Sodium carbonate is the first ingredient in a compound called trisodium phosphate, or more commonly TSP. Sodium carbonate easily dissolves in water, making it a good choice for a cleaning solution. This powder is white and has no scent. This alkaline compound will absorb moisture, so if you do use it for cleaning, make sure to keep it in a tightly sealed container. The principle way of getting sodium bicarbonate used to be through burning seaweed for the ashes, but now miners retrieve it from mines in the northern United States. Sodium Phosphate Sugar soap – that handy, ol’ cleaner that’s straight off the shelf of your garage – is so much more than just an old favourite for cleaning your walls. If you’re on a quest to use more natural products in your life, making your own cleaners is one of the first steps. Or maybe you simply don’t feel like running to the hardware store for a wall cleaner. While it often comes in powder form, commercial sugar soap also comes in liquid concentrate. Both powdered forms and liquid forms need to be diluted with water before using. While every manufacturer has different ingredients, most store-bought sugar soaps contain sodium hydroxide (lye) or phosphoric acid, along with other chemicals. Depending on how dirty your walls are, we’ve rounded up a few DIY wall cleaning solutions by strength:

Sugar Soap is available in powder or liquid form. It is a detergent that will clean the surface you intend to paint without leaving any residue. Another name for sodium silicate is water glass or liquid glass. Sodium silicate is the abrasive compound in sugar soap. This mild abrasive scrubs away some stains and hard-to-remove dirt. It comes in a liquid or a solid form. Use the powder form when making TSP, and add water to the complete three-part solution to make a strong cleaner for using in your for tougher projects, such as cleaning the walls before painting or cleaning a tub or sink before refinishing with an epoxy paint solution. Other uses for sodium silicate include cement making, lumber processing and in automobile manufacturing. What is the Difference Between Sugar Soap and Detergent? To clean the walls, mix a cup of washing soda with one litre of water and wipe the walls with a soft sponge or cloth. Tip: spot treat stubborn marks with undiluted sugar soap and a non-scratch scourer. Just remember to rinse the area afterwards to remove any residue and prevent discolouration.Dilution ratio: For a strong solution, use 1 cup of washing soda crystals to 2 cups (500 milliliters) of water. For a moderate solution, use ½ cup of washing soda crystals to 2 cups of water. When working with powdered sugar soap, you should also wear a dust mask so that you don’t breathe any of it in by accident. Sugar soap is a strong cleaner used to prep walls for painting, and remove tough stains or grease. It’s called sugar soap because when it comes in powdered form, it looks like granulated sugar, although it doesn’t actually contain any sugar. Next, rinse the surface well with fresh warm water to remove any leftover soap scum. Then you can dry it off with some paper towel or a lint-free cloth. Toxic irritant: As we mentioned earlier, TSP is a known irritant that can damage eyes and skin. It can also irritate your respiratory system which is why it’s important you work in a well-ventilated area. Protect yourself by wearing the appropriate safety gear such as gloves and long sleeves. If you have any young children or pets, using TSP may not be the best choice.

There’s always one or two stubborn wall stains that just make your life difficult. Here are a few natural cleaning solutions to try: When cleaning down walls, we’d recommend protecting your carpeted or wooden floors with a dust sheet to prevent any spillages that could leave marks. For reasons of hygiene and safety, personal grooming products, cosmetics or items of intimate clothing cannot be returned. Wash the walls with a non-abrasive sponge, paying particular attention to the stubborn grease stains. White vinegar can also wash off dust and gunk, but it may not be the most suitable solution for removing old smoke stains. 4. Soap Flakes If you have removed old wallpaper then there may well be old wallpaper paste residue left on the walls. If this is the case use sugar soap to scrub down the walls to get rid of it. Remember to rinse and leave to dry.Simply mix 1/8 of a cup of soap with 2 litres of water, then pour the solution into clean spray bottles so it’s ready when you need it. Unwanted Food or Drink Products - Once supply conditions are broken, there are a number of factors outside of our control that can affect the quality of a product. Therefore perishable goods such as food and drink cannot be returned. For stubborn stains in the bathroom or grease in the kitchen (sinks, bench tops, stoves) simply pour Liquid Sugar Soap directly onto a cloth or sponge.

For extra greasy areas such as in the kitchen, you can try soaking a cloth in pure, undiluted vinegar. Apply the vinegar cloth onto the greasy area for 10 minutes or so. Wipe clean. Repeat as needed. Tip: dining alfresco? this mild solution can also be used to remove dust and dirt from outdoor furniture. Just spray it onto the surface then wipe with a damp cloth and leave it to air dry.Sugar soap is also useful for cleaning bathrooms. For showers and tiles, you can use the same spray solution as above for ease.