Sodium Carbonate (aka Washing Soda)
Soluble in water and very slightly soluble in alcohol. Pure sodium carbonate is a white, odourless powder that absorbs moisture from the air, has an alkaline taste, and forms a strongly alkaline water solution. It is one of the most basic industrial chemicals. Sodium carbonate decahydrate, Na2CO3·10H2O, is a colourless, transparent crystalline compound commonly called sal soda or washing soda.

Because seaweed ashes were an early source of sodium carbonate, it is often called soda ash or, simply, soda. The principal uses of sodium carbonate are in the manufacture of glass and the production of chemicals. It is also used in processing wood pulp to make paper, in making soaps and detergents, in refining aluminium, in water softening.

When you are ready to go online to search for these ‘green’ alternatives for cleaning, logon to OzFreeOnline.com, register and then search through the thousands of classifieds where you will find some of these alternative detergents and ‘green’ products.  Washing soda releases no harmful fumes and is far safer than a commercial solvent formula, but you should wear gloves when using it because it is caustic.

Washing soda cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax or lipstick, and neutralizes odours in the same way that baking soda does. Do not use it on fibreglass, aluminium or waxed floors—unless you intend to strip the floor of the wax.

White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
White vinegar and lemon juice are acidic—they neutralize alkaline substances such as scale from hard water. Acids dissolve gummy build-up, eat away tarnish, and remove dirt from wood surfaces.

Liquid Soap
Soaps are necessary for cutting grease. Soap is made from fats and lye and you can even have a go at making your own pure soap. I found a great site called greenlivingaustralia.com.au that has some easy soap making recipes. You will be surprised as I was because; I had all the ingredients at home.  If you have soft water, you can use liquid soap or laundry soap. Normally this soap is sold in a long bar which you can cut up or, sometimes in large square bars.

Detergent Liquid
Detergents are synthetic materials discovered and synthesized early in this century. Detergents are designed specifically so that they do not react with hard water minerals and cause soap scum. If you have hard water, buy a biodegradable detergent without perfume.