I reach for this scouring powder every time I clean; I use it in the kitchen to clean sinks or glass stove tops, in the bathroom to clean toilets or tubs - it can be used on almost any surface that can be rinsed thoroughly.
This scouring powder can be as simple as plain baking soda, but the addition of lemon essential oil adds additional cleaning properties (its my favorite substitute for goo-gone!) and a lovely scent. The citric acid is a mild acid in powder form, great for removing soap scum, calcium deposits, hard water stains, lime and even rust (source).
Simple Scouring Powder:
1/2 cup Baking Soda
10 drops Lemon Essential Oil (optional)
2 tsp. Citric Acid (optional)
Combine ingredients together and store in an airtight container. I use a mason jar with a shaker lid & cap .
Directions: sprinkle on the on the area you would like to clean, spray with a little soapy water to make a paste. Scrub with a brush or cloth and rinse clean.
For tougher jobs: drizzle dish soap over powder to form a paste, scrub, then spray with vinegar (if safe for the surface) and scrub again before rinsing.
The more I have learned about cleaning, the more it has reinforced the importance of understanding the PH scale - what ingredients are acidic or basic. If acids and bases are combined prior to cleaning, they will react and neutralize each other (think of a baking soda & vinegar volcano experiment). This is why this recipe calls for baking soda and citric acid in powdered form; you can mix citric acid (an acid) with baking soda (a base) without the two reacting in the jar. Once its sprinkled on a surface with a little liquid, the two ingredients will react in the process of cleaning.
Common Scouring Powder Uses: Daily sink scrub
Glass stove top scrub Cleaning plastic cutting boards or stained plastic containers Bathroom sink, tub, shower and toilet
Tip 1: If cleaning the toilet, turn off the water (you do this by simply turning the knob on the water hose behind the toilet) and then flush the toilet until the water empties in the bowl. This allows the solution and vinegar to work at full strength to remove hard water stains.
Tip 2: I ordered these handy mason jar shaker lids to help distribute the scouring powder. They would exceptionally well and help reduce waste.
Tip 3: Washing soda can be added to this recipe if you wish (its a more alkaline version of baking soda), but because it doesn't dissolve as readily as baking soda I find it more difficult to form a paste. It is an excellent addition to pour into toilet water, or the laundry machine though!
Acknowledgements: I have seen a variety of baking soda scrub recipes over the past year, but I learned to add citric acid after reading Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins.
Happy cleaning!
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