Back to basics: Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

Washing soda, baking soda's more caustic cousin, is a powerful, natural household cleaner and laundry additive. Just don't forget to don gloves when handling it.

Tue, Dec 01 2009 at 10:02 AM EST

Welcome to the fourth installment of “Back to basics,” a series of posts where I highlight Earth-friendly, old-school household cleaning and laundering solutions that have been around for a while for good reason: they’re inexpensive, effective, sans synthetics, and likely have your granny's or great-granny’s seal of approval.

Previously I featured Bon Ami Cleaning Powder, 20 Mule Team Borax, and Dr. Bronner’s Classic Liquid Soaps. Up to bat today is Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (aka sodium carbonate, SAL soda, or soda ash), a naturally occurring alkaline mineral that’s related to baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) but packs more of a punch with a pH of 11.

What makes washing soda a stellar product to have around the house is its all-in-one versatility: similar to borax, it makes for a great water-softening, stain-busting bleach substitute when added to laundry; it neutralizes odors much like baking soda; it gives shine to silver; and it can replace chemical solvents when removing heavy-duty household spills and stains like motor oil, grease, wine, crayons, lipstick and wax.

And while you can find generic brand washing soda in the laundry section of grocery stores, the gold-standard brand of everything soda, Arm & Hammer, packages its Super Washing Soda in recycled content boxes.

Washing soda should not be used on fiberglass or aluminum surfaces, shouldn't be used to clean/de-clog drains, and should be kept safe from the curious tongues of kids and pets. Again, although it’s “natural” and closely related to milder baking soda, washing soda must be handled with care given that it is, in fact, caustic. The use of rubber gloves when handling washing soda is recommended since it can irritate the skin.

Below are two basic washing soda-based recipes to try out. Do you have any of your own to share?

All-purpose cleaner

1/2 tsp. washing soda

1/2 tsp. liquid laundry soap

2 tsp. borax

2 cups hot water

Mix washing soda, soap, and borax in a spray bottle. Add water.

Powdered laundry soap

8 cups washing soda

8 cups baking soda

8 cups grated Kirk’s Original Coco Castile Soap

12 cups borax

Mix all ingredients together and store in a sealed tub. Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load of laundry.

Photo: allison b216

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Enter your name 05/02/2012 14:57 PM

I just saw arm & hammer coupons on their web site. you can print 2 times a year different coupons.

Guest 03/20/2010 15:37 PM

Baking soda: orange box.
My boyfriend works as a blacksmith, so his shower and tub are always grey (should be a pretty yellow). Chemical sprays never worked. Baking soda cleaned it so well. I actually could see the real yellow color.

Use it as a face and back scrub to help prevent breakouts. (don't get it in your eyes). I even make a paste of it and leave it as a face mask for a few minutes and wash off.

My boyfriend and I love it so much that this is all we buy to clean and.... More

Radiant Goddess 04/07/2010 12:53 PM

Me and my husband like to brush our teeth with it daily,it is excellent for removing stains and keeps the mouth fressher all day. I use it in our laundry, in cleaning solutions. to clean my coffee press. All kinds of stuff. Thank God for natural stuff!

Radiant Goddess 04/07/2010 12:56 PM

After reading all the comments, I must also stress Arm & Hammer is the only one I buy. Wish I could find it in a really big box!

Anonymous 03/03/2012 10:10 AM

My husband gets Arm and Hammer baking soda in a 4 pound bag at Costco!!

Helen Oshita 03/15/2010 21:46 PM

How do I get coupons for Arm & Hammer baking soda?

Bonnie Barnes 03/14/2010 09:01 AM

Please let me know where to get coupons for Arm and Hammer products. Thanks

Estela Veliz 03/15/2010 20:39 PM

Enter your comments here. My son got as a gift a toothpaste of Arm and Hammer products. He liked it so much, assuring me that the product makes his teeth more white, to the point that is asking me to get it for him all the time. Unfortunatelly for me this is a expensive product. I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME COUPONS.

Ela Paez 03/13/2010 15:44 PM

I'm no expert how could I make mixture of baking soda and distilled vinegar to de-clog the drain

mhickman 03/13/2010 18:52 PM

Hey there - the method i use is 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda and add more if needed. then i let sit for about 10 mins and flush with hot water. works like a charm!

Maura Prelich 03/12/2010 15:53 PM

How to I get a coupon for washing soda? I just bought more today. wish i had gotten a coupon before hand! I have been making my own liquid laundry detergent for a year. I only use borax, vinegar and washing soda for household cleaning. ;)Enter your comments here

Linda 03/12/2010 12:56 PM

Please send email to let me know how to get free washing soda.

email: lastingimpressionbaskets@yahoo.com
Thanks.

Melissa in California 03/12/2010 11:51 AM

Love making my own Natural Cleaners & Laundry Detergent with Arm & Hammer products. THANKS for keeping it simple & keepin it real!

Momof2 03/12/2010 10:37 AM

....I see all of these expensive products and its good to know that ARm & Hammer is still out there...still cheap, still effective...still yellow LOL

Bob Bridges 03/12/2010 07:54 AM

love your products

Yvonne Davis 03/12/2010 07:14 AM

Please send free washing soda

Yvonne Davis
114 Cedar Lane
Blackshear, GA 31516

Sunrise 03/11/2010 23:57 PM

Enter your comments here The new washers require ultra-concentrated detergeant and use little water. How can the above formula be adapted for use? Any suggestions? I am new to this site.