Turn Baking Soda into Washing Soda {#TinyTipTues}
92Welcome to Week 6 of Tiny Tip Tuesday, and the first week of it’s incarnation as a blog hop and carnival! I’m really excited to share today’s tip with you, but I’m even more excited to see what kinds of great tips you all have to share with us!
Don’t forget to come back throughout the week to check out the new links; and we’ll be sharing our favorites on our Facebook page!
EDIT: Before we move on, please let me take this moment to publicly apologize to Penny, from Penniless Parenting for inadvertently not linking back to her post, as she is the original author for the information contained in this post. I had linked back to her site, but because of an error in the html, the link below was rendered un-linkable on the front end of the site. Needless to say, this was brought to my attention by Penny, as well as a few other commenters, which I’m very grateful for, as it allowed me to fix the problem and publicly address this issue. I did NOT intend to withhold credit from Penny, and anyone who reads my site regularly knows that I always link back to the original post, if indeed I borrowed from another blogger. I also should clarify that after this whole issue happened, I changed some wording around to include the direct quotes from Penny, as well as added her name to the post (kind of a gesture to apologize for the broken link). Whereas before, I had summarized her words, I later changed it to some direct quotes, to make it very clear that I wasn’t trying to plagiarize her work. You may read my entire apology to Penny in the comments below this post. Thanks!
Well, as the title says, we’re turning baking soda into washing soda this week. A good number of my homemade products require the use of washing soda, but for every item I post that uses washing soda, I always get at least 5 or 10 comments asking where you can find it. It’s true, sometimes it’s a little hard to find – even I had trouble the first time around. (It’s usually in the laundry aisle, by the way.)
But for those who live in rural areas, or without large grocery stores, it’s still hard to track down. So in my search for the best place to buy washing soda for one of our readers, I stumbled upon this idea that you can actually turn baking soda into washing soda, simply by baking it!
I know, it sounds weird, but just bare with me. As Penny explains,
The difference between baking soda and washing soda is water and carbon dioxide. Seriously. Baking soda’s chemical makeup is NaHCO3 (1 sodium, 1 hydrogen, one carbon, and 3 oxygen molecules). Washing soda’s chemical makeup is Na2CO3 (2 sodium, 1 carbon, and 3 oxygen molecules). When baking soda is heated up to high temperatures, it breaks down to become washing soda, water steam, and carbon dioxide.
So, the steam and carbon dioxide are released during the cooking process, leaving you with… washing soda!
See? Now, don’t I sound all smart and science-y? 
The process is really simple. Just heat your oven to 400 F (or 200 C), sprinkle some baking soda on a shallow pan, and bake it for about half hour, until it changes composition. You should also stir it up occasionally, just so that it bakes more evenly.
So how do you know when it changes into washing soda? That part takes a little more work; just a closer, watchful eye. Once you know the differences between the 2 sodas, you’ll be able to tell in no time.
Penny breaks it down like this: Baking soda is powdery, crystallized like salt, and clumps together. Washing soda is grainy, dull and opaque, and is separate grains. You can see the difference below: baking soda on the left, and washing soda on the right.
That’s it! See? I told you it was simple! Now you can go make liquid laundry detergent, powdered laundry detergent, and dishwasher detergent, without worrying about where to score your next box of washing soda.
This post was proudly featured here:
Alright, now on to the blog hop. Here are the rules:
- You may share as many links as you would like pertaining to anything natural, frugal, sustainable, or homemade. Things like kitchen tips, recipes, gardening tips, green cleaners, homemade beauty products, DIY projects, etc.
- Use the permalink to the actual post (NOT your homepage!)
- In the “Name” field below, enter the name of your post (NOT your name!)
- Please DO NOT link to a giveaway!
- Please include a link back to Nature’s Nurture in your post; either a text link or include the button below:
‘);
// ]]>
This post was shared here: Frugal Tuesday Tip – Learning the Frugal Life, Frugal Tuesday Tip – Getting Ahead Blog, Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays, Kitchen Tip Tuesdays, Show Me What You Got Tuesdays, Show Me What Ya Got, Teach Me Tuesday, Homemaking Link-Up, Tip Me Tuesday, Penny Pinching Party, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Healthy 2day Wednesdays, Works For Me Wednesday, Simple Living Wednesday, Thrifty Thursdays,
[tssig]
Latest posts by Sarah UmmYousef (see all)
- Homemade Air Fresheners: Essential Oil Reed Diffusers - May 17, 2013
- How to Use Chlorella: Nature’s Multivitamin - May 13, 2013
- Please Vote for Nature’s Nurture in Top 25 Eco-Friendly Moms! - May 10, 2013
That is a seriously cool tip! You do sound very sciencey
So neat! Hope you have time to check out my blog.
Thanks for linking up! Heading over your way now
Ok, girlfriend… this is for serious awesome. I dont actually follow all that many blogs because it seems like 90% of the posts arent that useful but Im telling you each one of your blog posts is useful. this is great… I was just at Costco yesterday looking at the price of their eco-friendly laundry detergent and thinking maybe I should give making my own a try when Im done with my current bottle. This is a great tip, Sarah, thanks!
Im excite d to join the carnival today. I posted two “tips”, one from my archive and one I did today. thanks for starting this, I look forward to reading everyone elses stuff tonight when kiddo is in bed. God bless!
Aww, I’m glad you find my posts useful – I really try hard to keep them relevant and practical
And please, do yourself a favor and try making your own detergent – you will never look back, I promise!
Thanks for linking up!
That is so awesome! I am constantly hearing people say they can’t find washing soda…so happy to have a tip to share with them now. Thanks!!!
I’ve been looking all over the place for washing soda so that I could make homemade laundry detergent, so this post is just what I’ve needed! Thanks:)
Aww, yay! Glad it helped!
Thanks for the wonderful tip. I use regular baking soda with vinegar to clean the sinks and bathtub, but didn’t know how to use baking soda for washing clothes. It’s such a natural and inexpensive way to clean!
Thanks for hosting!
No kidding! I never knew that you could bake it like this. Brilliant.
Thanks so much for linking up with Feed Me Friday this week. Looking forward to reading more from you!
It really is brilliant, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Emily! That cole slaw recipe looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it
Hello! This is my first time participating. I’m #21 on the list.
I posted about your blog hop here:
http://www.scoop.it/t/simplysaving
https://www.facebook.com/simplysaving
https://twitter.com/SimplySaving4U
and linked to it here – http://simply-saving.com/frugal-simple-living-blog-hops-link-parties/
Welcome, Joanne! Thanks for sharing your tip! Also, thanks for sharing my link everywhere
I just went ahead and Liked your FB page, following you on Twitter, and subscribed to your feed 
Hope you’ll join us again next week!
That is seriously the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time! Thanks for linking up to Healthy 2Day Wednesday, and come back next time to see if you were featured!
Ran this by my chemist husband. This is his response:
“Chemically, we can convert NaHCO3 to Na2CO3, but I would be very surprised if we could accomplish that at 400F. I’d have to look up the heat of activation for each of those and calculate the temperature.
This would be an interim step, though, so if we heat it too long it would continue to degrade into NaO + CO2, which is not what we want. So we would need to have an indicator as to when to stop the heating process.
My question would be – why would you want to do this?
If it’s to save money, then we would need to verify if the difference in cost between the two plus the energy to run the oven for 30 minutes merits this.
But it’s an interesting idea.
Hope this helps!”
I explained to him the “Why?” of not being able to find it in the store. So I guess bottom line is if you can find it buy it but if you can’t give this a go.
Bless you… I was just wondering about that! I CAN find it. All of the grocery stores in my area carry Washing Soda right next to the Borax and Fels Naptha bar soap (the 3 ingredients for making laundry detergent)
The 99c Store (we have them in California) sell boxes of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda for $0.79 each. That makes it more cost effective to make than to buy Washing Soap IF one can find it.
I’m glad you liked this little tip of mine. I would be nice though, if you copy parts of my post and use it word for word, that you gave some credit to me in my post.
http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/01/homemade-washing-soda.html
Dear Penny, Please PLEASE know that it was NOT my intention to withhold credit where credit was due! I meant to link the “stumbled upon this idea” part to your post and in my editor it did indeed look like it was linked (even when I checked it now), but it seems there was an error in the html, which rendered it un-linkable on the front end of the site. Please accept my sincerest apologies for this, as I would never EVER attempt to steal someone else’s work. If you read my other posts, you will see that for most posts, I usually credit back to the original author. I love the open community of blogland and LOVE sharing others’ ideas (with credit), and having my ideas be shared.
Again, please accept my apologies openly, and publicly here on my site. I hope this doesn’t create a rift between us or leave any negative feelings or vibes. Thank you for actually commenting and bringing this to my attention, as a few other commenters have as well.
With my humblest apologies and sincere regret,
Sarah @ Nature’s Nurture
Apology accepted. I know what html snafus are like…
I also have to add that its not always easy to know what the terms of netiquette are, and I wish there were a book out there that would detail word for word when you should credit people and how, because its not so easy to know that!!!
You have a great blog here, and I look forward to coming back to check it out again.
You do realize you copied almost verbatim from a previous post in January on Penniless Parenting? Here’s the link : http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/01/homemade-washing-soda.html
This was a complete accident! Please read my reply to Penny below:
“Dear Penny, Please PLEASE know that it was NOT my intention to withhold credit where credit was due! I meant to link the “stumbled upon this idea” part to your post and in my editor it did indeed look like it was linked (even when I checked it now), but it seems there was an error in the html, which rendered it un-linkable on the front end of the site. Please accept my sincerest apologies for this, as I would never EVER attempt to steal someone else’s work. If you read my other posts, you will see that for most posts, I usually credit back to the original author. I love the open community of blogland and LOVE sharing others’ ideas (with credit), and having my ideas be shared.
Again, please accept my apologies openly, and publicly here on my site. I hope this doesn’t create a rift between us or leave any negative feelings or vibes. Thank you for actually commenting and bringing this to my attention, as a few other commenters have as well.
With my humblest apologies and sincere regret,
Sarah @ Nature’s Nurture”
I’m sure I read this post on penniless parenting ages ago. Sounds like http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/01/homemade-washing-soda.html Not cool that you didn’t acknowledge her. Seriously.
This was a complete accident!! Please read my reply to Penny below:
“Dear Penny, Please PLEASE know that it was NOT my intention to withhold credit where credit was due! I meant to link the “stumbled upon this idea” part to your post and in my editor it did indeed look like it was linked (even when I checked it now), but it seems there was an error in the html, which rendered it un-linkable on the front end of the site. Please accept my sincerest apologies for this, as I would never EVER attempt to steal someone else’s work. If you read my other posts, you will see that for most posts, I usually credit back to the original author. I love the open community of blogland and LOVE sharing others’ ideas (with credit), and having my ideas be shared.
Again, please accept my apologies openly, and publicly here on my site. I hope this doesn’t create a rift between us or leave any negative feelings or vibes. Thank you for actually commenting and bringing this to my attention, as a few other commenters have as well.
With my humblest apologies and sincere regret,
Sarah @ Nature’s Nurture”
How cool that you quoted Penniless Parenting’s blog post nearly word for word in some parts of this post!!!! Did you forget to give credit?
http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/01/homemade-washing-soda.html#
Please know this was a complete accident! Please read my reply to Penny below:
“Dear Penny, Please PLEASE know that it was NOT my intention to withhold credit where credit was due! I meant to link the “stumbled upon this idea” part to your post and in my editor it did indeed look like it was linked (even when I checked it now), but it seems there was an error in the html, which rendered it un-linkable on the front end of the site. Please accept my sincerest apologies for this, as I would never EVER attempt to steal someone else’s work. If you read my other posts, you will see that for most posts, I usually credit back to the original author. I love the open community of blogland and LOVE sharing others’ ideas (with credit), and having my ideas be shared.
Again, please accept my apologies openly, and publicly here on my site. I hope this doesn’t create a rift between us or leave any negative feelings or vibes. Thank you for actually commenting and bringing this to my attention, as a few other commenters have as well.
With my humblest apologies and sincere regret,
Sarah @ Nature’s Nurture”
Hi! Thanks for sharing this post. Any suggestions on substitutions for borax? I cannot get it where I live & and want to try to make laundry soap. Thanks!!!
Sarah,
Thank you for your honesty and transparency. It is your desire to share that keeps me coming back here. And your simple mishap is why I avoid HTML!
The recipe quoted in the other website that you have linked to has been found many times over all over the web for many years. It is not new but not fairly known as for many years no one really had a large use for washing soda. I am glad you and other writers are sharing it ! It is nice we operate in a community with such a spirit of sharing and are passionate about teaching, rather than being being self involved & self rewarding. It means so many will learn many lost information.
God Bless!
Chele, this is exactly what I was thinking as well…a quick search pulls up articles about this from long before Penny posted about it either….the author could easily have left her completely out of the equation and just reworded the tip with no reference at all to where she first heard it, and since she did that but the link got messed up she got blasted for it.
I didn’t mind her using the idea, because the idea wasn’t mine originally. It was the copy pasting paragraphs from my post without crediting me that bothered me.
it doesn’t matter….
Is it REALLY that important??? For pity sakes…her apology is all over the place and needless conversations about not receiving credit detract from the very nice topic at hand. It was an accident, end of story, this isn’t a competition race or attempted fraud. I think this whole comment parts about her html accident should be deleted, and her wriiten apology remain…and it ENDS. It really throws a damp rag on the whole thing. I like to go through the comments to read more ideas, not endless discussions about the copyright. GREAT IDEA though!
Oh and I am grabbing your button! I need to make myself one but then there is that tricky HTML thing again.
Thanks Chele! I just perused your blog, and I LOVE it! I’m adding you to my “Blogs I Love” page and just subscribed to your RSS
Looking forward to reading more! Take care and God Bless…
I’ve been buying washing soda for years, but the last time I went to buy it, I couldn’t find it anywhere. Went to lots of places with different Supplies (my Dad was a Grocer, so I know which stores are supplied by whom) , before finally finding some at Walmart (which was my last resort). I can usually find either Arm and Hammer Washing Soda, or Amaze by Sunlight.
It was weird. I bought 2 boxes, so I haven’t been looking since then, but it makes me wonder if there was some sort of problem with the supply chain.
I know what you mean! I’ve had times where I couldn’t find it anywhere, and others where it was all over the place, LOL. That’s why I’m so happy I found this recipe, because baking soda is so readily available, even in big bulk bags too!
I like this idea, however I always just throw baking soda into my laundry soap it helps with those terrible smoke odours that my fiancee has from smoking….also helps make my whites white lol….but I am definatley going to try this!
Absolutely! I like to throw in 1/4 cup of baking soda in the wash as well! My laundry freshening post shows how I use vinegar and baking soda to help freshen laundry:
http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2011/06/01/how-to-naturally-freshen-your-laundry/
Great tip, Sarah. While looking for homemade recipes in lieu of expensive store-bought dishwasher rinse aid, I stumpled upon this. Seems so many things are now offered as synthetic, chemical substitutes, and the average person is no longer aware of the basic, fundamental ingredients that actually work as well or better than the fancy stuff – any usually far cheaper.
Just a note – I read through the instructions two or three times, but no where does it mention mixing the baking soda with water prior to baking, although it’s implied (water steam).
Hi Ron! Yes, that’s why I started this blog, to remind myself and others that most commercial (and chemically laden) products can actually be made right at home with basic ingredients!
With regards to your note, you’re not actually adding water to the baking soda. The water and carbon dioxide just bake off during the heating process. Hope that helps clarify, and thanks for stopping by!
Hey I applied this tip and its really amazing my bit yellowish shirt is much better much white then before thank you:)
Washing tips
Hey Sarah,
This is interesting use for Baking Soda, I am trying to raise awareness in the UK about the many uses of baking soda. (Its not very common here.)
Is it ok for me to link your website? I love this post in particular.
Thanks,
Jess
Of course, Jess! Link away
Hi Sarah! I just found your blog today and love it! I’ve been making my own laundry soap for 3 years. I use a variation of the Duggar Family recipe. I’ve also had a hard time finding washing soda. I think I’ve only seen it at Walmart once and no where else. However, the Duggars say in their recipe that washing soda is sodium carbonate, which you can find anywhere that sells swimming pool chemicals! Just look for Sodium Carbonate. I paid around $7 or $8 3 years ago for a canister of it and just ran out on my last batch ( we have 4 kiddos and 2 adults, that equals ALOT of laundry!)
Thanks for stopping by, Kelly! And thanks for the info on washing soda! I’ve heard you can find it in the pool aisle, so I’m glad someone’s actually found it there and confirmed for us
Thanks for the awesome tip! I love this blog!
As a sidenote, to those of you who “blasted” the author for not giving credit, including Penny. Yes, there is a certain etiquette that comes with blogging. That includes rudeness and snarkiness in the comments section. Wouldn’t the world just be a better place if everyone stopped feeling as though they had the right to treat complete strangers with sarcasm and disrespect? Just be nice, for goodness sake. It is a blog about washing soda, not a summit on middle east peace.
Agreed! Got a nasty vibe from it!
I, too thought it looked like a mean-spirited pile-on.
It isn’t proprietary information–as others have mentioned. We’re bigger than this.
Thank you soo much! I live in the Seattle area and can’t find washing soda anywhere! I have been checking online, and it is not so cheap, around $8 for 32oz. I can get 16oz of baking soda at the dollar store for .59, so there is no beating the price of making my own!
really. i make laundry soap going on 5 years now. i took 2 different recipes and made my own version and then added more to it. who gets the credit? me! there has been people converting baking soda to washing soda for awhile now. i see people being rude like this to bloggers all the time. how sad.
I used this article, and posted a link to your directions on my blog here:
http://floridahillbilly.com/low-cost-laundry-soap/
I also thanked you there
Peace,
db
Thanks db! Love the name of your blog, looking forward to checking out some more.
By the way, I grew up in south Florida
Then hook me up with some pointers! Been here 15 years, and I’m still waaaay behind the learning curve!
Hi! Ican use baking soda (for odors) in the refrigerator, to create washing soda?
I tried it! thanks! can’t wait to use it. well, yes i can…Ha ha!
I saw online that u can find washing soda at ACE Hardware. looking to make my own laundry soap to save money. hope this helps. most small towns have at least 1 ACE.
What a horrible powdery mess! Not worth the extreme cleanup and sneezing episode. Never again!
I’m sorry you had such a bad experience, Barbara! I’ve never had problems with a powdery mess… Wondering where the issue may have occurred.
I’m sorry–but I don’t know where in your post it says to “make a paste.” I’m reading your directions as “sprinkle baking soda into a pan and bake it at 400 degrees.” Further up-thread, it’s suggested that the evaporating process of baking the baking soda means the powder gives up its water content. Could you please clarify? Thanks!
Hi thatgirl,
I’m so sorry and thanks for bringing this to my attention! My response to the other commenter (Barbara) was actually wrong. I thought she was referring to another post (one on making a baking soda scrub for blackheads!), so please disregard my comment…I’ve gone back and edited it to reflect that. So, just to clarify again, there is NO PASTE here!
Thank you for clarifying! My baking soda is poised above a cookie sheet just now!
I have a washer that needs HE soap. Do you know if this would work and how much I’d need?
Natalie, you can check my laundry detergent posts for info on HE washers here:
http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/01/20/how-to-make-powdered-detergent/
http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2011/05/30/how-to-make-laundry-detergent/
Hope that helps!
P.S. Just checked out your blog, love it!
Thanks Sarah! I’ve got some soap nuts on the way, so hopefully they’ll work well. If not I’ll be baking some baking soda.
Thanks for sharing!
That’s great! I’ve been meaning to give those a try. I just tried the SmartKlean laundry ball which uses no detergent whatsoever and loved it! Here’s my review on it, if you’re interested: http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/11/28/smartklean-detergent-ball-review-giveaway/
hi there! Just a quick question (or bit of feedback). I did this just now, I baked 1 c of baking soda at 400, I stirred every 10 minutes for about 50 minutes (in a convection oven). The consistency slightly changed, but not dramatically. Tired of waiting and unsure exactly what I was looking for, I went ahead and took it out, thinking it must be done. I used it to make the liquid laundry detergent, and as I am making it, the detergent is not coagulating. Could it be b/c of the improper conversion of the baking soda to washing soda? I am going to try and use the uncoagulated detergent anyway – as I have a lot of time invested into this little project! Thoughts?
Hey Jolee, Hmm, not sure what happened. 50 minutes seems like more than enough time in the oven. Maybe it was an older box of baking soda? There is a definite difference between the unbaked and baked soda, if you look at them together under some light, it’s very clear.
I would’ve gone ahead and tried the detergent anyways as well, so I’m interested to hear how it worked out for you!
I know these are old posts but I was told we could but very hot water on baking soda and that it does the same thing if you let it sit for a bit. Has anybody heard if this is accurate? It would just save a step in the laundry soap making process. It makes sense too that it would work! Thanks for the info!
Founder & Editor of theREALmeMAGAZINE here. I just published a laundry soap recipe on my Financial Tips & Tricks page. I will include the above information, as well. theREALmeMAGAZINE is the new interactive, online magazine that informs, encourages, and celebrates today’s REAL woman!
Just a silly question, when using baking soda in the fridge/freezer for odors they recommend changing the box every month – can you make washing soda with this “used” baking soda with this method? It seems like such a waste to just toss the baking soda…
Not a silly question at all, Tm! It’s actually a great question, but unfortunately I’m not really sure. I tried to do a quick search just now but didn’t find anything. I don’t use baking soda in the fridge so I’ve never tried making washing soda out of it either. We buy our baking soda in bulk because it’s a main component of our household cleaning, so it’s very cheap. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help. :-/
I would imagine if the baking soda in question has been sitting in your refrigerator for that purpose, it probably won’t impart a fresh smell to your laundry; I know mine isn’t too pretty smelling when I toss it. It’s not bad, but not neutral, either.
You might, however, still use it as a scrub for pots an pans or for bathroom surfaces, in lieu of kitchen cleanser, as it shouldn’t lose its abrasive properties. Try mixing in a little dishwashing liquid to slightly emulsify it and help its cleaning properties.
I sent my husband to the store for me (obviously a mistake lol) for washing soda to make detergent. He comes back with 3 huge boxes of baking soda. You just saved his butt! Lol
I love this idea. I’ve been looking for another brand of washing soda since I went vegan three months ago, and decided to start making my own cleaning products. Arm and Hammer tests on animals, and I can’t contribute to that. I’m favoriting, and will definitely refer back to this article many times.