0 Comments
Washing soda is an important ingredient in my homemade laundry detergent, and it also features in many of the other DIY cleaners I’ve shared on my blog. But when I first started making my own stain removers and cleaners, I didn’t know where to buy washing soda!
As a quick refresher, washing soda is related to (but not the same as) baking soda. Thanks to its very basic pH level, washing soda makes a great laundry detergent booster, helping to fight hard water and lift out stains, even in high efficiency washing machines. (Washing soda also has many uses outside the laundry room too — more on that shortly!)
Washing soda is sometimes labeled as soda ash, sodium carbonate (not sodium bicarbonate — that’s baking soda), washing powder, or laundry soda, but those names are more commonly used outside of the U.S. To learn more about washing soda and what sets it apart from other common ingredients in household cleaners, see my post on the difference between washing soda, baking soda, and borax.
Look For Washing Soda In The Laundry Aisle
If you want to buy washing soda, you may not have to look any further than your local grocery store. When stores carry washing soda, you can usually find it in the same aisle as laundry soap and liquid laundry detergent, often stocked on either the top or bottom shelf. (That’s usually where you’ll find 20 Mule Team borax and Fels Naptha laundry soap too, which is handy to know if you’re making your own laundry detergent!)
The most common variety of washing soda sold in stores (or online, for that matter) is a 55 oz box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda. (I’ve even bought washing soda at Ace Hardware, so don’t be afraid to expand your search radius if you strike out at the store!)
If you can’t find it locally anywhere, you can always make washing soda from baking soda. It’s really easy to do, and you can even use that old box of baking soda in your fridge for this purpose in a pinch!
Where To Buy Washing Soda Online
More of an online shopper than an brick-and-mortar buyer? No problem! You can buy washing soda online through most major retailers, like eBay, Amazon, and Walmart.
Again, the 55 oz box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda is likely to be the most readily available option. If you’re buying washing soda to make my homemade laundry detergent, the full-size recipe uses all 55 ounces. (That’s why I like to buy it in larger quantities when I can, so that I have enough left over to use in other homemade cleaning products.)
What Else Can You Use Washing Soda For?
Aside from making your own laundry detergent or using it as a laundry booster, there are plenty of other washing soda uses worth knowing about! To use washing soda for household cleaning, you can make a versatile cleaning solution by adding half of a cup of washing soda to a gallon of warm water. (It’s great for cleaning outdoor furniture!)
Adding a half cup of washing soda to your washer won’t just boost the performance of your detergent either. It can also help prevent limescale buildup and even prolong the life of your machine. (And don’t worry — washing soda is safe to use as directed!)
And speaking of safety, washing soda gets an A rating from the Environmental Working Group, meaning the group recognizes it as non-toxic and generally safe to use. But like many other cleaning agents, washing soda can be irritating if it comes into direct contact with skin, so it’s smart to wear gloves when handling it.
Where do you buy washing soda?
