Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Dri-Pak!

We hope Father Christmas gets you everything you asked for this Christmas!

Keela recommends Liquid Soap Flakes!

Great news! Outdoor clothing experts Keela are so impressed with Liquid Soap Flakes and their ability to clean outdoor fabrics without affect waterproof coating, they now recommend Liquid Soap Flakes to clean Keela garments!

Modern washing powders and fabric conditioners are unsuitable for breathable, water-resistant outdoor clothing because the detergents in most modern laundry products affect the coating of the fabric. Liquid Soap Flakes however, are gentle enough to clean garments without affecting the properties of their coatings.

Dri-Pak are also providing Keela with bottles of Liquid Soap Flakes to give away to customers visiting the Keela stands at The Outdoors Show at London's Excel on 13th-16th January and at The Outdoor Leisure Show at Birmingham's NEC on 25-27th February, so get down there for your free bottle!

Christmas is on it's way!

Want to know how to make you Christmas tree extra festive this year? With the beautiful snow we've had as our inspiration, we flocked our artifical tree to look as through snow had fallen on the branches! Using four simple ingredients - Soap Flakes, laundry starch, blue food colouring and glitter we made our own winter wonderland Christmas tree, and you can too!

Check out our video here!

Christmas Kitchen Preparation

Preparing for the Christmas period may have you head spinning will all the things that need to be organised, but a bit of preparation before the mayhem begins may make the difference between a hectic or a relaxing Boxing Day! Luckily we have some kitchen cleaning advice so you can get your kitchen Christmas-ready in no time!

All you need are these four traditional products to make sure the kitchen is spotless and ready for the holiday season:

■Soda Crystals/Liquid Soda Crystals
■White vinegar
■Bicarbonate of soda
■Liquid Soap Flakes



Start with the fridge. You’re going to need a lot of spare room for all those leftovers and Christmas tipples, so either eat up or throw out anything you’re not going to eat over the holiday period. If you’ve still got lots of ‘bits’ why not invite a few friends or family over for a get together and make some nibbles out of the surplus. Don’t forget to compost any old leftover fruit and vegetables. Once you’ve emptied as much as you can from the fridge, take out removable shelves and draws and wipe them down with a 50/50 solution of White Vinegar and water, then do the same with the inside of the fridge. For any very dirty areas spray with a regular Soda Crystal solution, leave for a few minutes then wipe. To ensure your fridge smells clean throughout the festive period place a small dish of Bicarbonate of Soda on a shelf to absorb any odours.

Next, the appliance that’s going to be the most valuable during the festivities - the dishwasher! To clean the inside, stop any odours and help clear any limescale build up, pour 4 cups of White Vinegar into the bottom of the empty dishwasher and run a cycle. You may also want to carry on using the White Vinegar in the rinse compartment of the dishwasher for regular use - it gets rid of any water marks left on glasses with ease!

Now for the dreaded oven! If you can’t stand the smell of harsh chemical oven cleaners then give this a go! To start, turn off the electricity or gas supply to the oven for safety, then take out all of the shelves and soak them in a strong, hot Soda Crystal solution. Leave them to soak whilst you tackle the inside of the oven. You can either mix a strong, hot Soda Crystals solution or use Liquid Soda Crystals in a handy trigger spray bottle and spray the whole inside of the oven. Then simply close the door and leave for half an hour to an hour. Once you come back, most of the greasy burnt on food will easily come off using a scourer. Simply repeat the process on any stubborn areas. In the mean time scrub the oven shelves, rinse and dry.

It makes sense to take on the cooker hood whilst you wait. A quick spray and wipe with white vinegar will remove any smears or water marks of the stainless steel outer, whilst the removable filter can be soaked in a strong, hot soda crystals solution. The filter can simply be rinsed and left to dry.

With all the washing that is going to be needed, a broken down washing machine during the Christmas period could spell disaster. To eliminate smells, scum, detergent and grime from your washing machine add half a bag of Soda Crystals, split between the detergent drawer and the drum and run the machine empty on a 60 degree cycle. If you live in a particularly hard water area, repeat this process using 500ml of White Vinegar to remove limescale build up and complete the cleaning process. Not only will Soda Crystals and White Vinegar eradicate bad smells in your washing machine, they will not damage the environment and will lower the power consumption of the machine by descaling the heating element. You could even substitute your regular fabric conditioner for White Vinegar in regular washes, to ensure the limescale doesn’t build up and your clothes feel great (don’t worry, you won’t smell like a fish and chip shop – the vinegar smell dissipates before you empty the machine!).

Now the washing machine is ready you can wash any delicate clothes, napkins or table cloths using Liquid Soap Flakes. Liquid Soap Flakes contain only pure soap with no added perfumes or fragrances, making them a great choice for those with sensitive skin. They are ideal for washing delicate fabrics and no residue is left on fabrics or in the detergent drawer making for simple, gentle cleaning power.

If the sink is also a bit smelly or drains slowly, try pouring half a bag of Soda Crystals down the drain and slush down with some boiling water. The Soda Crystals help to dissolve the grease and deodorise at the same time.

Wipe down the kitchen surfaces with a 50/50 solution of White Vinegar and water to remove grease and kill germs.

Finally give the floor a good clean. Clear out any furniture and rugs then vacuum or sweep up any dirt. If you have wood or laminate floor add Liquid Soap Flakes to hot water and use a mop to clean the floor. If you have vinyl floor, add 8 cups of White Vinegar to a bucket of water and mop as normal.

So now you’re ready for the festive fun to begin – bring on Christmas mayhem!

Soda Crystals solution strengths – dissolve in hot water before using:

Mild - One tablespoon to one pint (500ml) of water
Regular - Half a cup to one pint (500ml) of water
Strong - One cup to one pint (500ml) of water

NB Do not use Soda Crystals on aluminium items

Cut out the hassle when it comes to ironing!

If you find your iron sometimes leaves marks on your freshly washed clothes you’ll know what a pain it can be! The marks are most likely mineral deposits and limescale being left in the reservoir of the iron. If limescale is a particular issue in your area then you’ll no doubt have encountered problems it can cause in other appliances around the home! There’s nothing worse than having to put your clean clothes back into the washing machine, but how do you clean the inside of an iron?!

White Vinegar is the best way to clean the inside of the appliance - it’s also a natural product as well an economical one! To clean your iron, empty the reservoir from old water as best you can and fill the reservoir a third full with White Vinegar. Switch the iron onto the steam setting and iron an old cloth until all the white vinegar has been used. Switch off the iron and leave to cool. Repeat the process with clean water to flush out any remaining vinegar in the reservoir. Make sure you empty the reservoir of water every time you finish with the iron to reduce future deposits forming inside the appliance.

The new Soda Crystals Laundry Boost ad????

We're not sure which budding Ridley Scott did this...but keep up the good work!

Keep vintage clothing as good as new!

We love our vintage clothes! Eco-friendly and long lasting, frankly we think classic vintage clothes never go out of fashion! From the graphic lines and mini-skirts of the swinging 60s, to the silk stockings and ever-changing skirt hemlines of the 40s, even the most modern, cutting edge designers draw inspiration from the fashion of past eras.

Check out the fantastic vintage clothes section on Oxfam's website for some real retro gems - you'll feel even better knowing that your cash is going to a great cause.

Original vintage clothes not only look great, they carry with them a charm and a sense of history. However, vintage clothing needs very gentle washing if it is to be preserved properly. Many modern detergents are unsuitable for the fragile natural materials because they are simply too harsh and will cause damage to the weakened fibres.

Want to know a well kept secret amongst people who restore and preserve vintage clothing? They use Soap Flakes! It makes sense - when many of today’s vintage clothes were the newest fashion hot off the rails (or even someone’s sewing machine!) they would have most likely been washed with Soap Flakes. Soap Flakes did a great job of cleaning the garment without destroying the delicate fibres – which is probably why the clothes look just as great today as they did when they were brand new!

Now Dri-pak have launched Liquid Soap Flakes – with all the great benefits of regular soap flakes but in a liquid! Not only are Liquid Soap Flakes fantastic for delicate washing, they can even be used easily at cooler temperatures, meaning vintage clothing will be effectively cleaned without further risk from heated water. They can also be used on modern items of clothing, whenever delicate cleaning is required.

Liquid Soap Flakes are available in a 750ml bottle retailing at £2.99 and are available from Tesco, Waitrose and through the Dri-Pak website: www.dri-pak.co.uk

WIN a bottle of Liquid Soap Flakes

Outdoor enthusiasts will be delighted to know that you can win a 750ml of Liquid Soap Flakes, ideal for washing outdoor clothing, in the latest edition of Outdoor Enthusiast! Check out www.oe-mag.com



Don't forget you can buy Liquid Soap Flakes from the laundry aisles of your local Tesco and Waitrose!

Great news!

Liquid Soap Flakes have had a swanky new packaging design and are now available to buy at Tesco (and will soon be available at Waitrose too)!

Liquid Soap Flakes are brilliant for gentle washing and cleaning because they’re just pure soap! Perfect for those of us with sensitive skin because they contain no added perfumes or fragrances.

They are also veggie & vegan friendly because they do not contain any animal products and have not been tested on animals. Dri-Pak are also doing their bit to look for sustainable ingredients in their products, for instance Liquid Soap Flakes also do not contain palm oil - the vegetable origin of the soap uses rapeseed and sunflower oil. Not only that, but Liquid Soap Flakes can be used at cool wash temperatures, requiring less energy per wash, so you can do your bit for the environment as well!

They are great for washing breathable outdoor fabrics as the mild cleaning does not destroy waterproof coatings that other detergent cleaners can damage. Liquid Soap Flakes are also suitable for cleaning delicate fabrics including wool, lace, silk and can even clean leather furniture, wooden and laminate floors, as well as tiles (including natural stone).

So hop down to Tesco for your bottle and give them a go!

The perfect cuppa!

We don't know about you, but we think a rich, tasty cup of coffee in the morning is the only way to start the day! Our hard-working coffee machine does a great job, but when it came to cleaning it, we were a little stumped. We thought we'd give Citric Acid a try because the natural plant-based acid is a great cleaner and descaler.

To use the Citric Acid we removed the filter and added two tablespoons of the granules dissolved in cold water to the machine. Then we switched on the machine and let half of the solution filter through, then switched it off for about half an hour to let the Citric Acid work on all the internal parts of the machine. Then we let the rest of the solution filter through, before running it though another couple of times with fresh, clean water.

Our morning cuppa tastes better than ever!

The dreaded task - oven cleaning!

There's no cleaning job we hate more than cleaning the oven! Greasy, baked on food can be a nightmare to shift, and a lot of the commercial cleaning products on the market use really harsh chemicals that have a list of safety precautions as long as your arm! Of course, we know that soda crystals dissolve grease excellently, and that the ingredients that make up soda crystals are far better for us and the environment, but do they do the job as well?

We sprayed liquid soda crystals all over the inside of the oven and left it for a good hour or so. When we came back a lot of the nastiness wiped off easily, and the bits that didn't just reuired another squirt and a bit of scrubbing with a scourer - and hey presto - a sparkling oven, you could eat your dinner off - or at least cook your dinner in!

It's still a nasty cleaning job, but using liquid soda crystals did made the process slightly less unpleasant. For starters we didn't have to wear industrial boiler suits, goggles and gas masks just to get a clean oven - give it a try!

Queen of Clean!

We were thrilled when we heard that Helen Simpson from Hipswell, North Yorkshire had won the title 'Queen of Clean', for her cleaning fantastic tips (including using White Vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda to clean tiles!). Well done Helen!

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/831339-woman-who-spent-quarter-of-her-life-cleaning-crowned-queen-of-clean

Kids Fun Page!

Want to know how to make a rocket fly? Or even how to make an exploding volcano? Check out our Kids Fun Page for some brilliant kids activities to do this Bank Holiday weekend!

Spring Clean for your Washing Machine!

Do you ever open the door to your washing machine expecting the smell of freshly washed clothes but are instead met by the smell of mould and damp? Smelly washing machines are not only unpleasant but they can also transfer bad smells to clothes, meaning they would have to be rewashed wasting valuable time and money. But fear not, as there is a easy, inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to eliminate bad smells from your machine; traditional Soda Crystals, Citric Acid and White Vinegar!

Washing machines omitting bad odours are often the result of a build up of bacteria, normally resulting from using cooler wash temperatures and gentler washing powders. And hot summer weather will only make it worse, causing bacteria to grow more easily.

To eliminate smells, scum, detergent and grime from your machine simply add half a bag of soda crystals, split between the detergent drawer and the drum and run the machine empty on a 60 degree cycle, or higher if there is a significant smell. If you are in a hard water area, it is recommended to repeat this process using either 500ml of White Vinegar or a packet of citric acid to remove limescale build up and complete the cleaning process.

Not only will Soda Crystals, White Vinegar and Citric Acid eradicate bad smells in your washing machine, they will not damage the environment and lower the power consumption of the machine by descaling the element.

Spring Clean for Outdoors!

The unpredictable British summer is fast approaching, which means many of us will be venturing outside for a spot of alfresco dining when the sun finally appears. However, after being stored in the shed over the winter months, stubborn stains, mould and dirt are likely to have accumulated on your patio furniture and barbeque. Removing them needn’t be a long and difficult task, with the use of an old cleaning favourite – Soda Crystals!

Soda Crystals are available in solid and liquid formats from Dri-Pak. To remove old dirt and grime from plastic patio furniture, simply with spray Liquid Soda Crystals or apply a diluted Soda Crystals solution to the affected area, and leave to work on the dirt and grime for half an hour. Then wipe away with a clean cloth and water. This will effectively remove any lingering stains without excessive elbow grease. Please note, although Soda Crystals contain no enzymes, bleach or phosphates, it is recommended to use rubber gloves when cleaning with them to ensure skin is not irritated by prolonged exposure.

Why not save time and clean your Barbeque as well? The most effective method of cleaning a dirty grill would be to add Soda Crystals to a large bowl with hot water and leave to soak for half an hour before washing in the usual manner with a cloth. If your grill is too large to fit in you washing up bowl, the alternative is to simply spray both sides of the grill with liquid Soda Crystals, leave for 10 minutes and then wash away with hot water and a wet cloth. Whichever method you use, remember to rinse the grill thoroughly so that there is no residue to stick to the food the next time. Remember to do this every time the BBQ has been used, and there will be no need to hang around cleaning it the when the next sunny day arrives

Soda Crystals and Liquid Soda Crystals are very economical and are available from supermarkets and independent stores.

Earth Day 2010

Today is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day!

Earth Day was set up to raise awareness about environmental issues, and to encourage appreciation for the many things nature provides for us that we often take for granted.

Many of us already try to take steps to reduce our impact on the environment, but perhaps today we could all spend a little extra time thinking of ways to cut back on the damage we cause. From little things - like remembering to take those reusable bags you often forget to take to the supermarket with you, to knowing your election candidate’s environmental policies, all make a difference. We all have a personal responsibility to do what we can to keep our planet from harm.

Dri-Pak products do not contain harmful chemicals, enzymes or phosphates. The natural ingredients are biodegradable and so do as little damage to the environment as possible, so when we say they don't cost the earth - we're not just talking about the price.

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Soap Flakes for a Successful Scent Free Hunting

Everyone knows that when you're hunting game it is important to be camouflaged from your prey. But what many people do not relaise is that for many animals their sense of smell is they main defence against predators. So if you are hunting, what is the point of wearing camouflage if animals can smell you coming?!

To eliminate odours from hunting gear, simply hand wash clothes in a warm Soap Flakes solution and rinse thoroughly with clean water. Wring out excess water and dry on a line outside. Soap Flakes are also suitable for cleaning and eliminating odours from outdoor wear, boots and equipment. After washing, place clothes and equipment in airtight containers or bags to prevent household smells permeating them.

Hopefully this will make you that little bit more successful when on the hunt!

Banish Unsightly Moss For Summer!

As the weather starts to improve, more and more of us are venturing out into our gardens to start preparing them for summer. Many of us will discover that moss has taken hold of paths, patios and driveways, not only making them unsightly, but very slippery aswell!

To remove moss, sprinkle with Soda Crystals and use a watering can or hose to dampen. Leave for a day or so until the moss has turned brown, and then brush away with a firm brush. A very simple way to give your paths and patios a spring clean!

A Spring Clean for your Car Interior

It finally seems like we may be bidding farewell to the snow and heading for a mild and pleasant spring. But many of you car owners out there may still be seing evidence of the snowy season tramped into their car carpets and upholstery, which can be extremely difficult to remove.

To remove quickly and easily, mix up a soution of equal parts warm water and white vinegar and spray onto affected areas. Then gently rub with a soft clean cloth, and repeat process until the stain is gone.

And there you go, how you can give your car interiors a clean for spring!

Securing an acid spill

Every company knows that when dealing with substances hazardous to health, it is essential to have control measures in place to deal with every eventuality. This is no more essential than in the case of companies’ dealing with battery acid, and as such, many companies have traditionally held a stock pile of Soda Ash in case of a spill. However, Soda Crystals, also know as Washing Soda, are fast becoming a favoured choice of neutralizing acid for companies dealing with small amounts of acid, as they are readily available, cost effective and safe to store.

"Soda Crystals have an alkaline PH, and as such are ideal for neutralizing acid. Smaller companies are reaping the benefits of replacing Soda Ash with Soda Crystals. As well as being readily available from hardware stores and wholesalers, they are extremely cost effective and easy to use," says Bruce Maxwell, Managing Director of Dri-Pak. "Unlike Soda Ash, Soda Crystals are soluble in cold water, meaning they are easy to clear away after a spill without leaving a residue."

In the case of a spill involving battery acid, generously cover the infected area with Soda Crystals and allow to absorb. Once the acid has been neutralized, safely dispose of the waste and rinse the area with cold water.

For larger spills, it is recommended by the Health and Safety Executive that acid be contained using a non-combustible, absorbent material such as sand or earth to prevent the hazardous acid spreading to other areas before treating.

Turn Bath Time into Play Time with Whipped Bath Paints

For many families, bath time can turn into an all out war between parent and child, with kids doing everything possible to avoid having a wash. But the key to getting kids in the bath voluntarily is simple, make bath time fun with whipped bath paints! Homemade bath paints are not only cheap and easy to make, but kids will love the colours and foamy texture, and they'll be washing at the same time because the paints are made from Soap Flakes!

To make bath paints, simply add 100ml of water to 50 grams of Soap Flakes, and whisk until the mixture has the consistency of beaten egg whites. Spoon the mixture into plastic cups and add food colouring as desired. Then let your little angels get to work on the side of the bath!

Note:

After using whipped bath paints it is recommended to clean your bath with White Vinegar to remove any colour residue. Any acidic cleaners should be used with caution on vitreous enamel surfaces.