Sodium percarbonate is an essential ally in household cleaning. With its bleaching, disinfecting and degreasing properties, this natural product can revolutionize your cleaning routine, leaving everything spotless and helping you save money.
If you already use homemade or natural cleaning products such as cleaning vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice or natural soap, you need to know about sodium percarbonate because it is a marvel for cleaning the house.
It is a chemical compound that has been known since the end of the 19th century and has become one of the main ingredients in ecological detergents, but you can use it pure as an ecological and economical alternative for cleaning the home.
This product, also known as sodium perborate, is not only effective for removing difficult stains, disinfecting surfaces and whitening clothes, but it also stands out for its respect for the environment.
What is sodium percarbonate?
Sodium percarbonate is a product of the reaction between sodium carbonate (soda) and hydrogen peroxide.
Therefore, it can be obtained from natural raw materials such as salt, water and chalk, which makes it an ecological and sustainable option.
When dissolved in water, sodium percarbonate breaks down into sodium carbonate, which acts as a natural surfactant (detergent), and hydrogen peroxide, which has bleaching and disinfecting properties.
This combination makes it ideal for a wide variety of cleaning tasks in the home.
Uses of sodium percarbonate in household cleaning
Percarbonate can be used for many things, but here we highlight its 6 most important uses when cleaning at home:
1. Laundry bleach
Sodium percarbonate is especially effective for keeping whites white and removing tough stains.
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons to the detergent drawer of your washing machine and you will see how your towels, sheets and white clothes regain their shine.
It is also useful for removing stains from tea, coffee, wine, grass or blood.
2. Disinfectant and deodorizer
Thanks to its disinfectant properties, sodium percarbonate is ideal for cleaning surfaces such as the refrigerator, the cat’s litter box or the bathrooms.
Mix 1 tablespoon in a bucket of hot water and use it to scrub and disinfect.
3. Mold removal
To remove mold from tile grout, make a paste by mixing sodium percarbonate with warm water.
Apply the paste to the grout, leave it to act for a few minutes and scrub with a brush. Then rinse with water.
4. Cleaning outdoor furniture
Sodium percarbonate is perfect for cleaning garden furniture, terraces and wooden fences.
Mix 1 part percarbonate with 10 parts warm water, apply the solution with a brush and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing.
5. Cleaning pots and kitchen utensils
If you have pots that are stained or have burnt food on them, sodium percarbonate can help.
Prepare a solution with hot water and percarbonate, submerge the utensils and leave them to stand before scrubbing.
Advantages of sodium percarbonate
- It is ecological and sustainable, because unlike many conventional cleaning products, sodium percarbonate does not contain chlorine, phosphates or other harmful chemicals. It is biodegradable and does not pollute rivers.
- It is cheap and versatile. It can be used to replace many commercial products. From clothes to the most difficult surfaces, sodium percarbonate is useful in almost any cleaning task.
- Although it is important to follow the precautions for use, sodium percarbonate is much safer and less aggressive than most formulas used at home.
Precautions for use
Although sodium percarbonate is safe and environmentally friendly, it is important to use it correctly:
- Do not mix it with acids, such as vinegar or lemon juice, as this can cause strong reactions.
- Wear gloves and protect your eyes when handling it.
- Store it in a cool, dry place and out of the reach of children.
- Do not use on aluminum surfaces, as it can be corrosive to this metal. Do not use on lacquered, waxed or painted surfaces either.
