You’ll see many articles and cleaning tips on the web extolling the virtues of natural cleaning products, indeed we’ve tried a lot of them! Baking soda and washing soda are great products to have around and if you learn to use them, through practice are inexpensive, eco-friendly and better than the stuff you buy in the supermarkets.
Is Baking Soda The Same As Washing Soda?
When I first read about "baking soda" I was confused about the difference between that and washing soda, so I imagine are quite a few of you judging by how often this question is asked. So I wrote an article on our blog late last year, but I thought I'd repost here on the main website as we're still asked quite often, if one can be used as a substitute for the other.
For some purposes, the only difference between washing soda (sodium carbonate) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is that washing soda will consume two equivalents of acid, while baking soda will only consume one equivalent. What? Ok science mumbo jumbo - washing soda is more caustic (wear gloves when handling - strong alkaline) so its good for laundry and as a paste to remove stubborn stains.
The Chemistry
Washing soda is sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), baking soda is sodium bicarbonate – the same ingredients, but with a hydrogen atom replacing one of the sodiums. Both compounds are alkaline, meaning that they can neutralize acids. One common source of washing soda is the ashes of plants and its for this reason, it is sometimes called soda ash.
Baking soda, otherwise known as bicarbonate of soda (NaHCO3), sodium bicarbonate, and, less commonly, saleratus, is a chemical salt with diverse practical uses. The most common practical use for baking soda is as a leavening agent in baking. In combination with a liquid and an acid, baking soda undergoes a chemical reaction that releases bubbles of carbon dioxide. Trapped in batter or dough, these bubbles enable the baked good to rise. Baked goods leavened with baking soda, therefore, generally have a light crumb and are aerated with many holes left by the escaping bubbles of carbon dioxide.
So whilst you can substitute one with the other for some things, for goodness sake, don’t cook with washing soda!