September tends to be the month we decide our house needs a bit of a refresh and a good scrub. It’s annoying, yes, but it’s also nice to come home to a clean house. The unsung hero when it comes to cleaning products has got to be Bi-Carb Soda.
It’s cheap, it’s effective and it’s a godsend in so many different ways and areas of our homes.
Thanks to McKenzie’s Foods we’ve got 25 awesome ways to clean using Bi-Carb soda. A few sprinkles, and a bit of scrubbing and you’re ready to start your September fresh and clean.
25 Bi-Carb Soda Cleaning Tips
In the kitchen
1. Eliminate Kitchen Dishwasher Odours – Sprinkle Bi-Carb on the bottom of your dishwasher in between loads.
2. Clean Burnt Pots and Pans – Soak the pan in dishwashing liquid, Bi-Carb and hot water for 10 minutes before washing.
3. Deodorise Kitchen Rubbish Bins – Sprinkle a handful of Bi-Carb in the kitchen bin.
4. Clean Dirty Microwave – Place a bowl filled with water and 2 tbsp of Bi-Carb in your microwave. Cook on high for 1 minute. Wipe down the microwave with a clean cloth.
5. Non-Toxic Oven Cleaner – Use Bi-Carb paste and scrub the oven with a clean cloth. Rinse well. When cleaning electric ovens be careful not to get any on the element as this may cause it to corrode.
6. Cleaning Kids’ Lunch Boxes – Use a Bi-Carb solution to clean stained and smelly lunch boxes.
7. Cleaning the Blender – Add 2 tsp of Bi-Carb and 1⁄2 cup vinegar to a blender, put the lid on and turn on for a minute. Rinse well.
8. Clean Wooden Chopping Boards – To remove food odours on wooden chopping boards, rub Bi-Carb paste onto the board and leave for a few minutes. Rinse well.
In the laundry
9. Heavily Soiled/Stained Clothes – To help remove stains and odours from clothes, soak in Bi-Carb overnight before washing.
10. Whitening Whites – Add 2 tbsp of Bi-Carb to your regular liquid laundry detergent to refresh whites and reduce yellowing.
11. Stain Remover – Use Bi-Carb paste to aid in the removal of greasy food marks (e.g. butter, margarine, cooking oil). Leave for 30 minutes and then soak in detergent.
12. Clean Musty Towels – After visiting the pools or beach, get your soiled towels smelling fresh again by adding 1⁄2 cup of Bi-Carb to the rinse cycle.
In the bathroom
13. Drain Cleaner – Mix 1⁄4 cup Bi-Carb with 1⁄4 cup salt. Pour the mixture down the drain. Follow with at least 1 litre of boiling water. Leave for a few minutes. Then flush through with hot water from the tap for a few minutes.
14. Grout Cleaner – Use Bi-Carb paste to scrub into the grout with a sponge or toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly.
15. Clean Bathroom Tiles – Mix half a bucket of warm water with 1⁄2 cup of Bi-Carb, mop and rinse the floor with warm water.
16. Cleaning the Toilet – Remove any stains by applying a paste of Bi-Carb and lemon juice. Rub clean after half an hour. If the whole bowl is stained, add 1⁄2 cup of vinegar with 1⁄2 cup Bi-Carb to the water, and use the toilet brush to scrub the sides.
In general
17. Remove Grimy Marks on Painted Walls – Clean using Bi-Carb on a damp cloth. Bi-Carb will not scratch the surface.
18. Mould – Combine Bi-Carb with vinegar and scour clean using a stiff brush.
19. Carpet Deodoriser – To eliminate food and pet odours, sprinkle a handful of Bi-Carb onto your carpets, leave for a few minutes and then vacuum.
20. Clean and freshen Sports Gear – Use a Bi-Carb solution to clean and deodorise smelly clothes and sporting equipment. Rinse.
Bi-Carb soda cleaning tips for outside
21. BBQ Cleaner – Apply Bi-Carb paste with a wire brush, wipe clean and dry with a cloth.
22. Fungal Prevention on Plants – Dissolve 1 tsp of Bi-Carb and 3 drops of liquid soap in 2 litres of water and spray on plants. The soap helps the spray stick to the leaf surface.
23. Clean Drive Ways – To clean oily stains from driveways sprinkle with Bi-Carb and scrub with a wet brush.
24. Car Deodoriser – Leave a small open packet of Bi-Carb in your car to absorb unpleasant smells. Replace every 3 months.
25. Wheelie Bin Deodoriser – Sprinkle Bi-Carb in the wheelie bin after each weekly bin collection to remove nasty odours.
Remember, Bi-Carb soda isn’t just great for cleaning around the house. It’s also an awesome beauty product that can minimise blackheads, remove fake tan and keep your teeth sparkly white. It’s also great for soaking dried feet, cleaning makeup brushes and alleviating itchy insect bites.
Refresh your Home and Garden- and WIN BIG!
We have HEAPS of great cleaning tips and hacks we’ve collected over the years (see them here) but we’re also giving away over $14,000 in home and garden prizes this September as part of our Biggest Home and Garden Competition Ever!
We have 20 different products up for grabs including a $2,000 pool vacuum cleaner, a $1,000 security system and a $1,500 dryer. Other prizes include an air fryer, a steam cleaner and spot cleaner, a Queen mattress, a washing machine and so much more!
Enter now (but be quick – competition closes at the end of September 2023).
