How to Make Your Own Washing Soda

If you have spent some time researching how to make your own cleaning solutions, you will very likely have come across the ingredient washing soda. Washing soda, not to be confused with baking soda (more on that just now), can be hard to track down. So, if you are into DIY, then why not make your own washing soda? Once you read how simple it is to make, you will be convinced that you can save yourself the trouble of trying to locate it at a store and just make it yourself. 

Washing soda vs baking soda

What is washing soda? Is washing soda the same as baking soda? While the two compounds are similar, they are not the same. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a mild base that you can combine with a mild acid such as cream of tartar to make your own raising agent for baked goods. It is suitable for neutralizing odors and gentle cleaning.

Washing soda, soda ash, or sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is a caustic base. It is an off-white powder with larger, visible granules. Washing soda is inedible, can burn your skin, and should not be inhaled. Always wear gloves when working with washing soda. That said, it is a very effective cleaning agent with a multitude of uses.

What can you make with DIY washing soda?

• Homemade liquid laundry detergent
• DIY dishwasher cubes
• Scouring powder
• DIY drain cleaner
• Carpet cleaner
• Oven cleaner

Washing soda recipe: How to make washing soda

It doesn’t get much easier than this. All you need to make your own washing soda is:

• Baking soda
• Cookie sheet (large)
• An oven

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 425 °F.
2. Pour baking soda onto your cookie sheet. The amount depends on the size of your baking tray. You want a layer about half an inch thick.
3. Place the tray in the oven for one to two hours, mixing the baking soda every twenty to thirty minutes. 
4. For the conversion of bicarbonate of soda to sodium carbonate to occur, the baking soda needs to heat to 400 °F. When the reaction is complete, the texture of the baking soda will change from fine sand to the coarse, grainier feel of washing soda. 
5. Once you have baked your baking soda into washing soda, turn off the oven. Leave the washing soda to cool before transferring it to an airtight container, ready to use in all your DIY cleaning solutions recipes!

Making your own washing soda is the DIY of all DIYs

If you make your own cleaning concoctions, give yourself a big pat on the back. Then make yourself a cup of tea and take time out to read your Save mailer. It’s loaded with helpful hints like how to make your own orange peel cleaner and DIY dryer sheets. While loading up on handy how-to’s, look for coupon book offers in your neighborhood so you can save big on DIY cleaning solutions essentials.