AboutJan Hayner Expertise If you have questions regarding home organizing, house cleaning shortcuts, office organizing, files, record keeping, organizing your children, teaching your kids how to help you clean and making it fun, I will give you the advice of a Professional Organizer, mom of four and grandma of 8.
Working Smarter-Not Harder is a phrase I live by; taking the stress out of life so you have time for the fun things is my goal!
Experience I have been a Professional Organizer for 9 years, the mom of 4 and grandma of 8,I do work for clients in the home and the work place, and am considered an expert in my field of Organization.
Organizations Faithful Organizers, passed member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers), WIM (Women in Management),
Publications I have had work published all over the internet and various webzines and Newsletters. I am also a columnist on Mature Resources.org. and an Expert on all experts.com under Self Improvement/SelfHelp/Organizing Your Home and Workspace.
Education/Credentials I have taken various /classes on organizing on the interent, been taught by the best (other collegues in the field), and when I need to learn something, I find an expert in the field and learn from them. I am a research fanatic and enjoy learning everything that I can on a subject.
Question You recommend the use of baking soda as a cleaning agent. I had read that washing soda is also a good cleaning agent. Is it too caustic, and that is why you recommend the baking soda in dishwasher cleaner recipes?
Hi Eileen;
You are right that washing soda is also a good cleaning agent, but you have to be very careful with washing soda. It is a caustic, which means that it is a lot stronger than baking soda.
With strength comes negatives. This is the same thing that is used to rough up material when tie dying, it is used to eliminate the tough baked on grease in a oven and is used when you need an agent that eats at grease and grime, the problem is, that it never stops eating.
It is strong. Using baking soda will also eat at the grease and grime in clothes, but won't harm the fibers and will also work as a fabric softener.
If you aren't using the washing soda on cloth, it is an excellent cleaner, but, being that it is a caustic, you also have to be aware that it is strong enough to loosen varnish and remove some forms of paint on walls and cabinets. Using washing soda means caution at all times.
It can also dry out your skin relatively fast and I always wear gloves when using this. It is not on the list of green cleaning solvents.
The reason that I recommend baking soda is because it isn't a caustic. Just think if you would use it on your dishes and pots and pans and some didn't rinse off in the dishwasher. What harm could it do to your body? On the other hand, baking soda is used in baking and is totally safe.
Hope this helps to explain why I prefer baking soda,
Jan Hayner
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