The Villages - May 2020 - 31

Baking Soda
(sodium bicarbonate)
The little yellow box is more like a magic bullet. It's
long been used to treat everything from acid reflux
to canker sores. It can even whiten your teeth,
clean your hair or remove pesticides from fruit and
veggies. As a scouring agent, baking soda packs an
only slightly abrasive punch, which is helpful when
you're scrubbing surfaces prone to scratching.
HOW TO USE

1. Mix one part water or vinegar with three parts
baking soda to create a paste - an effective stain
remover and cleaner for sinks, baths, tiles, toilets and
other hard surfaces.
2. Rub surfaces with sponge or damp cloth and
allow it to sit for 15 - 20 minutes before rinsing.
3. To neutralize and eliminate pungent food
odors, place an open box of baking soda in
your refrigerator. Sprinkle a bit on carpets
to freshen a room before vacuuming, or
add to a cycle of laundry.
4. For use as an air freshener, simply place
one tablespoon of baking soda in a small spray
bottle (use a funnel if necessary). Add 5 drops
of pure essential oil (optional) and fill the bottle
with distilled water. Shake before spraying.

Distilled White Vinegar

While many of us recall our grandmothers spritzing
vinegar on dirty windows, the natural cleaner was popular
well before her time. In cultures across the world, vinegar
had vast and varying uses. Its acetic content makes it a
powerful bacteria inhibitor, and studies show it can be
just as effective as commercial cleaners at eliminating
germs and viruses, as well as E. coli. Safe to ingest and use
externally, vinegar was even used by World War I medics
to treat soldiers' wounds. In the kitchen, farm folks will
tell you it's a must for pickling and canning.
HOW TO USE

1. Remove mineral build up in your coffee maker or
dishwasher by pouring white distilled vinegar into the
reservoir and running an empty cycle.
2. Dampen a rag with vinegar and
polish windows and household
fixtures.
3. To make an all-purpose cleaner,
grease and soap scum remover, fill
a spray bottle with a 50/50 solution
of vinegar and water (optional:
add 5 drops of essential oils).
**Caution: While vinegar is
safe to use on most surfaces,
its acidic properties make it too
harsh for marble or granite.

MAGAZINE

31
The Villages - May 2020

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