Just as its name implies, baking soda is great for baking since it reacts with an acid to create an airy, spongy texture. (This is why baking soda, an alkali, is combined with cream of tartar, an acid, to make baking powder.) Washing soda, on the other hand, is great for cleaning since it consumes twice as much acid as baking soda. It is too caustic, however, for baking.
Since the two are closely linked, it's possible to transform baking soda into washing soda simply by heating it. The heat causes the baking soda to release steam and carbon dioxide, leaving a more alkaline substance behind in the form of washing soda.
Since washing soda is not as readily available as baking soda, it may be simpler to make your own.
Directions:
Spread an ample amount of baking soda on a cookie sheet or any other baking pan. Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper if desired. (Doing so makes it simpler to pour the finished product.) Heat in oven at 400 degrees.
Remove pan after 30 minutes or so. Allow to cool. Transfer to a suitable container. Voilà: washing soda!
You'll notice the powder has become grainy and more crystalline. In this photo, the washing soda is on the left and the baking soda on the right. If you're not sure if the process worked, and can't see the difference, try tasting both. You'll know right away!
For suggested uses for washing soda, see momsAWARE's Natural Year Challenge: Household Edition.
Thank you! Our local big box store keeps the washing soda right next to the fabric softener and we can't buy it due to the strong fragrances it absorbs. (We have MCS). I'm super excited to try this out! :)
ReplyDeleteWow! That is great! I make my own laundry detergent, and though washing soda has become easier to come by (thanks to our recession?), this is still good information to know when it inevitably disappears again!
ReplyDeleteDo you think one can do this process with baking soda that has been used to deodorize the fridge or something like that. Perhaps baking it will "reset" it and make it usable again as washing soda? I just hate to throw it out, even though it is cheap to buy.
Jenny,
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question. I would think it would be better to use fresh baking soda, but it would be an interesting experiment.
Very interesting. I have a huge bag of baking soda and am going to give this a try.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous that has MCS - I have that too and something that has helped me is taking a Taurine supplement every morning. Our intestines are supposed to manufacture Taurine, which the liver then uses to detoxify foreign molecules like fragrances. My intestines don't do their job, so taking Taurine daily give my liver what it needs to process the chemicals.
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