Vinegar's First Cousin, Baking Soda

In a recent post I told you all about how I use vinegar in my cleaning. I also promised you that I would return with a post about vinegar's first cousin, baking soda, and tell you all about how to clean with it. Well, here I am, as promised. 

Ready for a quick science lesson? Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO₃. Betcha didn't know that. I'm betting you also didn't know that ancient Egyptians used a form of baking soda as soap. I'm really wowing you, aren't I? 

I said all that to say this, baking soda is all natural and time proven. It's way better for you than Comet, or Fabuloso, or whatever else you've got under your sink to scrub away at nasty stuff. And, in my opinion, it works a lot better than those products do too. 

Exhibit A: My refrigerator. As I have referenced many times before, the previous owners were not big on cleaning. Actually, that's the biggest understatement of the century. I am convinced that there were areas of this house that they NEVER cleaned. The side of the refrigerator being one of them. When we pulled the fridge out from the wall, the side closest to the wall was caked in some combination of drips, goo and dirt. How did I conquer this colossal mess? Well, I sprayed it down with a solution of vinegar and water, and let it sit for a minute. Then, I sprinkled some baking soda onto my rag, and started scrubbing. Baking soda is abrasive, and the reaction between the baking soda and the vinegar meant that in no time at all my fridge was sparkly clean. 

Exhibit B: Clogged Drains. Old House + Girl with Long Hair + Other Yucky Stuff = Frequently Clogged Drains  The best way I have found to clear these clogs is the winning combo again. Sprinkle some baking soda down your drain (be generous!) followed by a healthy splash of vinegar. After all the foaming settles down, place a plastic lid (from a Tupperware) over the drain for 10-15 min. In the meantime, heat up some water in the tea kettle. Then remove the cover and pour the boiling water down the drain. Works like a charm, everytime. I also do this to my kitchen sink drains on a monthly basis, as a preventative measure. 

Exhibit C: Smelly Fridges and Garbage Cans. Baking Soda naturally absorbs odors too, so be sure to keep an opened box in your freezer and in your fridge, and sprinkle some in the bottom of your trash can. Seriously, what can't this stuff do?

Still not convinced? Here's a whole list of other uses for baking soda. Tell me, what are your favorite uses for the white stuff?

Vinegar's First Cousin, Baking Soda

In a recent post I told you all about how I use vinegar in my cleaning. I also promised you that I would return with a post about vinegar's first cousin, baking soda, and tell you all about how to clean with it. Well, here I am, as promised. 

Ready for a quick science lesson? Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO₃. Betcha didn't know that. I'm betting you also didn't know that ancient Egyptians used a form of baking soda as soap. I'm really wowing you, aren't I? 

I said all that to say this, baking soda is all natural and time proven. It's way better for you than Comet, or Fabuloso, or whatever else you've got under your sink to scrub away at nasty stuff. And, in my opinion, it works a lot better than those products do too. 

Exhibit A: My refrigerator. As I have referenced many times before, the previous owners were not big on cleaning. Actually, that's the biggest understatement of the century. I am convinced that there were areas of this house that they NEVER cleaned. The side of the refrigerator being one of them. When we pulled the fridge out from the wall, the side closest to the wall was caked in some combination of drips, goo and dirt. How did I conquer this colossal mess? Well, I sprayed it down with a solution of vinegar and water, and let it sit for a minute. Then, I sprinkled some baking soda onto my rag, and started scrubbing. Baking soda is abrasive, and the reaction between the baking soda and the vinegar meant that in no time at all my fridge was sparkly clean. 

Exhibit B: Clogged Drains. Old House + Girl with Long Hair + Other Yucky Stuff = Frequently Clogged Drains  The best way I have found to clear these clogs is the winning combo again. Sprinkle some baking soda down your drain (be generous!) followed by a healthy splash of vinegar. After all the foaming settles down, place a plastic lid (from a Tupperware) over the drain for 10-15 min. In the meantime, heat up some water in the tea kettle. Then remove the cover and pour the boiling water down the drain. Works like a charm, everytime. I also do this to my kitchen sink drains on a monthly basis, as a preventative measure. 

Exhibit C: Smelly Fridges and Garbage Cans. Baking Soda naturally absorbs odors too, so be sure to keep an opened box in your freezer and in your fridge, and sprinkle some in the bottom of your trash can. Seriously, what can't this stuff do?

Still not convinced? Here's a whole list of other uses for baking soda. Tell me, what are your favorite uses for the white stuff?

The Best Cleaning Product. Ever.

Are you tired of spending money on countless cleaning products that still don't seem to get the job done? Are you feeling nauseated by all of the fumes from the chemicals that you are spreading around your home? Do you want to simplify your cleaning routine and organize your under-the-sink cabinet while you are at it?

Well, my friend, let me introduce you to my BFF in cleaning...

Are you ready?

Are you sure? 

'Cuz it's seriously gonna change your life...

You're ready?

Okay... here it is

I know, you're like, seriously? Vinegar? Yup, vinegar. I use it for:

• Washing my hardwood floors Fill bucket with hot water, add a generous splash of white vinegar, and mop away. Leaves floors squeaky clean and shiny.
• Washing my tile and vinyl floors. Same instructions as above, same results.
  
• Washing anything that's dirty. :-) A combo of hot water and vinegar removed years of gross food and who-knows-what buildup from my refrigerator.
• Removing the smell of paint from a freshly painted room.  When you have finished painting, set out a bowl full of undiluted vinegar. Leave it overnight and in the morning you will wake up to a paint fume free room. 

So basically, you eliminate multiple, pricey floor cleaners, clean in more green, health conscious way and it actually relives the wallet. A gallon of vinegar costs me less than $2.00,  lasts me at least a month, and my house is so clean! If you don't believe me, here's the proof. The Rainbow vacuum cleaner guy came to my house and did a demonstration, and couldn't.find.dirt.   :-D

P.S. Stay tuned for a rave review of Vinegar's first cousin, Baking Soda, and how to use it. 

P.P.S I don't know if vinegar and baking soda are actually related in any kind of scientific way. They just work so well together, I assumed... :-)

The Best Cleaning Product. Ever.

Are you tired of spending money on countless cleaning products that still don't seem to get the job done? Are you feeling nauseated by all of the fumes from the chemicals that you are spreading around your home? Do you want to simplify your cleaning routine and organize your under-the-sink cabinet while you are at it?

Well, my friend, let me introduce you to my BFF in cleaning...

Are you ready?

Are you sure? 

'Cuz it's seriously gonna change your life...

You're ready?

Okay... here it is

I know, you're like, seriously? Vinegar? Yup, vinegar. I use it for:

• Washing my hardwood floors Fill bucket with hot water, add a generous splash of white vinegar, and mop away. Leaves floors squeaky clean and shiny.
• Washing my tile and vinyl floors. Same instructions as above, same results.
  
• Washing anything that's dirty. :-) A combo of hot water and vinegar removed years of gross food and who-knows-what buildup from my refrigerator.
• Removing the smell of paint from a freshly painted room.  When you have finished painting, set out a bowl full of undiluted vinegar. Leave it overnight and in the morning you will wake up to a paint fume free room. 

So basically, you eliminate multiple, pricey floor cleaners, clean in more green, health conscious way and it actually relives the wallet. A gallon of vinegar costs me less than $2.00,  lasts me at least a month, and my house is so clean! If you don't believe me, here's the proof. The Rainbow vacuum cleaner guy came to my house and did a demonstration, and couldn't.find.dirt.   :-D

P.S. Stay tuned for a rave review of Vinegar's first cousin, Baking Soda, and how to use it. 

P.P.S I don't know if vinegar and baking soda are actually related in any kind of scientific way. They just work so well together, I assumed... :-)

$$$ Accomplishments in 2008

I thought it would be encouraging to post the financial accomplishments we had in 2008. It's not a long list, but there are some big goals that we met and we are pretty happy about it!

• Bought a house... Wendhurst Castle (but you knew that already, didn't you?)
• Saved $3,000 for a new car. The way Luke has to drive for work, we may need this in 2009.
• Got a 16% Raise... good job lover!
• Quit my job/stayed home all year.  Oh yeah, this is the life.
• Started retirement savings with a 10% contribution.
• Didn't touch our emeergency fund at all this year. Yay!

$$$ Accomplishments in 2008

I thought it would be encouraging to post the financial accomplishments we had in 2008. It's not a long list, but there are some big goals that we met and we are pretty happy about it!

• Bought a house... Wendhurst Castle (but you knew that already, didn't you?)
• Saved $3,000 for a new car. The way Luke has to drive for work, we may need this in 2009.
• Got a 16% Raise... good job lover!
• Quit my job/stayed home all year.  Oh yeah, this is the life.
• Started retirement savings with a 10% contribution.
• Didn't touch our emeergency fund at all this year. Yay!