Cleaning with Vinegar

[SurelyYouNest]

Baking soda paste:

You'll want to get the largest size baking soda you can find (ie safeway, costco) as you will use a lot. I just cover the pan with baking soda about 1/4 inch thick. You then mist with water. It should be like toothpaste consistency. This is what I use routinely (I let it sit for a couple hours or overnight, if I have a horribly baked on pan I loosen what I can and then set this paste in it overnight).

Calcium deposits/mold:

These might work, they are from Annie Berthold Bond's Better Basics (a book I love and reference often) --

Mildew-Removing Soft Scrubber: Borax + Enough liquid soap/detergent to make a paste. She says to add tea tree oil, I would not for reasons I outlined above. Also, borax is harsh stuff, not something I would want around my kids.

or Tub Stain Remover: 1 tablespoon cream of tartar (an acid, has been used for years to remove rust stains from porcelain) and enough 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (natural bleach) to make a paste

or -- I looked up mold in Better Basics and she really urges tea tree oil -- as an alternative, though, she offers up citrus seed extract (25 drops to 1 cup water) or hydrogen peroxide (1/2 cup hp to one cup water).

Hope one of those works.

ps I have gotten cream of tartar in the spice section of safeway and borax is in the laundry section there. the citrus seed extract probably at a health food store, they have essential oil sections.

[Anonymous]

Vinegar removes almost all (98%?) bacteria and pesticides from fruits and veggies as well. I soak anything non-organic in diluted vinegar before putting in the fruit drawer.