13 Jun 2023
Ever needed a birthday cake to rise to the occasion? You probably reached for the bicarbonate of soda.
It’s a handy kitchen ingredient that creates carbon dioxide bubbles when exposed to heat or dissolved in liquids like vinegar or water. And those same carbon dioxide bubbles will make a lighter, fluffier cake mixture… science can be delicious!
is bicarbonate of soda the same as baking soda?
Baking soda and bicarbonate of soda are the same thing. It's just that baking soda is the name most commonly used in America. Here in the UK we tend to call it bicarbonate of soda. Soda crystals are NOT the same as bicarbonate of soda.
hidden talents.
There are so many ways you can clean with bicarbonate of soda! A bicarb paste can clean ovens and oven glass, chopping boards, stained mugs, silver items, stove tops. Plain bicarb powder can also be used to unclog a sink, deodorise areas of the home, or clean toilets…
but here are our top 3 fave uses for this unsung cleaning hero...
1. soaking up the smells.
Found a funky smell in the fridge? Fridges can often smell bad if they haven't been cleaned regularly but sometimes they will still smell even after they’ve been wiped down. If this is the case in your home… reach for the bicarbonate of soda.
Just mix 1 tablespoon of bicarb with 1 litre of warm water then use the solution with a cloth (smol plant based cloths are perfect) to wipe down the inside of the fridge. You should then find the smell has gone. For good measure you can always do a final wipe down using our zesty multi purpose spray which is safe to use for food surfaces.
EXTRA TIP: To stop smells returning you can place an open pot of bicarbonate of soda on a shelf inside the fridge. It will help to deodorise your appliance for around three months and can then simply be replaced.
2. treat your tray.
Of course, it’s no surprise our shower trays get dirty - we’re rinsing off our own grime, hair and skin all across its surface, not to mention the soap, shampoo and conditioner detritus. Bacteria and mould can have a field day in our tray.
So here’s a brilliant 5 step method to blitz the grot with the bicarb.
- This first step is optional but it does make the rest a little easier. You’ll need to steam the shower tray with a steam cleaner or by running the shower for a few minutes. You could always plan to clean the tray until just after you (or someone else) have had a shower… then step 1 has been automatically done! The heat loosens any soap scum really effectively.
- Clean your tray as normal with a spray cleaner, smol multi purpose spray works well alongside our plastic-free cloths. We recommend spraying the base of your shower and leaving the liquid there to work for several minutes. Then wipe off with your clean cloth and leave the tray to dry.
- Bring on the bicarb! Finally… the main event. Make a paste using 5 heaped tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda and a little warm water. Add the water a little at a time so the paste doesn’t get too runny… you’re aiming for the consistency of porridge. Then, using a clean cloth, apply the paste to the tray making sure you cover all areas, especially the dirtiest bits. You can then open the bathroom window and leave the paste to sit on the tray for at least an hour.
- Get scrubbing! Using your cloth, rub the bicarbonate of soda in circular motions. This will work the paste deeper into the tray to lift off heavier staining, limescale and dirt.
- Rinse the shower shower tray fully with warm water to wash away the bicarb. Your shower tray should now be sparkling.
EXTRA TIP: bicarb is not suitable for glass or aluminium and before cleaning your tray you should patch test a small area to ensure the paste doesn’t damage your shower tray material. Always wear gloves when handling bicarbonate of soda paste as it’s an alkaline - and our skin is slightly acidic… so it can neutralise our skin’s acidity which can cause it to become dry and cracked.
3. time for a cuppa.
After all that cleaning it’s time for a cup of tea. But if your kettle is full of limescale nobody wants a crunch with their cuppa!
Thankfully you can remove the pesky crust with… you’ve guessed it - bicarbonate of soda.
Simply mix 1 teaspoon of bicarb with 2 cups of water and add the mixture to your kettle then switch it on to boil 4 or 5 times. Leave the water to then cool and rinse out your kettle before wiping down the inside with a dry cloth.
If the limescale is really heavy you can always add a little clear vinegar to the mix and your kettle will be good as new in no time.
Got any more bicarbonate of soda tips? We’d love to hear them so hop over to our socials and share your knowledge on Facebook or Instagram. We’ll see you there!