[zoebird]

Hi all!<br><br><br><br>
as you know, i mostly use BS and vinegar to clean my home. I thought i'd share some sources and uses.<br><br><br><br>
i found a great source for baking soda--if you use it for home and personal care. Costco has 12 lb bags for $3; feed stores sell 50 lb bags for $10 or so (check to make sure it's food-grade). we can't store a 50 lb bag, but it's a great, frugal deal. Also, vinegar is cheaper there (and comes in larger bottles).<br><br><br><br>
i don't have a membership--a friend of mine picks it up for me when i ask. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
here are many of the uses:<br><br><br><br>
*all purpose scrub for dishes, sinks and countertops, tubs, floors (if needed)--perfect with white distilled vinegar. you can add essential oils to the vinegar to help with scent and added anti microbial functions. (tea tree, rosemary, and lavender have the best properties here)<br><br><br><br>
*great for removing pet stains and cleaning the carpet (shake on carpet before vaccuming, then vaccum)<br><br><br><br>
*great for laundry--add 1/2-1 cup baking soda and EO to washing cycle; add vinegar to rinse cycle (or use a fabric softener ball for timed release)<br><br><br><br>
*dishwasher--toss a few tablespoons of BS into the bottom of the dishwasher, put vinegar in the section where one would put the 'jet dry' product. even with hard water, our dishes come out cleaner than they ever did before!<br><br><br><br>
*oven cleaner--sprinkle oven with BS and then wet with spray bottle of water. let stand for a half hour at least, then wet a sponge and wipe the oven down. spray and wipe with vinegar to rinse and shine!<br><br><br><br>
for personal care items:<br><br><br><br>
UnShampoo: dissolve vinegar in your hand with water and rub into scalp. rinse well. then use a spray bottle and spray apple cidar vinegar into the hair for a conditioning rinse.<br><br><br><br>
toothpaste/tooth powder: use it 'straight' or add a bit of food-great peppermint or spearmint oil to it to make tooth powder. you can add water to make a paste if you want.<br><br><br><br>
there are probably other great uses--but this is doing well for us! and it's so inexpensive!<br><br><br><br>
(we do have dr bonners castile soap as well--for various uses)

 

[karenlovessnow]

Great tips, zoebird! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[raw jess]

I was so bummed a couple months ago when I went to Sam's Club to get bulk baking soda for laundry, and all they have are 5 lb bags which are ARM & HAMMER. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Ayrlin]

Bakeing soda put down your kitchen drain followed by heated viniger is also a great way to clean your kitchen drains it will unclog most clogs if left to sit overnight, much friendlier than say draino and such.

 

[Sauteedbeans]

I use vinegar to kill weeds in the garden. It takes a couple of applications but really work well. I feel better using vinegar than the chemical stuff.

 

[zoebird]

yeah, i avoid arm and hammer baking soda (obvious reasons)--and it's frustrating when you can't find another source.

 

[Tesseract]

Wow, great advice! I didn't have good luck using BS and vinegar to get my shower drain unclogged, though. I had to call maintenance and they put Draino down it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
One question - what's EO?

 

[nowoutonvinyl]

whats wrong with arm and hammer?

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Tesseract</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><br><br><br>
One question - what's EO?</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
EO= Essential Oil

 

[Joe]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Tesseract</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Wow, great advice! I didn't have good luck using BS and vinegar to get my shower drain unclogged, though. I had to call maintenance and they put Draino down it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
There are two kinds of Draino (or similar products). The "regular" kind has lye or some other very caustic chemical in it. But the "slow drain" kind does not have these caustic chemicals, but uses enzymes. You might try the "slow drain" kind in the future for shower clogs; just be sure to read the label before buying to make sure no caustic chemicals are used.

 

[KC_VeganVixen]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>nowoutonvinyl</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
whats wrong with arm and hammer?</div>
</div>
<br>
They test on animals./They're evil. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/veganpolice.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":notvegan:">

 

[SoyJoy]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hamster.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hamster:"> Thank you zoebird, for the tip on where to get the Baking soda at a great price!!! Here's a tip I use very regularly. Mix baking soda with your favorite blends of essential oils, then sprinkle the carpet, let sit as long as you can, then vacuum!! It works so well.