Washing Soda (Natural Sodium Carbonate)

Washing Soda, or sodium carbonate, is a naturally occurring mineral salt made up of sodium, carbon, and oxygen. It forms in nature when water evaporates from alkaline lakes, leaving behind mineral-rich deposits. The most sustainable source is mined from trona ore, a mineral found in dry lake beds like those in Wyoming, USA. Trona is simply refined with water and heat to extract pure washing soda – no harsh chemicals or synthetic processing required.

In the world of green cleaning, washing soda is all about function. It’s highly alkaline (pH ~11), which means it creates an environment that dissolves grease, lifts grime, and cuts through oily build up. It also softens hard water by binding with calcium and magnesium, which is crucial because hard water can reduce the effectiveness of soaps and other cleaning ingredients.

It doesn’t just make cleaning easier – it makes your other ingredients work better. Washing soda helps soap lather more effectively, improves the cleaning power of your DIY laundry powder, and boosts stain removal. It also starts a mild chemical process that helps turn fats into soap (aka saponification) so it’s doing the work of breaking down grease, not just shifting it around.

A fun fact: washing soda is chemically related to bicarb soda, but it’s much stronger. While bicarb is mildly alkaline and great for gentle jobs, washing soda steps up for the heavy lifting – just don’t confuse the two when you're measuring things out!

Washing Soda is super versatile even without mixing it into a full recipe. You can:

• Soak greasy pots, pans and oven racks – just add 1–2 tablespoons to hot water.
• Unclog slow drains – pour about ½ cup down followed by boiling water.
• Make a simple degreasing spray – dissolve 1 teaspoon in a spray bottle of hot water, shake, and use on stovetops, exhaust fans, and range hoods.
• Adjust pH in pools – it can help raise the pH level safely.
• Use in the garden – it’s sometimes used to balance soil pH or as a mild fungicide (with care and knowledge, of course).
• It's even been known to grow crystals for school projects (yep, craft counts too!).

But when it comes to mixing cleaning products, I use it in the following recipe witch you can access on the DIY Recipe hub.

• Dishwasher tablets/powder
• Laundry Washing Powder
• Multi Purpose Cleaning Paste (like gumption)

Just remember it works best in hot water and should be stored in a dry place.

Washing Soda breaks down into simple, naturally occurring compounds and is fully biodegradable. Mine is harvested from one of the world’s largest natural deposits in the USA – not synthetically made in a lab, which can be more polluting. It's safe for septic systems and your conscience.

No fillers, no synthetic additives – just pure, active ingredient in plastic-free packaging.

Washing Soda is a strong alkali – not as caustic as drain cleaner, but still powerful. Handle with care and don’t inhale the powder. It can irritate skin or eyes in raw form, so wear gloves if you're sensitive, and keep it out of reach of little ones.

Label it clearly, store in a dry place.

“Isn’t this just Bicarb?”
Nope. They might look similar, but Washing Soda is much stronger. It’s a high-alkaline cleaner that’s better for breaking down grease and grime – not something you’d use in baking.

“It’s too harsh to use around the house.”
It’s powerful, yes – but when diluted properly, it’s completely safe and incredibly effective. It’s all about knowing how to use it.

“Washing Soda is Lectic Soda.”
Well not really! Lectic Soda is just the brand name – like Hoover is to vacuums. The actual ingredient inside the bag is Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate). But if this helps you connect the difference between washing soda and bicarb soda, then great!

“DIY is too hard.”
If you can make a cup of tea, you can make your own cleaner. Most recipes are just a few scoops and a shake. No lab coat required.