Washing soda vs. baking soda

[Guest guest]

Delurking to ask if there is a difference between washing soda and baking soda?

Can the 2 be switched?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

No. Although they're made by the same company (A & H) they are two different

animals. Washing soda is fairly caustic (requires gloves while using).

Virginia in Milwakee

-----Original Message-----

Delurking to ask if there is a difference between washing soda and baking

soda? Can the 2 be switched?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

> Delurking to ask if there is a difference between washing soda and baking

> soda? Can the 2 be switched?

No their PH values are quite different and baking soda would never work

its just too mild. Baking soda is used in some indigestion remedies

Where as washing soda is used in some paint strippers and drain

cleaners, it is commonly known here as caustic soda, one thing to keep

in mind should you ever accidently get splashed with a washing soda

solution vinegar will help neutralise it.

Regards

bevione@...

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure that Caustic Soda and Washing Soda are the same. I may

be wrong but sometimes my lye is labeled Caustic Soda Beads. I just

ordered washing soda from the chemical store so I hope I haven't

ordered lye. We don't have Washing Soda in the laundry department or

anywhere else I can find it here but my understanding is that in

other parts of the country that is where it is kept. Your

description sounds more like a liquid (name skips me at the moment)

used to clean concrete. It is indeed bad stuff.

Anne

http://www.annelees.com/supplies/soapmolds.html

[Guest guest]

Washing Soda and Caustic Soda are NOT the same thing. You didn't order lye.

E. Chapman

Storm n Rose Creations

Bath and Body Products and Custom Candles from

" The Land of Ah's "

stormnrose@...

[Guest guest]

I know that Arm and Hammer makes a detergent that they sell for laundry, but

I have not seen the Washing Soda.

Link

Granny's Candle & Soap Factory

http://www.grannyscandleandsoapfactory.com

[Guest guest]

Caustic Soda is lye. So Washing Soda is lye, also?

CJ

>> Delurking to ask if there is a difference between washing soda and baking

>> soda? Can the 2 be switched?

>No their PH values are quite different and baking soda would never work

>its just too mild. Baking soda is used in some indigestion remedies

>Where as washing soda is used in some paint strippers and drain

>cleaners, it is commonly known here as caustic soda, one thing to keep

>in mind should you ever accidently get splashed with a washing soda

>solution vinegar will help neutralise it.

[Guest guest]

It comes in a big yellow box that looks like a big baking soda box. It's

usually in the laundry section but not all stores carry it.

Virginia

-----Original Message-----

I know that Arm and Hammer makes a detergent that they sell for laundry, but

I have not seen the Washing Soda.

Link

Granny's Candle & Soap Factory

http://www.grannyscandleandsoapfactory.com

[Guest guest]

> I'm not sure that Caustic Soda and Washing Soda are the same. I may

> be wrong but sometimes my lye is labeled Caustic Soda Beads. I just

> ordered washing soda from the chemical store so I hope I haven't

> ordered lye. We don't have Washing Soda in the laundry department or

> anywhere else I can find it here but my understanding is that in

> other parts of the country that is where it is kept. Your

> description sounds more like a liquid (name skips me at the moment)

> used to clean concrete. It is indeed bad stuff.

Thank you yes I stand to be corrected <g>

Lye is normally Potassium hydroxide but is sometimes substituted with

Sodium hydroxide which is also known as caustic soda

Washing soda is a crystalline decahydrate( Na²CO³.IOH²O) but you can

substitute sodium carbonate(Na²CO³) also called sal soda.

Sodium carbonate is used in the manufacture of baking soda, also known

as Bicarbonate of soda but it has a hydrogen atom in its chain ( NaHCO³)

also sometimes sold as sodium hydrogencarbonate. In all honesty I have

been out of laboratory work for so darn long but no I would not

substitute bicarb for washing soda their PH values will be diffrent.

Regards

bevione@...

[Guest guest]

Sorry I took so long to respond, I've been a bit ill. Anyway, thank you,

Virginia, , a,and Anne for the information. I have a few recipes

for laundry soap that call for wash soda, but it is a bit hard to find. I did

finally get it, though. My son was just diagnosed with asthma this year, so I

have gotten rid of all household chemicals and cleaning products, and now I make

my own. Laundry soap was the last thing to go, because it was the hardest to

find stuff for. I just wondered if in a pinch baking soda could be used instead

of the wash soda, but I guess it wouldn't be strong enough. The box of wash

soda doesn't really give you much info.

Thank you again!!

RE: Washing soda vs. baking soda

No. Although they're made by the same company (A & H) they are two different

animals. Washing soda is fairly caustic (requires gloves while using).

Virginia in Milwakee

-----Original Message-----

Delurking to ask if there is a difference between washing soda and baking

soda? Can the 2 be switched?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Even though baking soda and washing soda are not the same they can

each be used in laundry soap. I just bought washing soda by mail but

until I found that I used baking soda all the time. You can also add

borax to laundry soap to enhance cleaning.

Anne

http://www.annelees.com/supplies/sheabutter.html