Baking Soda and Washing Soda sound similar but they are definitely not the same product. Both can be used to clean laundry, both can be used for household cleaning, but one can damage skin and the other can be eaten. Learn the difference between washing soda and baking soda PLUS find out their best cleaning uses.
Full Answer
Can I use baking soda instead of washing soda in laundry?
If the homemade solution calls for baking soda, then stick with using baking soda. It would not be good to substitute washing soda. On the flip side, if a recipe calls for washing soda, you can substitute baking soda. Just remember it won’t hold up as well in laundry solutions.
What does washing soda do to your laundry?
Adding washing soda to water creates a basic solution, and because of this, it’s really useful as both a laundry booster and cleaning agent. Basic solutions work to break down acidic, fatty, and oily substances, like the ones that lead to food stains and greasy messes.
What is the difference between baking soda and wash soda?
Washing soda, also known as soda ash, is chemically known as sodium carbonate with the chemical equation Na2CO3. Originally, washing soda was extracted from the ashes of sodium rich plants which is how it got the name soda ash. While baking soda is widely known as a leavening agent, washing soda is mainly a laundry booster.
What is the chemical name of washing soda?
Washing soda (sometimes called “soda ash”) is the common name for sodium carbonate, a naturally occurring compound with the chemical formula Na2CO3. With a pH of 11, washing soda is considered highly alkaline, similar to household ammonia and soapy water.
Which is better for laundry baking soda or washing soda?
Most of the substances that soil our homes and laundry are acidic when measured on the pH scale, so alkaline cleaners usually have the best results. Washing Soda and Baking Soda are both alkaline (basic). Baking soda has a more neutral pH of 8. Washing soda is more alkaline with a pH of 11.
Is washing soda the same as laundry detergent?
Washing soda is a chemical compound that can be used to remove stubborn stains from laundry and is an essential component in most homemade laundry detergent for powder, liquid, or single pod formulas. It is often used in commercial detergent mixtures as well to treat hard water.
What is the difference between soda and washing soda?
Summary – Baking Soda vs Washing Soda Both baking soda and washing soda are salts of sodium. These are useful in different applications. The key difference between baking soda and washing soda is that baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, whereas washing soda is sodium carbonate.
Where do you find washing soda?
The best places to look are in the laundry detergent aisle at the grocery store or in big-box stores, hardware or home improvement stores, international grocery stores, and pool supply stores. And if you still aren't able to find it locally, you can buy it from Amazon. Washing soda is often sold in a large yellow box.
Can I use baking soda instead of washing soda to strip laundry?
Theoretically, Richardson says, using a couple of cups of baking soda in a load of laundry is an effective way to remove the buildup on your clothes and towels. To prevent the need for stripping altogether, skip the fabric softener and dryer sheets, which only coat the material and make it less absorbent.
What is the common name of washing soda?
sodium carbonateThe common name of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is washing soda.
What can I substitute for washing soda?
Now you can go make these non-toxic household cleaners without worrying about where to score your next box of washing soda:Liquid Laundry Soap.Powdered Laundry Soap.Dishwasher Soap Powder.Liquid Dish Soap.
Is OxiClean the same as washing soda?
I was surprised to discover that OxiClean does not contain magical, stain-removing fairy dust. What it does contain is a powdered version of hydrogen peroxide and good, old-fashioned washing soda. This combination is also known and referred to as Oxygen Bleach. (To differentiate it from chlorine bleach.)
Is borax the same as washing soda?
Borax. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) has a very high pH level, making it an extreme alkaline compound that is very effective as a cleaning agent. Borax (sodium tetraborate) pH levels aren't as high as washing soda, and it doesn't have the same cleaning power as washing soda.
What are brand names of washing soda?
Read more.Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda is a go-to in many households. ... Earthborn Elements Washing Soda. ... Pure Organic Ingredients Washing Soda. ... Sky High Suds All Natural Washing Soda.
Why is washing soda so hard to find?
Washing soda can be harder to find. It is sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) which is a little different from sodium bicarbonate, which we all know as baking soda. Washing soda is also known as soda ash.
Is 20 Mule Team Borax washing soda?
20 Mule Team Borax bills itself as a “detergent booster.” It's not effective as a laundry detergent by itself, but since borax is alkaline, it increases the pH of the wash water.
What is washing soda?
Washing soda is a white-ish powder with larger granules that can be seen and felt. Washing soda granules dissolve slowly in water and will leave a white residue if not well rinsed. It makes a more abrasive cleaner that can scratch delicate surfaces but cleans well.
What is the pH of laundry water?
Household water has a pH range of 7 to 8.5. Optimal water pH for laundry is around 10. The pH of water can be raised with washing soda or baking soda. However, using too much washing soda can fade or weaken fabrics.
What is the best way to clean a shower?
Choose washing soda when cleaning: Sturdy surfaces or fabrics that are easy to rise (bathtub, shower door). The washing soda will clean without damaging the item and can be washed away easily. Choose baking soda when cleaning: Sturdy surfaces that are hard to rinse (oven floor or floor grout).
Can baking soda be mixed with vinegar?
Baking soda and washing soda should NEVER be mixed with acidic cleaning ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar. The bubbling reaction when the ingredients are combined is the acid neutralizing the power of the alkaline cleaner. Alkaline cleaners need to attack acidic household soils to work well.
Does washing soda help with stains?
The high alkalinity of washing soda helps remove grease and stains. It can also balance the pH level of water to enhance detergent’s effectiveness. Because washing soda is highly alkaline, too much washing soda can damage surfaces, fade colors, and eat away at fabric/surfaces over time.
Is baking soda a mineral?
Washing soda and baking soda are both natural substances made from a mineral called trona . Processing trona produces sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Both are white crystalline powders. Baking soda is a pure white powder with fine, dusty granules that cannot be felt. Baking soda granules are easy to dissolve in water and rinse clean.
Is washing soda edible?
Washing soda or soda ash are common names for Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3). Washing soda is a caustic base (able to burn, destroy, or damage organic tissue slowly by chemical action). It is not edible, should not be inhaled, and can damage eyes (flush the exposed areas with large quantities of water).
What Does Baking Soda Do?
Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate, a naturally occurring compound with the chemical formula NaHCO3. (If you’re like me and struggled in high school chemistry, don’t worry—I’m only including this information to help illustrate the differences in their structures, and you will not be quizzed on them at the end of this post.)
What Does Washing Soda Do?
Washing soda (sometimes called “soda ash”) is the common name for sodium carbonate, a naturally occurring compound with the chemical formula Na2CO3. With a pH of 11, washing soda is considered highly alkaline, similar to household ammonia and soapy water.
What Does Borax Do?
Borax is the common name for sodium tetraborate, a naturally occurring mineral with the chemical formula Na2B4O7⋅10H2O. Borax has a pH of 9.5, placing it roughly halfway between baking soda and washing soda on the pH scale.
What is the difference between baking soda and washing soda?
While baking soda is widely known as a leavening agent, washing soda is mainly a laundry booster.
What is the chemical name for baking soda?
Baking soda is a salt chemically known as sodium bicarbonate with the chemical equation NaHC0 3. When baking soda reacts with an acid, carbon dioxide is released. This is why it was originally used as a leavening agent in 1846 according to the Smithsonian Magazine.
How long does baking soda last?
According to Arm and Hammer, baking soda has a shelf life of 3 years. The topics above are going to be the most important things to know about baking soda in home use. It is a versatile, safe, and cheap product to keep in your house.
Can you make washing soda at home?
Since baking soda and washing soda have similar chemical equations, there is a way to make washing soda at home. Keep in mind, it might not have the freshness and results the highly pure store-bought version from Arm & Hammer. I have used this method from Science Notes:
Can you use washing soda in laundry?
The main way to use washing soda is for laundry. With the properties of water softening and boosting, it is really an awesome tool to have at home. It is also found in many store-bought laundry detergents and cleaners. From our eBook, a popular tip in the laundry section is how to boost dirty laundry.
Is baking soda a leavening agent?
The point is, baking soda is most widely known as a leavening agent. I love this article from ACS publications mentioning that an article from 1927 talked about baking soda preventing the common cold. Over the years, we have discovered more information on baking soda. It has many chemical qualities!
Can you store washing soda in airtight containers?
Keeping it in an air-tight container is important, but each time you open it, the air will get in. So, don’t make a really large batch. Just enough to do a few things with at a time.
Why is borax used in laundry?
Borax has been used for thousands of years to help launder clothes and clean surfaces because it also softens water in the same way washing soda does. However, the molecules in borax are much less “sharp” so they dissolve in water more easily change the composition of the molecule itself. Key Uses.
Is washing soda bad for your skin?
However, because of the high pH level, washing soda is quite caustic and should never be touched with bare skin. Borax on the other hand has a slightly different chemical composition of sodium tetraborate or Na2B4O7.
Is washing soda a natural mineral?
As time goes on, more and more people are turning to simple powdered solutions in order to supplant the less natural detergent options. Washing Soda and Borax are examples of all-natural minerals that have a wide variety of home care uses.
Is borax the same as washing soda?
Though borax and washing soda are chemically quite similar, they each have their own specialties. Because of the shape of their molecules, they have slightly different properties that make them useful in a number of different ways. Further Reading. Borax vs. Baking Soda.
What is Washing Soda?
Simply put, washing soda is a naturally occurring chemical compound that comes from the ashes of plants grown in sodium-rich soils. Also known as soda ash or washing crystals, this grainy powder can help tackle several of your household cleaning issues.
What is Baking Soda?
Most people think immediately of baking soda as something to be used when making cookies, cakes, and other baked goods. And while those are great (and delicious) uses, this fine powder has several other household applications.
Make Your Own Washing Soda
Baking soda can become washing soda with a little bit of patience and a whole lot of heat. (Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay - Mike Gattorna)
