes, then follow with hot water – or water you’ve brought just to a boil – down the drain to rinse free the baking soda and vinegar.
This doesn’t work on severely clogged drains or for drains with standing water. If that’s the case, you’ll need to first remove the clog. But if you do this natural baking soda and vinegar method monthly or whenever drains just start to get slow, it will help to prevent them from clogging again! Plus it’s much cheaper than buying toxic drain cleaners.
And, if you buy your baking soda in bulk from a source like Mountain Rose Herbs, you’ll save even more! You can buy a pound of baking soda from Mountain Rose Herbs for just $2.75 and use it in cooking and baking, to scrub pots and pans as well as for general household cleaning. You can even use it to make your own deodorant and toothpaste! Much cheaper than buying little boxes one at a time! (Buy more and save more! 5lb. is just $11.75.) I also buy vinegar in gallon containers locally.
Be sure to check out the article, Over 100 Ways to Use Baking Soda at Hubpages.com, for more ideas on ways to use baking soda. You may also like Good Housekeeping’s article, Spring Cleaning the DIY Way.
