Baking soda this term is commonly used in the US of America and the term Bicarbonate of soda is mainly used in the United Kingdom these are the same products identified by two different terms.
A lot of people get confused baking soda and baking powder,these are not the same they are completely different products.Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is a non-toxic product that can help to keep your home and laundry fresh, clean and fragrant. It can help in many ways and in many places around the home.
Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is mildly abrasive and has degreasing, water-softening and deodorizing qualities. Keep it ready to use in a flour shaker.
HOUSEHOLD CLEANING
Bicarbonate of soda is a cheap, natural cleaning product. It won’t break the bank to buy, but it will do the job. Even more importantly, it won’t cause harm to the environment in the same way that a number of expensive, caustic products do. Being a natural sceptic, I didn’t believe how effective some of the following suggestions could be until I tried them. I’m all in favour of using as few chemicals as possible, as a matter of principle, and the extra effort involved in preparing the pastes and solutions was minimal. As you might also have gathered, housework is not top of my agenda and for some of the kitchen and bathroom jobs I need the incentive of quick, efficient methods! Bicarbonate of soda helps to dissolve grease and dirt and also prevents smells from hanging around. If you want to make up a solution as an all-purpose cleaner, take two teaspoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda to 570 ml (1 pt) of warm water. Adding 125 ml (4 fl oz) of white vinegar will make an even better cleaner, but beware of the gaseous effect of adding bicarbonate of soda to vinegar and allow room for expansion. After the fizz has died down you can pour the mixture into a screw-topped bottle, ready for use.
CAUTION: As with all products and cleaning solutions, you should try out the suggested method on a small area first. I make the following suggestions in good faith and I can’t be held responsible for any adverse effects. First and foremost, don’t use bicarbonate of soda on non-stick pans, or you’re likely to ruin the surface.You can also use it to make the following cleaning products:
Basic Cleaning Fluid
Put 600ml// 21fl oz/ 2 ½ cups warm water into a large bowl and stir in 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and two squeezes of washing-up liquid (dish detergent). Use and storage: Make just enough for a particular cleaning job and use it from the bowl. Alternatively, pour it into a spray bottle, putting the top on only after any fizzing has stopped, and shake before each use.
Extra-strength Cleaning Fluid
To the Basic Cleaning Fluid recipe above, add either 120ml/ 4fl oz/ ½ cup white vinegar or the strained juice of two lemons. It will fizz a lot when first mixed. Use and storage: Make just enough for a particular cleaning job and use it from the bowl. Alternatively,pour it into a labelled spray bottle, putting the top on only after any fizzing has stopped, and shake before each use. It is unsuitable for waxed surfaces, or granite or other stone surfaces, because vinegar and lemon juice can cause dulling.
Basic Cleaning Paste
Put some bicarbonate of soda into a bowl and stir in enough water to make a paste. The amounts required depend on the size of the job. The proportions are about three parts bicarbonate of soda to one part water. Mix in a few drops of lemon, tea-tree, lavender or other essential oil for fragrance, if wanted. This is excellent for cleaning areas of adherent grime, such as a ring around a bathtub. Use and storage: Make just enough for a particular cleaning job and use it from the bowl. If the paste starts to dry, add more water.
Extra-Strength Cleaning Paste
Make the Basic Cleaning Paste recipe above, but using vinegar instead of water. Use and storage: Make just enough for a particular cleaning job and use it from the bowl. If the paste starts to dry, add more water.
Cream Cleaner
Make the Basic Cleaning Paste recipe above, then stir in extra water until it has the consistency of thick cream. Add a few drops of lemon, tea-tree, lavender or other essential oil for fragrance, if wanted. Use and storage: Make enough for a particular job and use it from the bowl. Alternatively, pour it into labelled squeezy bottle, putting the top on only after any fizzing has stopped, and shake before each use.
Scouring Powder
This recipe includes borax substitute (sodium sesquicarbonate), which is available online, and salt . The borax substitute has bleaching, stain-removing, deodorizing and disinfecting qualities, whilst the salt has de-greasing and cleaning qualities. Mix equal amounts of bicarbonate of soda, borax substitute and table salt in a bowl. Apply with a scrubbing brush, a cloth or, for small hard-to-reach areas, an old toothbrush. Use and storage: Make enough for a particular job and use it from the bowl. Alternatively, put it into a labelled jar or plastic container. Caution: if you’re unsure whether a cleaning product will be safe on a particular surface, try it on a small, inconspicuous area first.
A List Of Kitchen Uses
A lot of people get confused baking soda and baking powder,these are not the same they are completely different products.Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is a non-toxic product that can help to keep your home and laundry fresh, clean and fragrant. It can help in many ways and in many places around the home.
Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is mildly abrasive and has degreasing, water-softening and deodorizing qualities. Keep it ready to use in a flour shaker.
HOUSEHOLD CLEANING
Bicarbonate of soda is a cheap, natural cleaning product. It won’t break the bank to buy, but it will do the job. Even more importantly, it won’t cause harm to the environment in the same way that a number of expensive, caustic products do. Being a natural sceptic, I didn’t believe how effective some of the following suggestions could be until I tried them. I’m all in favour of using as few chemicals as possible, as a matter of principle, and the extra effort involved in preparing the pastes and solutions was minimal. As you might also have gathered, housework is not top of my agenda and for some of the kitchen and bathroom jobs I need the incentive of quick, efficient methods! Bicarbonate of soda helps to dissolve grease and dirt and also prevents smells from hanging around. If you want to make up a solution as an all-purpose cleaner, take two teaspoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda to 570 ml (1 pt) of warm water. Adding 125 ml (4 fl oz) of white vinegar will make an even better cleaner, but beware of the gaseous effect of adding bicarbonate of soda to vinegar and allow room for expansion. After the fizz has died down you can pour the mixture into a screw-topped bottle, ready for use.
CAUTION: As with all products and cleaning solutions, you should try out the suggested method on a small area first. I make the following suggestions in good faith and I can’t be held responsible for any adverse effects. First and foremost, don’t use bicarbonate of soda on non-stick pans, or you’re likely to ruin the surface.You can also use it to make the following cleaning products:
Basic Cleaning Fluid
Put 600ml// 21fl oz/ 2 ½ cups warm water into a large bowl and stir in 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and two squeezes of washing-up liquid (dish detergent). Use and storage: Make just enough for a particular cleaning job and use it from the bowl. Alternatively, pour it into a spray bottle, putting the top on only after any fizzing has stopped, and shake before each use.
Extra-strength Cleaning Fluid
To the Basic Cleaning Fluid recipe above, add either 120ml/ 4fl oz/ ½ cup white vinegar or the strained juice of two lemons. It will fizz a lot when first mixed. Use and storage: Make just enough for a particular cleaning job and use it from the bowl. Alternatively,pour it into a labelled spray bottle, putting the top on only after any fizzing has stopped, and shake before each use. It is unsuitable for waxed surfaces, or granite or other stone surfaces, because vinegar and lemon juice can cause dulling.
Basic Cleaning Paste
Put some bicarbonate of soda into a bowl and stir in enough water to make a paste. The amounts required depend on the size of the job. The proportions are about three parts bicarbonate of soda to one part water. Mix in a few drops of lemon, tea-tree, lavender or other essential oil for fragrance, if wanted. This is excellent for cleaning areas of adherent grime, such as a ring around a bathtub. Use and storage: Make just enough for a particular cleaning job and use it from the bowl. If the paste starts to dry, add more water.
Extra-Strength Cleaning Paste
Make the Basic Cleaning Paste recipe above, but using vinegar instead of water. Use and storage: Make just enough for a particular cleaning job and use it from the bowl. If the paste starts to dry, add more water.
Cream Cleaner
Make the Basic Cleaning Paste recipe above, then stir in extra water until it has the consistency of thick cream. Add a few drops of lemon, tea-tree, lavender or other essential oil for fragrance, if wanted. Use and storage: Make enough for a particular job and use it from the bowl. Alternatively, pour it into labelled squeezy bottle, putting the top on only after any fizzing has stopped, and shake before each use.
Scouring Powder
This recipe includes borax substitute (sodium sesquicarbonate), which is available online, and salt . The borax substitute has bleaching, stain-removing, deodorizing and disinfecting qualities, whilst the salt has de-greasing and cleaning qualities. Mix equal amounts of bicarbonate of soda, borax substitute and table salt in a bowl. Apply with a scrubbing brush, a cloth or, for small hard-to-reach areas, an old toothbrush. Use and storage: Make enough for a particular job and use it from the bowl. Alternatively, put it into a labelled jar or plastic container. Caution: if you’re unsure whether a cleaning product will be safe on a particular surface, try it on a small, inconspicuous area first.
A List Of Kitchen Uses
Worktops
Stubborn Stains on Worktops
Cleaning the Exterior of White Goods
Dishwashers
Dishwasher Powder
Microwaves
Cleaning the Refrigerator
Freezers
Cleaning the Drain
Blocked Drains
Cleaning the Bin
Removing Plastic Wrappers from Hot Surfaces
Removing Newsprint Stains from Surfaces
Stainless Steel Sinks
Removing Hard Water Stains
Steel Wool Pan Scrubbers
Cleaning the Bread Crock or Bread Bin
Cleaning Out a Food Processor with Dried-on Food
Refreshing a Vacuum Flask
Pots and Pans with Baked-on Deposits
Removing Stains on Enamelled Cast-iron Ware
Gas Burners
Cleaning the Top of the Stove
Cleaning the Oven Interior
Glass and Stainless Steel Coffee Pots
Coffee Makers
Baby Bottles
Removing Stains from Coffee Mugs
Stainless Steel and Chrome Kitchen Appliances
Removing Grease Spills
Waste Disposal Units
WORKTOPS
Use bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth to clean worktops and leave them free of smells. You can sprinkle the powder directly on to a cloth or sponge, or make up a solution. Rinse with clean water and dry. The solution can be used to clean your cleaning cloths as well and to stop them smelling sour.
STUBBORN STAINS ON WORKTOPS
To remove stubborn stains from marble, plastic or formica, make a strong paste of bicarb with water. gently Scour gently and then rinse thoroughly.
CLEANING THE EXTERIOR OF WHITE GOODS
All exteriors of white goods, such as refrigerators, washing machines and freezers, will benefit from a wipe over now and again with a cloth soaked in a solution of bicarbonate of soda and warm water. Greasy marks and dust will quickly disappear.
DISHWASHERS
Bicarbonate of soda will remove that nasty, crusty build-up you get on the inside of the door. Use as a paste and rinse off before running the machine. Try using bicarbonate of soda instead of the usual powder or tablet once in a while to clean the dishwasher, too.
DISHWASHER POWDER
Instead of using a commercial brand of dishwashing detergent, try mixing two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with two tablespoons of borax for a load.
MICROWAVES
Use in solution to clean up food splatters on the base,sides and ceiling. Remove the turntable plate and wipe over the interior, taking care not to let any water drip through the holes in the walls. The turntable can be cleaned with the same solution.
CLEANING THE REFRIGERATOR
I’ve always used bicarbonate of soda in solution to clean the inside of the refrigerator. With refrigerators you had to turn off and defrost from time to time, I always wiped the trays and shelves with a strong solution. As well as cleaning up greasy marks it removes any odours from spills, milk bottle bases and cheesy whiffs. With the larder refrigerator we have now, I remove any uncovered food, wipe down the shelves and leave to dry as far as possible before replacing food items. Alternatively, wipe down with paper kitchen towel before putting the food back in. If you are planning on turning off your refrigerator while you are away on a long holiday, or are moving house and need to leave it switched off for a while, using bicarbonate of soda is a good way to save time and prevent mould forming. I use it to clean out the fridge-freezer in our home in France when we leave each time, leaving the doors open and the power off. The only time we went back to black mouldy deposits in the freezer was when a helpful workman closed the freezer door (to be fair, he did think he was doing us a favour) and I hadn’t given the shelves the treatment. On return a quick wipe over with a solution of bicarb in cold water was all that was needed before starting up the unit again. Any stubborn stains that have sat at the back of the refrigerator for a while may be removed with a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda mixed with a squeeze of toothpaste.
FREEZERS
Another chance to use the solution is when the spare freezer in the garage has been off, or we’ve stored various family members’ freezers etc. Cleaning with bicarbonate of soda and warm water has always kept the units fresh — as long as the door is kept propped open.If you defrost the freezer, wait for all the ice to melt then wipe carefully with warm water solution and allow it to dry thoroughly. Restart the freezer . . . and close the door!
CLEANING THE DRAIN
If your kitchen drain tends to block because of a build-up of grease or soap, try pouring about a quarter of a tub of bicarbonate of soda down it every month as a preventative measure.
BLOCKED DRAINS
If the tip on the previous page hasn’t worked, or you haven’t bothered to check for a while, use half a tub of bicarbonate of soda with a cup of warm vinegar. Leave this to work for an hour or two, then pour down lots of very hot water. An alternative is to use equal measures of bicarbonate of soda and table salt, washed down with boiling water.
CLEANING THE BIN
Use bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth to clean worktops and leave them free of smells. You can sprinkle the powder directly on to a cloth or sponge, or make up a solution. Rinse with clean water and dry. The solution can be used to clean your cleaning cloths as well and to stop them smelling sour.
STUBBORN STAINS ON WORKTOPS
To remove stubborn stains from marble, plastic or formica, make a strong paste of bicarb with water. gently Scour gently and then rinse thoroughly.
CLEANING THE EXTERIOR OF WHITE GOODS
All exteriors of white goods, such as refrigerators, washing machines and freezers, will benefit from a wipe over now and again with a cloth soaked in a solution of bicarbonate of soda and warm water. Greasy marks and dust will quickly disappear.
DISHWASHERS
Bicarbonate of soda will remove that nasty, crusty build-up you get on the inside of the door. Use as a paste and rinse off before running the machine. Try using bicarbonate of soda instead of the usual powder or tablet once in a while to clean the dishwasher, too.
DISHWASHER POWDER
Instead of using a commercial brand of dishwashing detergent, try mixing two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with two tablespoons of borax for a load.
MICROWAVES
Use in solution to clean up food splatters on the base,sides and ceiling. Remove the turntable plate and wipe over the interior, taking care not to let any water drip through the holes in the walls. The turntable can be cleaned with the same solution.
CLEANING THE REFRIGERATOR
I’ve always used bicarbonate of soda in solution to clean the inside of the refrigerator. With refrigerators you had to turn off and defrost from time to time, I always wiped the trays and shelves with a strong solution. As well as cleaning up greasy marks it removes any odours from spills, milk bottle bases and cheesy whiffs. With the larder refrigerator we have now, I remove any uncovered food, wipe down the shelves and leave to dry as far as possible before replacing food items. Alternatively, wipe down with paper kitchen towel before putting the food back in. If you are planning on turning off your refrigerator while you are away on a long holiday, or are moving house and need to leave it switched off for a while, using bicarbonate of soda is a good way to save time and prevent mould forming. I use it to clean out the fridge-freezer in our home in France when we leave each time, leaving the doors open and the power off. The only time we went back to black mouldy deposits in the freezer was when a helpful workman closed the freezer door (to be fair, he did think he was doing us a favour) and I hadn’t given the shelves the treatment. On return a quick wipe over with a solution of bicarb in cold water was all that was needed before starting up the unit again. Any stubborn stains that have sat at the back of the refrigerator for a while may be removed with a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda mixed with a squeeze of toothpaste.
FREEZERS
Another chance to use the solution is when the spare freezer in the garage has been off, or we’ve stored various family members’ freezers etc. Cleaning with bicarbonate of soda and warm water has always kept the units fresh — as long as the door is kept propped open.If you defrost the freezer, wait for all the ice to melt then wipe carefully with warm water solution and allow it to dry thoroughly. Restart the freezer . . . and close the door!
CLEANING THE DRAIN
If your kitchen drain tends to block because of a build-up of grease or soap, try pouring about a quarter of a tub of bicarbonate of soda down it every month as a preventative measure.
BLOCKED DRAINS
If the tip on the previous page hasn’t worked, or you haven’t bothered to check for a while, use half a tub of bicarbonate of soda with a cup of warm vinegar. Leave this to work for an hour or two, then pour down lots of very hot water. An alternative is to use equal measures of bicarbonate of soda and table salt, washed down with boiling water.
CLEANING THE BIN
Use a fairly strong solution of bicarb and warm water to wash the kitchen bin out. It will keep the smell down as well. This is good for all plastic and stainless steel bins.
REMOVING PLASTIC WRAPPERS FROM HOT SURFACES
Have you ever caught a corner of a plastic bag wrapper of a loaf of bread on the toaster? Can’t say I have, but it must be hard to get it off again. Dampen a cloth and make a mild scouring pad with some bicarbonate of soda. Apparently, it will work well. Obviously you need to unplug electrical goods such as toasters before cleaning them like this and avoid getting any moisture on the inside element.
REMOVING NEWSPRINT STAINS FROM SURFACES
Now this is one that I have experience of. The print can be a real pain to get rid of if you leave a newspaper lying on a slightly damp surface, or a drop of rain gets the paper wet before delivery. Make a paste with bicarbonate of soda and a little water and rub gently until the stain disappears.
REMOVING PLASTIC WRAPPERS FROM HOT SURFACES
Have you ever caught a corner of a plastic bag wrapper of a loaf of bread on the toaster? Can’t say I have, but it must be hard to get it off again. Dampen a cloth and make a mild scouring pad with some bicarbonate of soda. Apparently, it will work well. Obviously you need to unplug electrical goods such as toasters before cleaning them like this and avoid getting any moisture on the inside element.
REMOVING NEWSPRINT STAINS FROM SURFACES
Now this is one that I have experience of. The print can be a real pain to get rid of if you leave a newspaper lying on a slightly damp surface, or a drop of rain gets the paper wet before delivery. Make a paste with bicarbonate of soda and a little water and rub gently until the stain disappears.
STAINLESS STEEL SINKS
Sometimes stainless steel can appear to be a bit of a misnomer, especially when tea and coffee dregs go down the sink. I regularly clean mine with a solution of vinegar and bicarb, as above. An alternative to using vinegar with bicarb is to use soda water, which will avoid the possibility of scratching, especially on new sinks and appliances. If in doubt though, just use warm water.
REMOVING HARD WATER STAINS
Water stains are another common occurrence, if you live in a hard water area. Use bicarbonate of soda, sprinkled on to the stain, and then wipe clean with vinegar. Watch out for the fizz, remember!
STEEL WOOL PAN SCRUBBERS
Despite the many other scourers available these days, some of us still like to use the old pads on stubborn stains to baking pans and cast iron. If you don’t use them very often, keep them in a box with some dry bicarb powder and they won’t go rusty.
CLEANING THE BREAD CROCK OR BREAD BIN
We have a splendid, French deep bread crock which weighs a ton but keeps bread fresh, as long as the odd piece of organic bread isn’t left lurking in the bottom out of sight: in which case the jolly green mould is very smelly, especially if left for a few days in a nice warm kitchen. Washing out with a solution of bicarbonate of soda in warm water keeps it mould free and sweet smelling. Leave to dry thoroughly and cool down before storing bread again.
CLEANING OUT A FOOD PROCESSOR WITH DRIED-ON FOOD
Of course, this will never happen to you, but some of us are natural slobs. There are always times when the bowl is left in the sink, without soaking, and the blade is stuck away behind a mountain of pots too big for the dishwasher. If you haven’t used your blender for a while it might need just freshening up. Use a couple of teaspoons of bicarb with a cup of warm water, put the lid on and run it for a few seconds. Afterwards you can wash as normal, or simply rinse and dry.
REFRESHING A VACUUM FLASK
To clean out an old vacuum flask add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and fill with warm water. Leave to steep for a while, then rinse out with cold water.
POTS AND PANS WITH BAKED-ON DEPOSITS (NB: Not non-stick!)
REMOVING STAINS ON ENAMELLED CAST-IRON WARE
Most of my casseroles and saucepans are of the cast-iron variety; perfect for using on, and in, an Aga (making for minimal effort — the same pot for cooking on top, inside the oven or serving from at the table). The most loyal of these, given to me by my mother after many years of service with her, is now about 30 years old. The inside of the pot had become markedly browner than the original creamy colour over the years, as a result of daily use and food stains (and regular burnt-on food in the early days of Aga cooking). It has been given a new lease of life by a treatment of bicarb and vinegar. Use Method 1, as opposite. Some of the newer pots won’t get this treatment though, because they have a different, dark, non-stick coating.
GAS BURNERS
If you can remove the gas burners easily to clean around them, immerse them in a pan of boiling water with four tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda for a few minutes.
CLEANING THE TOP OF THE STOVE
Wet the area and sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on to the top. Allow to sit for about 30 minutes before removing and rinsing off.
CLEANING THE OVEN INTERIOR
Even if your oven is really dirty you don’t need to go to the desperate lengths of buying expensive and toxic oven cleaners. All you need is a thick paste of bicarbonate of soda and water. Wipe over the inside when the oven has cooled down. Leave overnight while the soda does its work. Wipe down with warm water to remove the grease and grot. Stubborn areas can be treated with neat bicarbonate of soda on a scourer or cloth. You can clean a glass door with a weak solution, perhaps kept in a labelled spray bottle. An alternative method is to spray the inside of the oven (once it is cool/cold) with water and place bicarbonate of soda on the oven floor. Keep the oven moist by spraying every few hours and then leave overnight before removing the deposits.
GLASS AND STAINLESS STEEL COFFEE POTS (not aluminium)
Fill the pot or jug with warm water while it is standing in a sink. Add a dash of white vinegar and half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Leave to fizz and soak for a few minutes. Rinse with fresh water and dry carefully.
COFFEE MAKERS
Running bicarbonate of soda and water through the machine will give it a good clean and refresh it. Rinse with plenty of clear water afterwards, to remove all traces of the bicarbonate of soda.
BABY BOTTLES
These can be cleaned with a solution of bicarbonate of soda and water. Again, be sure to rinse thoroughly.
REMOVING STAINS FROM COFFEE MUGS
Sprinkle a little bicarbonate of soda into the bottom of the cup and add warm water to make a paste. Leave to stand for a while before rinsing.
STAINLESS STEEL AND CHROME KITCHEN APPLIANCES
These can be polished with a moist cloth and bicarb. I tried it on our kettle which stands on the hob, but make sure the kettle is cool or empty first, as otherwise the bicarb dries too quickly for you to polish the marks away.
REMOVING GREASE SPILLS
If you spill grease or oil on the kitchen floor while cooking, mop up what you can with paper towels, then sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on to the spill. This can be mopped up later when you have more time, and will prevent the ‘skidding’ that occurs if you use detergent straight away and which spreads across the floor.
WASTE DISPOSAL UNITS
Do houses still have these? If so, you can apparently clean them out with a mixture of bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice and vinegar. I prefer composting my kitchen waste.
Sometimes stainless steel can appear to be a bit of a misnomer, especially when tea and coffee dregs go down the sink. I regularly clean mine with a solution of vinegar and bicarb, as above. An alternative to using vinegar with bicarb is to use soda water, which will avoid the possibility of scratching, especially on new sinks and appliances. If in doubt though, just use warm water.
REMOVING HARD WATER STAINS
Water stains are another common occurrence, if you live in a hard water area. Use bicarbonate of soda, sprinkled on to the stain, and then wipe clean with vinegar. Watch out for the fizz, remember!
STEEL WOOL PAN SCRUBBERS
Despite the many other scourers available these days, some of us still like to use the old pads on stubborn stains to baking pans and cast iron. If you don’t use them very often, keep them in a box with some dry bicarb powder and they won’t go rusty.
CLEANING THE BREAD CROCK OR BREAD BIN
We have a splendid, French deep bread crock which weighs a ton but keeps bread fresh, as long as the odd piece of organic bread isn’t left lurking in the bottom out of sight: in which case the jolly green mould is very smelly, especially if left for a few days in a nice warm kitchen. Washing out with a solution of bicarbonate of soda in warm water keeps it mould free and sweet smelling. Leave to dry thoroughly and cool down before storing bread again.
CLEANING OUT A FOOD PROCESSOR WITH DRIED-ON FOOD
Of course, this will never happen to you, but some of us are natural slobs. There are always times when the bowl is left in the sink, without soaking, and the blade is stuck away behind a mountain of pots too big for the dishwasher. If you haven’t used your blender for a while it might need just freshening up. Use a couple of teaspoons of bicarb with a cup of warm water, put the lid on and run it for a few seconds. Afterwards you can wash as normal, or simply rinse and dry.
REFRESHING A VACUUM FLASK
To clean out an old vacuum flask add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and fill with warm water. Leave to steep for a while, then rinse out with cold water.
POTS AND PANS WITH BAKED-ON DEPOSITS (NB: Not non-stick!)
- For really burnt-on grease and grime you could try the full assault. Remove what burnt-on food you can, then pour a layer of bicarbonate of soda on to the base of the pan and use just enough water to moisten the soda. Leave until the next day, then scrub clean. Whenever I make custard the milk always burns on the bottom of the pan. This method makes cleaning a lot easier
- If that doesn’t get it all off, for example after a pan has been baking away in the oven for hours, put a layer of water in the bottom and add a cup of vinegar. Bring this to the boil, remove from the heat and then sprinkle in two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda. Remember to expect the fizzing effect, and stand back unless you fancy the idea of two nostrils’ full of the smell of vinegar at close quarters. The remains of the cooking should then loosen off without further resistance.
- If the pan isn’t too bad, soak it in bicarb and water for half an hour before washing normally. Alternatively, if you’re not bothered about scratching the pan, use the soda dry with a scouring pad.
- Here’s another idea: mix one spoonful of salt with two of bicarbonate of soda and mix with a little lemon juice. Spread this over the offending article and leave to dry. Rub off with a scouring pad.
REMOVING STAINS ON ENAMELLED CAST-IRON WARE
Most of my casseroles and saucepans are of the cast-iron variety; perfect for using on, and in, an Aga (making for minimal effort — the same pot for cooking on top, inside the oven or serving from at the table). The most loyal of these, given to me by my mother after many years of service with her, is now about 30 years old. The inside of the pot had become markedly browner than the original creamy colour over the years, as a result of daily use and food stains (and regular burnt-on food in the early days of Aga cooking). It has been given a new lease of life by a treatment of bicarb and vinegar. Use Method 1, as opposite. Some of the newer pots won’t get this treatment though, because they have a different, dark, non-stick coating.
GAS BURNERS
If you can remove the gas burners easily to clean around them, immerse them in a pan of boiling water with four tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda for a few minutes.
CLEANING THE TOP OF THE STOVE
Wet the area and sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on to the top. Allow to sit for about 30 minutes before removing and rinsing off.
CLEANING THE OVEN INTERIOR
Even if your oven is really dirty you don’t need to go to the desperate lengths of buying expensive and toxic oven cleaners. All you need is a thick paste of bicarbonate of soda and water. Wipe over the inside when the oven has cooled down. Leave overnight while the soda does its work. Wipe down with warm water to remove the grease and grot. Stubborn areas can be treated with neat bicarbonate of soda on a scourer or cloth. You can clean a glass door with a weak solution, perhaps kept in a labelled spray bottle. An alternative method is to spray the inside of the oven (once it is cool/cold) with water and place bicarbonate of soda on the oven floor. Keep the oven moist by spraying every few hours and then leave overnight before removing the deposits.
GLASS AND STAINLESS STEEL COFFEE POTS (not aluminium)
Fill the pot or jug with warm water while it is standing in a sink. Add a dash of white vinegar and half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Leave to fizz and soak for a few minutes. Rinse with fresh water and dry carefully.
COFFEE MAKERS
Running bicarbonate of soda and water through the machine will give it a good clean and refresh it. Rinse with plenty of clear water afterwards, to remove all traces of the bicarbonate of soda.
BABY BOTTLES
These can be cleaned with a solution of bicarbonate of soda and water. Again, be sure to rinse thoroughly.
REMOVING STAINS FROM COFFEE MUGS
Sprinkle a little bicarbonate of soda into the bottom of the cup and add warm water to make a paste. Leave to stand for a while before rinsing.
STAINLESS STEEL AND CHROME KITCHEN APPLIANCES
These can be polished with a moist cloth and bicarb. I tried it on our kettle which stands on the hob, but make sure the kettle is cool or empty first, as otherwise the bicarb dries too quickly for you to polish the marks away.
REMOVING GREASE SPILLS
If you spill grease or oil on the kitchen floor while cooking, mop up what you can with paper towels, then sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on to the spill. This can be mopped up later when you have more time, and will prevent the ‘skidding’ that occurs if you use detergent straight away and which spreads across the floor.
WASTE DISPOSAL UNITS
Do houses still have these? If so, you can apparently clean them out with a mixture of bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice and vinegar. I prefer composting my kitchen waste.
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