| jp4m2 | 01-23-2009 03:29 PM |
1 Attachment(s) I didn't know what it was either but I read that Arm & Hammer makes it.....
"Washing soda is a highly alkaline chemical compound which can be used to remove stubborn stains from laundry. It also has numerous uses around the house. Washing soda should not be confused with washing powder, which is a powdered soap used as a detergent; it is also not the same thing as baking soda, although the two compounds are closely related.
The chemical formula for washing soda is Na2CO3, and it is also known as sodium carbonate. It is a salt of carbonic acid, a chemical which produces a wide range of salts collectively known as carbonates. One common source of washing soda is the ashes of plants; for this reason, it is sometimes called soda ash. Sodium carbonate can also be extracted from sodium chloride, also known as table salt.
In laundry, washing soda accomplishes several things. The high alkalinity of washing soda helps it act as a solvent to remove a range of stains, and unlike bleach, washing soda does not usually stain. It is also used in detergent mixtures to treat hard water; the washing soda binds to the minerals which make water hard, allowing detergent to foam properly so that clothing will come out clean, without any residue."
I found these recipes using washing soda on a "green" site......
Spray For Tough Grease - 1/2 tsp. washing soda ( sodium carbonate, soda ash or sal soda) 2 tbsp. distilled white vinegar, 1/2 tsp. liquid soap ( veg. oil based), 2c. hot water.
(You can add a few drops of essential oil too.) Put all this in a spray bottle.
Floor Disinfectant - Add 1/2c. borax into a bucket of hot water, dissolve the borax.
To cut grease on the floor - add 1/2c. washing soda ( soduim carbonate or sal soda) with 1 tbsp. liquid soap, 1/4 c. white vinegar and 1/2 bucket hot water- use gloves. Don't use on waxed floors. | 