Cleaner Than Ever

I just got a new vacuum cleaner and washing machine, and I can't get over how much difference it has made. My vacuum cleaner died a while ago, and there was no saving it, so I've been making do. However the new vacuum was worth the wait, it is so awesome, it's 2450 Watts so it's pretty powerful, yet it's really tiny and light. It's no effort to use at all, and it's called a Purple Heart, so it suits me to a tea. :-)

The washing machine is amazing, the old one was still working but it had a number of problems. I didn't realise that having a better washing machine would actually clean the cloths better. This is the first nearly new machine I've ever had, so I had no idea. The washing is cleaner, fluffier, and softer than ever, I'm stunned.

I'm so much happier when I'm cleaning now, I feel like I can do the job properly, Woohoo...

Feeding the ants

I've had trouble with ants in my home many times, and now I've found a quick and easy solution.

First I went out and scouted their home. This doesn't take much effort just follow where the majority are coming from and are going too.

Then when I take the scraps out to feed the birds I leave a touch behind for the ants. They don't need a lot, anything sweet, sticky or rotten is perfect. I find little scraps of bread are highly sort after. Crumble them up really small and place it around the ants home.

They wont bother coming inside if there is a better feed closer to home. This has worked perfectly for us, perhaps it will work for you too, Good luck ;)

What Can Baking Soda do?

My massive collection of Bi-carb Soda (Baking Soda) Tips:

Cleaning

• Deodorise the whole house! Sprinkle carpets with Bi-carb Soda, leave a few minutes and then vacuum.
• For everyday freshness, fill a small container and leave in the fridge to absorb food odours. Replace every three months or so.
• Clean chopping boards, stainless steel sinks, ovens and rangehoods with food safe Bi-carb Soda sprinkled on a damp cloth. Rinse well and your whole kitchen will sparkle.
• In the bathroom: Bi-carb Soda will work a treat on bathroom surfaces too - bathtubs, tiles, floors, mirrors, screens and sinks.
• Keep your rubbish bin smelling fresh - periodically sprinkle Bi-carb Soda on the waste. On rubbish collection day, wash and deodorise the bin in a solution of Bi-carb Soda.
• Restore life to stained tea/coffee cups - apply to a damp cloth and rub away.
• Throw a handful of Bi-carb Soda into the bottom of the dishwasher mid-way between loads - this will eliminate odors and work double-duty as a gentle cleanser in the next wash cycle.
• Freshen sinks by slowly pouring half a cup down the drain together with warm tap water.
• Cleaning brass door knobs, window handles and ornaments.
• For a sparkling microwave, wipe over (inside and out) with a damp sponge sprinkled with Bi-carb Soda. Rinse well with water.
• Polish up the family silverware with a paste made from Bi-carb Soda and water. Rinse and dry well
• For stubborn oven grime, apply a paste of Bi-carb Soda and water to a warm oven, leave overnight and wipe off. For regular cleaning, apply paste to a cold oven, warm for 30 minutes and then rinse off.
• For dirty saucepans that don't respond to steel scourers, add cold water and one to two tablespoons of Bi-carb Soda and bring to the boil. When cool, finish off with steel wool.
• In a Stainless Steel sink add 1/2 cup Bi-carb to 1 gal of water and dip silver in water and wipe with sponge to remove tarnish. Works great! No more cleaning with silver polish.
• Remove corrosion from automobile battery cables. Paint it on and leave a thick layer. wait 5-10 minutes and flush with water.
• To clean oily stains from concrete and driveways, sprinkle over and scrub with a wet brush.
• Add half a cup to the laundry rinse cycle to give towels and linens a breezy freshness.
• Clean kids' toys by soaking or wiping down with a solution of Bi-Carb Soda and water. Rinse, dry and play.
• Freshen stuffed toys with a sprinkling of Bi-carb Soda. Wait 15 minutes, brush off and cuddle away.
• After the family BBQ, Bi-carb Soda will make light work of cleaning the grill. Just sprinkle on, scrub with a damp brush and rinse clean.
• Use Bi-carb Soda as a pre-soaker for soiled nappies, removing mold or stubborn stains. Dissolve 45 grams in a bucket of warm water, let soak, wash in hot soapy water and dry in the sun.
• As a whitener, add 2 teaspoons of Bi-carb Soda to half a bucket of cold water. Soak 30 minutes then wash as normal.
• Clean vegetables and fruit with baking soda. Sprinkle in water, soak and rise the produce.
• Oil and grease - stained clothing washes out better with soda added to the washing water.
• Clean combs and brushes in a soda solution.
• To remove stubborn stains from marble, Formica or plastic surfaces, scour with a paste of soda and water.
• Run you coffee maker through its cycle with a soda solution. Rinse.
• Remove that bad smell from ashtrays with soda and water. Also Sprinkle a bit of dry soda in your ashtrays to prevent smoldering and reduce odor. (Or give up smoking)
• Soak your shower curtains in water and soda to clean them.
• Use to sweeten sour dishcloths.

Deodorizing

• Sprinkle Bi-carbon your carpet before vacuuming to eliminate food and pet odors
• After emptying the garbage, sprinkle some Bi-carbon the bottom of the garbage can; this will neutralize the food odors.
• Keep an open box of Bi-carb in the back of your refrigerator and in your pantry; replace every 2-3 months.
• Pour Bi-carb down your garbage disposal while running warm water.
• Smelly shoes? Pour in a little and leave 2-3 days to absorb.
• Safely deodorise your pet's bedding by sprinkling with Bi-carb Soda. Wait 15 minutes then vacuum.
• Between your dog's baths, try a dry freshen-up - Sprinkle Bi-carb Soda into their fur, rub and then comb or brush out.
• Deodorise your car - sprinkle Bi-carb Soda over upholstery and carpets, leave for 15 minutes and then vacuum.
• Sprinkle Bi-carb Soda into smelly gym bags or golf bags to deodorise and freshen.
• To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and rub them hard with soda, then rinse.
• If your baby spits up on his shirt after feeding, moisten a cloth, dip it in Bi-carb and dab at the dribbled shirt. The odor will go away.

Health and Beauty

• Wash your face in Bi-carb soda to take off dead skin and old make-up. Add to your shampoo once in a while to really remove old hair spray and setting gels.
• Mix 2 tbl spoons Bi-carb in 8 oz glass of water, and drink. Helps with stomach aches and gas.
• For fresh, silky-smooth skin, dissolve half a cup in your bathwater to soften your skin.. Relax and soak it up !
• For a sparkling smile, brush teeth with a paste of Bi-carb Soda and water.
• Bi-carb is a great teeth whitener. Sprinkle a little on your toothbrush before the paste goes on.
• Mix three parts to one part water for a gentle facial scrub that won't strip oils from the skin.
• Putting 2 tbsp. of Bi-carb in your baby's bath water will help relieve diaper rash irritations.
• Apply soda directly to insect bites, rashes and poison ivy to relieve discomfort. Make a paste with water.
• Take a soda bath to relieve general skin irritations such as measles and chicken pox.
• Take 1/2 teaspoon of Bi-carb in 1/2 glass of water to relieve acid indigestion or heartburn.
• Gargle with 1/2 tsp. Bi-carb in 1/2 glass of water. Freshens and cleans your mouth.
• Used as a mouthwash, Bi-carb will also relieve canker sore pain.
• To relieve sunburn: use a paste of Bi-carb and water.
• Bug bites: use a poultice of Bi-carb and vinegar. It neutralizes the "sting" and provides relief instantly.
• Bee sting: use a poultice of Bi-carb and water. It neutralizes the "sting" and provides relief instantly.
• Windburns: moisten some Bi-carb and apply directly.

Cooking

• To make your own baking powder combine 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. This is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of commercial baking powder. If you are not using immediately, add 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch to absorb any moisture in the air and to prevent a premature chemical reaction between the acid and alkali.
• When scalding a chicken, add 1 tsp. of soda to the boiling water. The feathers will come off easier and flesh will be clean and white.
• Add to water to soak dried beans to make them more digestible.
• Add to water to remove the "gamey" taste from wild game.

Other

• Bi-carb Soda will put out fires in clothing, fuel, wood, upholstery and rugs. It will also work for car, grease or electrical fires.
• Repel rain from windshield. Put gobs of Bi-carb on a dampened cloth and wipe windows inside and out.