Baking Soda and Washing Soda sound similar but they are definitely not the same product. Both can be used to clean laundry, both can be used for household cleaning, but one can damage skin and the other can be eaten. Learn the difference between washing soda and baking soda PLUS find out their best cleaning uses.
Homemade Cleaner Ingredients
Ever tried making your own homemade cleaners? Some of the recipes are effective, some are so-so, and some are a total disaster. It’s a waste of time and ingredients when a new concoction doesn’t work as expected.
The #1 reason homemade cleaners fail? Choosing the wrong ingredients!
- Some natural cleaner recipes combine ingredients that neutralize one another or produce dangerous reaction.
- Other ineffective mixtures choose the wrong ingredients for the job.
It’s important to educated yourself about the ingredients you are using to be able to make the right choices and clean effectively. I like to know:
- How ingredients work.
- Where they are safe to use.
- What they should (and should not) be mixed with.
Green Cleaning Question
A lovely reader sent a message to my Facebook page asking why I include both baking soda and washing soda in some of my homemade cleaners. I started writing a reply and then realized I should share the answer with everyone.
What is Washing Soda?
Washing soda or soda ash are common names for Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3). Washing soda is a caustic base (able to burn, destroy, or damage organic tissue slowly by chemical action). It is not edible, should not be inhaled, and can damage eyes (flush the exposed areas with large quantities of water). Gloves should always be worn when cleaning with washing soda.
What is Baking Soda?
Baking soda is the name commonly used for Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3). Baking soda is a mild base that is commonly used as a leavening agent to raise baked goods. It is edible and is mild enough to be used as toothpaste or taken as an antacid. Baking soda is edible but should not be inhaled and can irritate eyes.
All-Natural Substances
Washing soda and baking soda are both natural substances made from a mineral called trona. Processing trona produces sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Both are white crystalline powders.
- Baking soda is a pure white powder with fine, dusty granules that cannot be felt.
- Baking soda granules are easy to dissolve in water and rinse clean
- It is a mildly abrasive cleaner that is good for scrubbing.
- Washing soda is a white-ish powder with larger granules that can be seen and felt.
- Washing soda granules dissolve slowly in water and will leave a white residue if not well rinsed.
- It makes a more abrasive cleaner that can scratch delicate surfaces but cleans well.
pH levels and Cleaning
We have to step back to high school chemistry class to continue examining the difference between baking soda and washing soda. Remember the pH scale?
The pH scale is used to determine if a liquid is acidic, basic, or neutral. The scale runs from 0 to 14, the center of the scale is neutral (number 7).
- Solutions from 0-6 on the scale are acidic.
- Solutions from 8-14 are basic.
- The further away from 7 you move on the scale, the more intense the acid or base.
- Substances at the ends of the scale are caustic (able to destroy organic materials/cause chemical burns). For example, battery acid has a pH of 0 and drain cleaner has a pH of 14.
- Each whole pH value is ten times more powerful than the next whole value. For example, pH 10 is ten times more alkaline than pH 9 and 100 times more alkaline than pH 8.
- When a base is added to an acid (or an acid added to a base), the solution moves toward the middle of the pH scale as it is partially or fully neutralized.
Using Bases to Clean Acids
Most of the substances that soil our homes and laundry are acidic when measured on the pH scale, so alkaline cleaners usually have the best results.
Washing Soda and Baking Soda are both alkaline (basic).
- Baking soda has a more neutral pH of 8.
- Washing soda is more alkaline with a pH of 11.
Different Bases, Different Uses
- The high alkalinity of washing soda helps remove grease and stains. It can also balance the pH level of water to enhance detergent’s effectiveness.
- Because washing soda is highly alkaline, too much washing soda can damage surfaces, fade colors, and eat away at fabric/surfaces over time.
- Mildly alkaline baking soda neutralizes odor causing acids, breaks down proteins and stains, and softens water to enhance detergent’s effectiveness.
- Because baking soda is a mild alkaline, it does not usually damage surfaces or fabrics but can take longer to clean.
- Household water has a pH range of 7 to 8.5. Optimal water pH for laundry is around 10.
- The pH of water can be raised with washing soda or baking soda. However, using too much washing soda can fade or weaken fabrics.
- Baking soda and washing soda should NEVER be mixed with acidic cleaning ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar.
- The bubbling reaction when the ingredients are combined is the acid neutralizing the power of the alkaline cleaner.
- Alkaline cleaners need to attack acidic household soils to work well. Neutralizing their power with acidic cleaning ingredients makes them less ineffective.
When Baking Soda vs Washing Soda?
Both natural substances are effective water softeners, deodorizers, and alkaline cleaners. BUT because of the difference between washing soda and baking soda you should…
- Choose washing soda when cleaning:
- Sturdy surfaces or fabrics that are easy to rise (bathtub, shower door).
- The washing soda will clean without damaging the item and can be washed away easily.
- Choose baking soda when cleaning:
- Sturdy surfaces that are hard to rinse (oven floor or floor grout).
- Delicate surfaces that can be scratched (natural stone counters).
- Areas used by children and pets (carpet, pet beds).
- Food preparation surfaces (kitchen sink, cutting board).
- It has enough grit to clean but will not scratch surfaces, is easier to rinse clean, and it is edible so there is no residue worry.
- Choose both washing soda and baking soda when cleaning:
- Household stains and odors from items that can be easily rinsed but may be damaged by the overuse of a caustic substance (laundry).
- Using a combination of washing soda and baking soda raises the pH of water for optimal cleaning conditions while deodorizing and breaking down stains.
All-Natural Cleaning Recipes
Now that you've learned about washing soda and baking soda try using them to clean. Check out these all-natural cleaners that use baking soda and washing soda.
Cleaners that Use Baking Soda:
Cleaners that Use Washing Soda:
Cleaners that Use Baking Soda & Washing Soda:
- Borax Free Homemade Laundry Detergent
- Naturally Clean Smelly Towels
- Natural Homemade Dishwasher Powder
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More Posts You Will Enjoy
Non-Toxic Homemade Dish Detergent for Hand Washing
Why You Should Never Use Baking Soda and Vinegar to Clean Clogged Drains
Non-Toxic No Scrub Shower Cleaner
Do Homemade Laundry Detergents Really Work?
DIY Laundry Detergent Liquid: 2 Non-Toxic Borax Free Recipes
How to Naturally Clean Smelly Towels: the Fool Proof Guide
Karen says
Finally the first blog that talks about baking soda and washing soda and doesn’t suggest to be cheaper you bake it in the oven. This a very good post. My other pet peeve is when the bloggers tell us to mix Dr Bronners with vinegar the web site says don’t do it but people don’t go to thee web site. Another pet peeve is when bloggers use hydrogen peroxide with a clear bottle. Thank you for doing due diligence.
Bren says
Thanks Karen! I do love to save money, but don’t think there is enough of a cost difference to make my own washing soda. I agree, no mixing Castile soap with vinegar! You should check out my post Green Cleaning Ingredients You Should Never Mix.
bobbyjoe thomas says
Thank you. This is EXACTLY the information I was looking for.
Bren says
Thanks, Bobbyjoe! Glad it was helpful.
Charles says
What is the difference between baking soda packaged specifically for cleaning and deodorizing, with a warning not to use it as an antacid, and edible baking soda that can be used as antacid.
Bren says
The difference is in how it is produced/handled and the size of the particles. One is food grade and the other is not. You can read more here: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Baking-Soda.html
Rachel says
You mentioned to never mix baking soda/washing soda with vinegar. Would you still be able to use your laundry soap recipe with a vinegar ‘fabric softener’? Or would you suggest some other method for softening clothes?
Bren says
It works great in the laundry as a fabric softener because it is not added until you want to soap to rinse out / break down. You can read more in my fabric softener or laundry detergent posts.
Kara says
What about using vinegar as a pre-treatment for armpit stain/smells? My shirts still smell in the pit area even after washing. I’ve been wanting to spray it with a vinegar solution, let it soak for a bit and then wash. Will the vinegar still react with the natural detergent that has baking soda and washing soda in it? Should I use a baking soda paste to remove the smell instead?
Bren says
You should not be introducing enough vinegar by spritzing the underarms to counteract the natural detergent. However, you can use a paste with baking soda such as this stain treater that will remove the smell if you can concerned and use the vinegar rinse as fabric softener. It deodorizes as it softens and helps remove detergent residue. Hope this helps! Bren
july says
Thanks! It helped me lot…
july says
Thanks…It helped me lot…Bren Mam!:)
Bren says
😉
Deanna L Herald says
On another page, you mention not mixing soda and acid, because they neutralize each other. Why did this recipe mix the two?
Bren says
Sorry Deanna, I don’t understand the question as it applies to this post.
Barb says
Good info here. I do have a slightly different question. Can a combination of baking powder ( currently don’t have b. soda) and vinegar work for deodorising/sanitising a front loading washing machine?
Bren says
Baking powder is a dry mix made of an acid (calcium acid phosphate, sodium aluminum sulfate or cream of tartar) and a base (sodium bicarbonate – AKA baking soda) that reacts to form CO2 bubbles in batter when a liquid is added. It is specifically formulated for baking and would probably not help much in cleaning. To clean/deodorize a front loading washer you can use plain white vinegar. I run an empty “cleaning cycle” load in my washer with white vinegar in all the compartments then wipe down all the seals with a cloth soaked in white vinegar. Finally I leave the washer open to dry and make sure all the seals are well dried. White vinegar is a great deodorizer.
peg and kev says
Much obliged for your concise and informative ingredient recipes and cleaners, as we have had a disagreement over these differences for years and you saved THE DAY. More like it, and many many thanks. BEST yet….M. and K. Dwyer
Bren says
Thanks! 😉
Christine says
In the article it states never to mix lemon juice or vinegar with baking soda & washing soda because it will neutralize but in your dishwasher recipe it calls for citric acid. Wouldn’t citric acid cause neutralization too?
Bren says
There would definitely be some neutralization, Christine. Have you seen my lemon dishwasher detergent? It doesn’t have that issue.
Bonnie Kropoff says
I cleaned up a washing soda spill without gloves 4 days ago and still have it on my hands through several hand washings. Can you tell me how to remove it? Thanks.
Bren says
I would wash with white vinegar and then mild soap then apply lotion. You may have a mild chemical burn.
Judi says
Thank you sooo much for breaking it down when explaining the acidity versus alkalinity. Can now understand what to use where.
Bren says
You’re welcome, Judi!
Frank says
What is the best way to remove soda ash from clothes? Is there something we can add to the washing machine to lift soda ash off the clothes?
It’s irritating my daughter’s skin so we need to remove any sign of soda ash in her clothes.
Thank you for the article!
Bren says
Use a vinegar rinse. Vinegar contains is acetic acid that breaks down the washing soda. I use vinegar in my fabric softener compartment. Good luck!
Frank says
Thank you for your reply Bren! Didn’t get a notification of your reply but checked back on the site and found it. Have already started to use vinegar in the rinse. Thanks again!
Frank says
Both are included in DIY laundry recipes as water softeners, precipitating calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese ions as carbonates, thereby eliminating them from competition with soap molecules, which are fatty acids. Salts if fatty acids and those ions form what is commonly referred to as scum. Unfortunately, no mention is made of this important reason for their use.
Bren says
Thanks for commenting, Frank. This is a good reason for their use. I also like to fight soap scum in homemade detergent with a vinegar rinse.