Bleach is a popular cleaning staple, but there’s one natural alternative that works just as well — and it’s safer to use too
Keeping your home spotless and organised can be challenging. Some areas seem to attract grime almost magically, which is why having a reliable set of cleaning products ready to tackle any mess is essential.
Most of us will know that white vinegar is one of the real champions of household cleaning. This natural yet effective ingredient delivers great results on glass, worktops and countless other surfaces, all while being budget-friendly.
However, I’ve swapped my trusty white vinegar for an alternative — and the results were far better.
Last year, I’d purchased a packet of soda crystals which I’d used to brighten a washing load. The results were impressive, but I hadn’t touched them since, and they’d been sitting forgotten at the rear of my cupboard.
However, I’d noticed several cleaning experts online praising their effectiveness for tackling glass and limescale, as they essentially dissolve stubborn grime when applied as a dense paste and left on problem areas.
Three main spots seemed ideal for a generous helping of soda crystals – the oven, shower screen and toilet. So, after placing some soda crystals in a container and slowly mixing in water until achieving a nice thick texture, I got to work.
Cleaning oven with soda crystals
Using a cloth, I spread the soda crystals paste generously across the surface, ensuring the glass was completely covered in a good, thick layer. The best thing about this trick is that it requires very little effort – simply leave it to sit for roughly an hour to really break down the grime.
Next, I took a coarser cloth to work the paste in circular motions. I was genuinely taken aback by how much of the muck lifted away instantly with minimal effort.
I washed it off and repeated the process several times until both the paste and the dirt had completely disappeared, before finishing with a quick spritz of surface cleaner to remove any remaining residue. It honestly looked as good as new, and I’ve since passed this tip on to countless people.
Cleaning toilet with soda crystals
Not only are soda crystals great for cleaning glass, they can also be used to tackle limescale. I had a small build-up in the toilet bowl, but since I don’t live in an area with hard water, it wasn’t anything dramatic.
It was clearly in need of a good scrub. To tackle this, I simply poured a couple of cups of soda crystals into and around the bowl, leaving it to work for another hour.
To really get to grips with the mess, I used an old toothbrush to scrub away any remaining stubborn stains before flushing everything away. The outcome was a spotlessly clean toilet bowl, achieved without a single harsh chemical.
Cleaning shower glass with soda crystals
After seeing how amazing my oven glass looked after cleaning it with the soda crystals paste, I knew I had to give it a go on my shower glass too. Keeping this clean is genuinely the bane of my life – every day there are new fingerprints, soap or water marks all over it, and I just feel like it never really looks that clean.
I used the same method of spreading the thick paste with a cloth, leaving it for an hour before scrubbing in circular motions and wiping it clean afterwards.
As the images clearly show, every last soap mark and watermark disappeared, leaving behind a stunning shine that’s usually quite difficult to accomplish.
If soda crystals have never featured in your cleaning routine, it’s time to give them a go — available for just £1.69 at Savers, a single bag is more than enough to take on a whole host of household tasks.
