BUCKHORN CLIFFS

Compounds and Cleaning · Formula · Book recipe 9.8

Alkaline cleaning paste (borax, baking soda, washing soda)

Baking soda is one of the gentlest abrasives available: hard enough to scour stuck-on food and grease, but soft enough that it will not scratch most kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

Member articleHazardousWorks without power

How it works

Mix paste
Apply & scrub
Lifts residue
Clean surface

Inside this article

What you'll need
Steps
Warnings
Storage and shelf life

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  • The method at a glance: mix paste, then apply & scrub, then lifts residue, then clean surface
  • The exact numbers: everyday, heavy duty, dwell, grout, test
  • The full materials list (4 items, with grades and substitutes)
  • The 3-step method, with every measurement in the step
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  • Storage and shelf life for the raw compound and the finished mix
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Prefer paper? This is Recipe 9.8, page 48, in Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide.

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

How do I make a heavy duty cleaning paste?

Combining baking soda with borax and washing soda makes a much stronger alkaline paste that cuts baked-on grease, soap scum and grout grime. Contact time does most of the work, more than hard scrubbing.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

What's the recipe for a borax and washing soda cleaner?

Borax and washing soda boost baking soda into a strongly alkaline scouring paste, far stronger than baking soda alone. Wear gloves with it and test delicate finishes in a hidden spot first.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

Can I use washing soda paste on aluminum?

No. Washing soda corrodes aluminum, so keep the paste away from it, along with natural stone and unfinished wood.

Members get the exact amounts and every step.

How long does a dry borax cleaning mix last?

Kept dry and sealed, the powders last indefinitely. The paste itself should be mixed fresh each time, since a damp mix hardens in storage.

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Keep going

Read nextBaking SodaThe most versatile powder in the book: antacid, cleaner, deodorizer, leavening, fire suppressant, and the raw material for stronger washing soda.Compounds and Cleaning · Compound

Related to this

Compounds and Cleaning · Formula Hot degrease soak with washing soda Washing soda is far more alkaline than baking soda, around pH 11 versus 8.3, which gives it the strength to dissolve baked-on grease, carbonized food residue, and oil films that milder cleaners cannot touch. Hazardous Hygiene and Sanitation · Formula Baking soda surface cleaner and scrub Cleaning paste: 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water Hygiene and Sanitation · Formula Shelf-stable laundry powder (baking soda, borax, washing soda) Base: soda + borax + soda ash; Plus: grated bar soap; Machine: 2-3 tbsp / load Hazardous Compounds and Cleaning · Compound Borax Shelf life: Indefinite. Storage: Sealed plastic or glass. INDEFINITEMULTI-USEHandle with care
Everything in Compounds and CleaningNever-mix checkerShelf life tableFind a recipe by needWalk-around auditStart here

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Compounds and Cleaning · FormulaSource: Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide, Recipe 9.8, p. 48 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

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