Soda Crystals

Mrs_Poyser

whistler-alison wrote:

Re putting soda crystals in your veg and pulses - many old recipe books recomend using bicarbonate of soda (sodium bicarbonate - which sounds pretty similar to sodium carbinate which the above post says that soda crystals are made out of), especially if your pulses are a bit old and tough. But I have read elsewhere that this does not do the nutritional value of food much good.

Yes - I think it destroys the Vitamin C content. People used to use it to keep vegetables green even when boiled for ages, as they used to do. But if you steam them or only boil lightly then not too much Vit C will be lost, and they stay green, so you don't need the bicarb.

leonie_2

Mrs_Poyser wrote:

I haven't used this because I read somewhere that borax is potentially carcinogenic. I use a small spoon of soda crystals plus half the amount of Clearspring dishwasher liquid which is pretty gentle ie because it doesn't contain chlorine bleach it won't get the inside of a teapot clean. I use this on some white Coalport but don't put anything with gold lines in a dishwasher because they do wear off eventually. Also use an eco or lower temperature programme which is not so hard on the china.

Thanks Mrs Poyser, i'll give that a go. I hate washing up but I dont want to spoil my best crockery!

Actually i'll try the soda crystals and half tablet in my normal dishwash cycles, it'll probably be gentler on the glasses

CharleneUK

Thanks for that! I bought a packet for the first time on Tuesday.

MrsMW

Don't put it in veg. it's horrible and it makes you burb. My mother always put it in cabbage, yuk!
I didn't realise that I liked cabbage 'til I cooked it myself.

clarew

My darling nan has appeared with a bottle of soda crystals. Any one advise me on what they are. Are they different to the stardrops i see you all mentioning (have yet to try-although i have brought a microfibre cloth today! -and i am remembering not to use fabric conditioner when its washed!)

Anyway back to the point, what are soda crystals, do you use them instead of cif/jif etc?
Thanks:A

shopsalot

I have some too - though I dont rate them much.

They can be used to clean anything - particulary good for soaking things and carpet cleaning.

however they are toxic and may bleach.

I could just be using them wrong though - so if anyone can shed more light.....

Pink.

Hi clarew,

These older threads might help with ideas of how to use them:

Soda Crystals: leaflet detailing all the ways to use them

Soda Crystals - Applications?

Pink

Queenie

shopsalot wrote:

I have some too - though I dont rate them much.

They can be used to clean anything - particulary good for soaking things and carpet cleaning.

however they are toxic and may bleach.

I could just be using them wrong though - so if anyone can shed more light.....

I use soda crystals regularly and have done for many years, never had a problem with it bleaching anything Are you certain they are toxic? It's used as a non-toxic cleaning alternative

liz.._4

I use them in with my washing and they are great to unblock sink, just pour the soda and wash down with hot water. great!

ceecee_le_bongo

My friend had a dog that ate some prescription tablets for humans so she called the vet in a panic and the vet told her to feed the dog soda crystals (a small amount) so that the dog was sick and brought the tablets up.:eek:

Think I'd rather eat the tablets.:rolleyes:

Don't try this at home.