While I now know that making DIY washing soda from baking soda is incredibly easy, I didn’t even know what washing soda was before I started making my own homemade laundry detergent. These days, washing soda is a staple in my laundry room, aiding in everything from stain removal to softening hard water!
Since I find it so useful in my own laundry room, I want to make sure that everyone knows how easy it is to make at home! But before we get to that, I want to start with a quick review of some washing soda basics, like what it is and what washing soda can be used for.
A Quick Refresher on Washing Soda
Washing soda, otherwise known as sodium carbonate or soda ash, is just a water-soluble salt with a very basic pH of 11. When dissolved in water, washing soda makes an alkaline solution with powerful cleaning and water softening properties. It makes a great cleaning agent, laundry booster, and more!
As far as safety goes, washing soda gets an A rating from the Environmental Working Group, which means they recognize it as non-toxic and generally safe to use. But similarly to many other cleaning agents, washing soda can be irritating to skin, so it’s best to wear gloves when handling it.
If you’d like to learn more, my in-depth guide to washing soda is a great resource! It covers everything you need to know, including how washing soda differs from baking soda, borax, and other laundry powders.
Is Washing Soda the Same as Baking Soda?
Although baking soda and washing soda are not the same, they are related! Washing soda is sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), while baking soda is sodium bicarbonate (NaCHO3).
In addition to the many ways you can use baking soda around the house, it has another useful property, too — you can turn baking soda into washing soda using just your oven!
How Do You Use Washing Soda?
While washing soda is highly useful for cleaning everything from dirty dishes to toilet bowls, it’s mainly marketed as a laundry booster. In fact, I first learned about washing soda back when I was developing my homemade laundry detergent recipes. After sharing those recipes on my blog, I received a number of emails from international readers asking for advice, because they couldn’t find soda ash anywhere in their country!
That was how I ended up learning you can make your own washing soda at home! If you ever find yourself in a situation where you can’t find washing soda locally, you’ll be glad you learned how it make it yourself.
How to Make Washing Soda From Baking Soda
You’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Cookie sheet
Directions:
Spread baking soda evenly across a cookie sheet, and break up any clumps, if present. (You can use any amount of baking soda, as long as it fits on the cookie sheet in a relatively thin layer.)
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, then bake the baking soda for 1 hour. The heat from your oven will convert baking soda to washing soda by cooking off excess water and carbon dioxide. (Cool, right?)
Allow the washing soda to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container for storage. Use your washing soda as an ingredient in homemade laundry detergent, soften hard water, to scour messes out of a baking dish, and much more!
More Ideas You'll Love
If you compare your DIY washing soda with baking soda side by side, one thing you’ll notice is that washing soda feels a bit grainy compared to the silky smooth baking soda. (Fun fact: The washing soda will also weigh less than the baking soda did originally, due to the loss of water and carbon dioxide.)
Note: You can also make washing soda on your stovetop, in a toaster oven, or even in an air fryer — as long as the baking soda gets hot enough, long enough! (I would avoid trying to make washing soda in your microwave, though, since bicarbonate doesn’t play well with microwaves.)
Where Can I Buy Washing Soda?
If you don’t want to make it yourself, you can usually find Arm & Hammer super washing soda in the laundry aisle at grocery stores and big box chains. If you don’t see it right away, check the top and bottom shelves. That’s where I usually find it!
You can also find washing soda online at Amazon and other online retailers. Some people suggest getting it from pool suppliers, but industrial forms of sodium carbonate (like AquaChem) have a slightly different chemical structure and may not be suitable for household use. Better to stick to the store-bought and homemade varieties!
Have you made DIY washing soda at home?
How To Make Washing Soda From Baking Soda
Video
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- Baking soda
Instructions
- Spread baking soda out on a cookie sheet in an even layer.
- Bake the baking soda at 400°F for 1 hour.
- Allow the washing soda to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container.
Smart! I have never used washing soda, but I am seeing a lot of mention of in the green cleaning circles. I’m learning, slowly.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve made washing soda several times, but need to let you know that if you do not keep it COMPLETELY airtight, it reverts back to baking soda. Drying it sucks moisture out, which creates the chemical change. Let air at it and moisture is absorbed again.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can take this a step further and use it with hydrogen peroxide and that’s Oxi-Clean.
I love this website
That’s interesting and also a bummer–we might be using up energy baking the soda in the oven for nothing. I wonder what Arm & Hammer adds to their washing soda to keep it from reverting back to baking soda. Is there a link that talks more about this?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee:
Please log in or create a free account to comment.thank you once more for sharing this with us. I had read vaguely about this, but now with your specific information I will definitely try it. We are going through a difficult finacial time now at home and this just helps save more money. I already do the liquid laundry soap and I love it ! and I also have done some other home made stuff and so far everything works well and sometimes even better and definitely cheaper than store bought stuff. And also there is something special about doing your “own” products. It makes house work more fun, and I have learned so much and just to think there is so much I will learn in the future. I don’t know you but I love you!!! :) Thank you and all the people that share their knowledge about house keeping, cleaning and cooking.
Sorry- I have to have so much to say/ask today.
Off topic laundry question. My older bottle of Purex Crystals says Softener on the front of the bottle. The new bottles do not say that– in fact the product doesn’t claim to be a fabric softener at all. It just says “laundry enhancer”. Is it a fabric softener or not? Purex.com was not help.
Also does anyone know how can I access the archives for the early posts?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Purex Crystals is a scent booster.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I too have an older bottle. They changed the formula and when they removed the sucrose and it no longer softens so now they can only call it a enhancer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Instead of the Purex crystals, try mixing 10 drops of essential oil into 1 cup of Epsom Salt (obviously you can increase the amounts based on how much you need). I got this “recipe” from a very smart woman (Jillee) :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just made some to add to my laundry soap and really like using it.
What is baking soda used FOR? And, why?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What?!?! This is freaking amazing! Now I know what to do with all my baking soda!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee – I’ve been wanting to ask this for awhile because I’m interested in making your homemade laundry detergent. I’ve seen complaints in the www from people who have tried making their own detergent that it makes their whites dingy. Do you find that to be true at all with your recipe? Do you do something to keep the problem from occurring?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I think that those who are complaining about the homemade detergent making their whites dingy are those who have hard water. From what I have read, the homemade detergent does not work quite as well in hard water.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is why I have not yet made laundry detergent. It seems to work best in soft water.
I have hard water & my whites are not dingy. I don’t have a water softener either. So I’m not quite sure what to say. I do LOVE this laundry soap recipe. Granted, it’s yet to last me longer than 6 months, but I have 2 teenage girls who do their own laundry. We have an HE washer, put the detergent into the drum before loading the clothes in. If you find yourself with dingy whites, I would suggest bleach. I know there’s OxyClean in this, but why not add bleach to the load via the dispenser.
For my whites, I add 1/2 cup washing soda & 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide w/ hot water & my homemade laundry soap. It’s the recipe I use for homemade OxyClean.
I haven’t noticed this problem because I add Mrs. Stewart’s Liquid Bluing to my load of whites. Why something blue makes things white, I don’t know, but you need to make sure you dilute the few drops in water before adding to the washer or you will have blue spotted clothes. Seriously, never add it without diluting and don’t take a shortcut thinking you can squirt it into the water as it’s filling the machine. My friend will attest to that. :^/ My grocery store carries this in the laundry aisle so that’s the best place to check. Hope this helps.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wonder if it’s a consequence of the soap they’re using in their homemade detergent. Being that Fels-Naptha is designated a “laundry stick,” I’ve never found that it dingy-fied my whites. But I’ve seen people online say, “Oh, you can use whatever soap you want. I use Irish Spring/Coast/Zest/etc. in mine!” and I’ve always been concerned that using regular bar soap that has dyes and such in it might color whites over time. If those people are using a bar soap rather than a laundry stick or a white bar soap (like Ivory) in their recipe, the dingy whites may be a result of that. If not, well then I’m stumped!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have been using homemade detergent for about 4 yrs & my whites always turn dingy & yellow eventually. I have tried EVERYTHING-except the bluing-will have to pick some up on my next shopping trip! I have hard well water with lots of iron and had the same problem with commercial detergents. I just use the savings from making my own to justify the occasional dry cleaning of a few favorite white pieces & the rest make great rags after about a year, lol!
I use Jillee homemade Laundry soap for my family as well as my daughter and their family next door. I do not have a problem with the white’s being dingy. Some people who have dingy white need to check into the quality of their water.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great entry–who knew?? One more reason to love baking soda.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is the first time I ever had a laundry room (26 years of in the basement by the heater). Just wanted to say–I never thought of decorating it. Then of course Jillee’s cute washing code & recipe PDFs–inspired me to print frame & hang them. Also in the process of making a sign that says:
NO DIRTY LAUNDRY HERE; JUST CLOTHES WAITING TO BE WASHED. DH didn’t get it–is it just me or is it an isolated joke??
your joke made me chuckle! maybe because I’m tired of everyone else’s drama lately!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Very cool! I also enjoyed the colorful words in your blog posts. It made you different, and refreshing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Seriously?? Do you know why this works? I’m curious. Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m just curious, when the powdered detergent is used in an HE washer do you put it in the drum when you put the clothes in? I don’t think powder would be good to put in the drawer for detergent! How much is used for an HE washer?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My HE washing machine has the option for liquid or powder in the drawer dispenser. I simply slid the tab to powder and have had no trouble using the homemade powdered detergent recipe. – Side note, I made sure the Fels Naptha is ground to as fine as a powder as possible and also wash with warm water.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I really don’t know. I personally use my MIL’s washer and dryer which are HE and I don’t use her little drawer slot. I just pour the detergent powder over my clothes and wash… maybe I should be using the drawer!! lol
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Off topic — I miss your colorful page. :-(
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have to agree…..The other page design gave you a fun feeling. Sounds crazy?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Nope, I’m with you too. The title doesn’t go with the colorfulness of the site. But now that I look at this post again, it’s not as colorful as the past posts. I liked the old style a lot better. Just my .02. The content still rocks and that’s why we’re here, of course :) but of the blogs I read, this was one of a kind.
I don’t like the new circle-shaped swirly logo only because it feels so cluttered and hard to find the OGT in the center. Since your motto is “Sorting through the clutter of my life”, it kind of clashes with it. JMHO. Love all your suggestions! Thanks for all your info.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I preferred the old look as well. This new version is way too simple of a graphic look- it’s boring. Please, please, please don’t use this new look as the covers for your new book. Unless I already knew how good the inside was, I would pass right by it in a store.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Last year I had a spill over in my oven so I doused it with baking soda. All over the oven floor. Well, I just never got around to cleaning it out of there. Yes, I’ve been cooking in it all this time. Please don’t judge me. I’d rather clean other parts of my house than the oven……….oh, and knit.
So a couple weekends ago I vacuumed it up, scrapped up what I could then I got a scrubber sponge with dish soap and water and started scrubbing. I swear I had put ammonia in there! I was smelling and feeling mild fumes! I forgot that actually BAKING baking soda will turn it to washing soda. SO maybe washing soda doesn’t mix well with dishsoap?
Just thought this was an interesting accidental “experiment”. :)
Carmen, the amount of soda did NOT decrease after baking in my oven all year.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Stephanie, you sound a lot like me….the things that have gone undone vs. the amount of knitting that’s been done around here would make any born-neat-and-organized person (aka “my sister”) break out in a cold sweat!
Out of curiosity, when you got to the bottom of all that washing soda/dish soap, did you have the cleanest oven floor in town? ;-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.WAshing soda is great for cleaning the grime off cooking surfaces like baked on cookie sheets and pyrex dishes as well as the appliances. Try it with a spray of water on your toaster oven rack and bottom. It reacts with the carbon in the grime and breaks it up good.
Washing soda is Sodium Carbonate used in pool pH control. Can be found at pool supplies. I live in Florida and you can’t throw a cat without hitting a pool store (or a pharmacy for that matter) Anyway, don’t know how the price compares since they mark up everything, if you can afford a pool…
Anyway baking soda is always available at the grocery and a little time in the oven isn’t bad. Great tips Jill, keep us going.
Thanks Christi for the science lesson. BTW, dish soap neutralizes the reaction, may cause fumes. Doesn’t work as well with soap, just wet the grime and sprinkle the washing soda on your surface, let sit or scrub away.
I believe that there is an interaction between the dishsoap and washing soda – Last year I made my own dishwasher detergent, and read a tip to add about a teaspoon of regular dishsoap to the wash compartment to reduce filming… So I thought ‘Why not just add the soap and a little bit of water, then press it in to a mold and make my own tabs?’ Sor of along the same lines of the bakind soda tablets I’ve been seeing lately. It worked, but the smell & heat that came when I mixed the dish soap in definitely cautioned me against doing it again.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, I just went back to your recipe for a year and it calls for (1) 55 oz. box of washing soda. This is roughly 3 1/2 lbs. Does the baking soda reduce quantity in the oven? How much would it take to equal the 3 1/2 lb. soda? Thank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It doesn’t reduce.. at least not that I have noticed.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hahah, actually, washing soda is a LOT easier to find here in Germany (and cheaper than the same amount of) baking soda. Though I’ll often get the “Bwuh? o.0” face whenever I mention either to my generation. It’s something our grandmothers used, and washing soda has only recently slowly started to regain popularity.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Why do you have to cook the baking soda? Why can’t you just use it as it is?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Cristi’s comment above gives the scientific answer.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve made the year’s worth of laundry detergent in September and I’m just now needing more because it works great on everything… and of course I had to share some with family and friends ;). Works very nice in my carpet cleaner as well. Thank you for the tip on washing soda… it will definitely save me some $$$. Oh, also I put a fan behind me when mixing all the powders together to prevent being “smothered” by the kick back.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That is a very, very good tip!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How do you use this dry home made detergent in your carpet cleaner ????
Please log in or create a free account to comment.and i joined your forums!! yay!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.also a face book fan ;)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Love the idea of making my own washing soda. It’s one less box I have to have on the shelf! I’ll just make my own. I have my oven on most days anyway…I’ll have to remind the hubby not to sample the soda though!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is brilliant! I used both all the time in my homemade laaundry detergents, and I had no idea. Thank you for another fantastic tip Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks Jillee I live in a very small town… sometimes they don’t have the basics like milk and eggs at the store so you can imagine trying to find things like this! Thank you again. Love your blog it is always chock full of good stuff
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is this safe for a “HE” washer??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes it is I’ve been using Jillee’s recipe of homemade laundry detergent for months now, both in liquid and powdered form, it works great
Please log in or create a free account to comment.While it can be used in an HE washer because it is low sudsing – it does not lubricate the ball bearings in your motor, something that is part of the commercial HE detergents. I used homemade for 1 1/2 years but my washer developed a rather loud squeak and the repair man told me that info, and if it continued to get worse, the motor would seize. I went back to Tide HE (about 3 years ago) and saved myself from a $600-700 repair bill!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m not a certified mechanic and I haven’t had the need to open up my HE machine (yet).
With that said, I have a hard time picturing the normal soapy water from the drum actually wetting the ball bearings or anything else in or around the motor. The warning about the suds is because “excessive” foam will overflow finding its way into places that normally there would be no access.
It is easy to be concerned about ruining such a huge investment, specially at the beginning when this fancy machines were so expensive, but the truth is that excessive suds are just as bad for the normal garden variety cheap old style machines. Again the keyword is EXCESSIVE….. for the record, before using the homemade version I found here I was using the generic non HE approved just half or less than the suggested amount, still have the same HE front load without any issues, not once have I pour an ounce of the “approved HE soap”
I’m not a mechanic or engineer but it seems detergent or water should never be anywhere near a washer motor. Wouldn’t that mean your washer leaked or overflowed? If there is water and detergent in your electric motor lubricating bearings wouldn’t it also cause a fire or short?
I agree, I cannot think how the detergent can possibly get intot he motor. It is in a water tight drum…sounds fishy to me.
I have an He washing machine used only He Tide forever and it didn’t stop my machine from having a bad ball bearing. I think he was full of hewy. The soap doesn’t lubricate the ball bearings, that is what oil is for and if it is factory sealed then it is supposed to be handled in the factory. By the way the bearing in my machine has been loud for about 3 years now, the machine is still running fine just loud. (knock on wood) I just made my first batch of the liquid laundry detergent and hope to never have to go back to Tide or any other brand again.
I am not a mechanic nor was your mechanic an engineer. Any laundry detergent that lubricates ANY part of your washer would also leave lubricant on your CLOTHES.
That just doesn’t sound right. I’ve been making/using the home-made
powder version for about 6 yrs. I have a front load HE and so far it’s
been fine.
The use of soda and other strong chems in a HE or front loader is not recommended as the seals will break down faster. The manufacturing is getting better at prevention, but the way the washers are designed there is much more sealing surface to protect. Newer machines shouldn’t be so problematic, but older ones have a tendency to need seals because they are more efficient in operation washing, the soap doesn’t need to be so strong or abundant. Spot treatment for stains and such will reduce your use and prevent excessive chemical use. Many older machines also leaked around the soap tray causing motor and body damage, some are still prone, so be cautious when pouring in your soap and bleaches.
I prefer the older style top loaders still, but I don’t buy new. Used machines are cheap and last a long time if used properly. Remember clean soft water, only use hot when necessary, run fewer loads and each one as full as possible/recommended. USE soap sparingly and fill with water then add your clothing to get the most water in to lubricate the movement. Balance the load at the spin cycle and remove clothing promptly. don’t store clothing in the washer before starting as this allows oils and moisture to cause rust and mildew to form.
Leave the lid open between to dry the tub and when you travel away, always shut off the water in case the hose bursts and floods your house and costs an arm in water bills and repairs.
It seems kind of funny that we are adding baking soda, and then..more baking soda, just in a different form. Is it really all necessary?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yep! Redundant– however. keep in mind that baking soda also acts as a water softener–so if hard water is a problem you may still need/want the baking soda.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I thought about doing this myself, but then wondered about the cost of electricity to bake something at 400 degrees for an hour. So it may be cheaper (and greener) just to purchase the washing soda. :\
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can bake it whilst the oven is on for something else at no extra cost. As for going green–Arm & Hammer makes it the same way so the carbon footprint would be the same.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.SOLAR–How about this: If chocolate chip cookies can be made on the dashboard of the car–why not washing soda?
Department of energy also has instructions for a DIY solar oven. www1.eere.energy.gov/education/pdfs/solar_oven.pdf