I have baking soda, washing soda, borax, and vinegar....

[Wishing4]

Now what? I mixed borax and washing soda for the dishwasher. I found a long list of how to use vinegar.

What other things can you use washing soda for?

I already use baking soda to clean my bathtub by sprinkling and scrubbing with a wet rag. Is that how I could clean everything?

What can you use to clean glass and mirrors if not Windex?

Is there any sort of homemade powder laundry soap?

How do you store all this stuff?

ETA: to make it more like a list and easier to answer.

[heidisue]

We use a homemade powder laundry soap:

1/2 C Dr Bronners Castile Soap (I think any Castile soap will work, but I love the TTO Dr. Bronners)
1/2 C Borax
1/2 C Washing Soda

Use 1 Tbs/Load (that recipe makes 24 loads)

I love this softener as well:

2 C White Vinegar
2 C Baking Soda
4 C Water

[coleybear805]

What other things can you use washing soda for?
In this article I read a while ago (http://www.sunshinediapers.com/cloth...g-a-detergent/) she says that she uses 1-3 Tbsp. washing soda and 1/2 Tbsp. (about 4 squirts) Simple Green for her diaper laundry and hasn't had any build-up problems. I haven't tried it though.

I already use baking soda to clean my bathtub by sprinkling and scrubbing with a wet rag. Is that how I could clean everything?

I think so... that is what I do, I use baking soda for things like the tub and for things like countertops, outside of the toilet, etc. I use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

What can you use to clean glass and mirrors if not Windex?

You'd be surprised how well just 50/50 vinegar and water works!

Is there any sort of homemade powder laundry soap?

I haven't tried this one yet... looks like pp answered you though!

How do you store all this stuff?

I just have baking soda and vinegar so far and right now it's pretty much all I use, though I do have some leftover cleaning chemicals that I use sometimes cause I need to use up the bottles. I buy the gallon-sized white vinegar in 2-packs at Costco and got a huge thing of baking soda at Costco in a resealable bag, I just keep it with the other cleaning supplies. I suppose that if I were going to mix things like laundry detergent I would get some of those clear plastic canisters I store my flour and such in, or, even better, just use empty 32 oz. yogurt containers or something like that and mark them on a strip of masking tape!

[momma2three]

What other things can you use washing soda for?

This is very close to baking soda, they have a slightly different chemical base or whatever and so washing soda is more for laundry and baking soda for cooking. For other cleaning stuff they both work pretty much the same. Use whatever one you can find cheaper for cleaning other things. here's a site to get you some ideas:

http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/ProductD...1&Show=ExtInfo

All Purpose Cleaner

INGREDIENTS
1 bucket warm water
1/2 cup washing soda

Wash surface, wearing gloves; then rinse.

For really tough jobs, make a thick washing soda paste by mixing it with water, and then spread the paste on the soot. Keep the paste damp by spraying every hour or so with a spray bottle. Leave the paste on overnight, and then rinse. Make certain to only use this formula on inert surfaces such as glass and stone, as this amount of washing soda can peel off paint, wax, etc.

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/440

I already use baking soda to clean my bathtub by sprinkling and scrubbing with a wet rag. Is that how I could clean everything?

Personally, I sprinkle baking soda or washing soda on the tub, sink, counter, whatever and then lightly spray it with 50/50 water/vinegar in a spray bottle. It makes it fizzle and cleans really well together. I use a sponge, wet rag or cleaning brush, depending on the project. I keep some of these in every room.

What can you use to clean glass and mirrors if not Windex?

As the previous poster mentioned 50/50 vinegar/water worked WAY better than windex every did for me! I didn't get streaks at all and I wasn't even trying!

How do you store all this stuff?

My dollar store has the big cleaning clear spray bottles so I get those for all my liquid cleaners. I found that my house stays cleaner if I keep cleaners and cleaning supplies in every room. That way if I go wash my hands in the bathroom and see the counter getting messy it only takes a second to spray it quick and wipe it down since all the supplies are there. Keep a basket of washrags and a small trash can or container to put dirty rags under the counter in each room as well. I even keep a small hand broom/dust pan in each non carpeted room for any small spills that happen, I can take care of it quick and large jobs I just get the big broom out of the cleaning closet. For baking soda/washing soda I put them in a sugar shaker so I can shake them onto things easier and more evenly and label it and keep one in each room. I keep my dishwasher detergant in an empty ice cream bucket. My laundry detergant is in a big 6 gallon bucket (liquid version). HMM....That's all I can think of. Hope this helps!

[Wishing4]

Thank you all. It helps.

[sweetpea76]

I keep my baking soda in an old parmasean cheese shaker!

[tinyblackdot]

check out www.care2.com

[lexi22]

I use straight vinegar on a towel for my windows. Man, they sparkle!