Reply #12: From Haley's Hints, Kitchen & bathroom uses for Water Softener

[crikkett]

From Hayleys Hints, uses for Water Softener, summarized for DU!
(this is only one way to clean things, for example i've always used vinegar for the coffee maker)

DESCALE WATER KETTLE w/ 2 TB water softener (w.s.) and a full kettle of water. Boil for a few minutes, rinse, repeat as necc.

COFFEE MAKER - fill reservoir, add 2TB w.s., Run machine, Run again with plain water to rinse.

ELECTRIC COOKWARE THAT CAN'T BE IMMERSED IN WATER: fill half full with water, a little dish soap, cook at medium for 1/2 hr. add 2TB w.s. for stubborn dirt, don't let the water boil away.

ENAMEL BROILING PANS: cover bottom with 1/4 in. layer of water softener, place wet towel over the area, leave for several hours to loosen baked-on grease enough to wash it off w/o a lot of effort.

SIX-SECOND SILVER CLEANING (as described elsewhere in this thread) THE WARNING IN TINY PRINT IN THE VERY BACK OF THE BOOK READS:

"IMPORTANT: the silver-cleaning hint on pg. 38 refers to 'washing soda'. Do NOT use WASHING SODA CRYSTALS. They can react with the aluminum foil causing noxious fumes. Use powdered lime-scale remover (sometimes called water softener) sold for use in washing machines.

Geez, I wish somebody would just say what the chemical is.

Things you can clean by soaking in a solution of w.s. (2 Tablespoons!) and warm water:
THERMOS
TEA AND COFFEE STAINS ON CERAMIC/EVERYDAY DISHES
STAINS ON GLASS
BATHTUB RINGS

ACRYLIC BATH AND SHOWER STALLS, and
MOLDY SPOTS ON TILE/ACRYLIC SHOWER WALLS:
rub w/ solution of 1TB ammonia, 1TB white vinegar, 1TB w.s., 3/4 cu warm water. Rinse, buff.

Super-size that for TILE WALLS and TILE FLOORS:
1 cu ammonia, 1 cu vinegar, 1/2 cu water softener in bucket of warm water. Do NOT follow with a bleach cleaner.
(Note to 11th-graders everywhere: pay attention, because we use chemistry every day, all day long.)

RUBBER BATH MAT: soak 2 hrs in 1 cu. w.s. + 8 cu. water. Scour and rinse, repeat as necc.

One last tip that I can't resist:

1/2 cup of mouthwash to 2 qts warm water for tiled bathroom floors.

xo,
C