Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
If you like making your own laundry soap in order to save money or control the chemicals in your home, you're probably familiar with washing soda. It only costs a few dollars for a large box and can be used for laundry and a variety of other jobs.
Washing soda is sodium carbonate. Nothing more, nothing less. You will often find sodium carbonate listed as one of the ingredients in cleaning products, personal hygiene products, and even herbicides.
Washing soda has a higher pH than baking soda. The higher the pH, the more power behind it. It is considered a “green” product, which draws many people to it. The high pH of the soda makes it an excellent cleanser that can get any dirty job done without requiring harsh chemicals.
Here are 23 uses for washing soda that go beyond your dirty laundry.
Note: For many of these, I recommend a “washing soda solution.” To make that, just mix two teaspoons of washing soda with one cup of hot water in a spray bottle.
For a few of these, I recommend a “washing soda paste.” To make that, just add a few tablespoons of hot water to 1/2 cup of washing soda and stir it up. Keep adding a tiny bit of water at a time until you have a spreadable paste.
1. Remove Stains – Use it as a stain remover for light colored carpets.
• Spray the stain with your washing soda solution, then gently scrub the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes before drying it.
2. Clean Sinks, Tubs, and Toilets – If you are dealing with hard water that leaves that awful staining in sinks, tubs, toilets, or is leaving your washer a stinky mess, try washing soda. The high alkaline helps break up the minerals and leaves everything a little cleaner.
• Just fill your sink or tub with hot water and add a few tablespoons or a few cups, respectively, and let it sit for 15 minutes before draining and rinsing. For toilets, sprinkle washing soda on your toilet brush and start scrubbing.
3. Clean Your Grill – If you have an outdoor grill that is blackened with caked on grease and food, don't worry.
• Soak the grate in a tub of hot water and a cup of washing soda. After 15 minutes, use a scrubber to wash away the debris. It will look good as new again.
4. Clean Linoleum – Stains on linoleum can be scrubbed away with washing soda.
• Scrub with your washing soda paste, but test it in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't rub away the design.
5. Clean Your Stove and Oven – Even dirty old stoves and ovens can be clean again.
• Sprinkle a little washing soda directly on areas that are really soiled with caked on food and grease. Use a dry scrubbing sponge to rub it in. Then add water and continue scrubbing until it is clean.
6. Remove Smells from Garbage Cans – Rubber garbage cans that have a nasty funk can be made fresh and new with a little washing soda.
• Sprinkle some in the empty trash can, add water and swish it around. If needed, allow the solution to soak for a bit before rinsing.
7. Wash Your Mop – You should wash your mop regularly. Grease and grime tend to cling to mops, making it harder to clean your floor every time you use them.
• Soak the mop head in a bucket of hot water and about 1/2 a cup of washing soda for at least 15 minutes.
8. Unclog Drains – Don't waste your money on Liquid-Plumr! Washing soda can eat away the grease that clings to the sides of pipes, causing clogs.
• Add 1/2 a cup of washing soda to your drain once a week. Run hot water or pour boiling water down the drain after the soda.
9. Remove Soap Scum and Grout – Give the bathroom tiles a new look by scrubbing the tiles with washing soda. It helps remove soap scum that dulls the look of the tile and works wonders to clean grout.
• Simply scrub then with your washing soda paste. Repeat as necessary, and rinse.
10. Clean Shower Curtains – Shower curtains that have that nasty mildew clinging to the folds and lower part of the curtain can be made clean and fresh again.
• Either sprinkle washing soda on a sponge and wipe the curtain down, or spray it with your washing soda solution and wipe it down.
11. Clean Car Windows – If your homestead is down a dirt road or in the boonies, you probably have dirty windows on your car. Cleaning the windows with a washing soda solution will leave them streak free while removing the bugs and heavy dirt.
• Simply spray your windows with a washing soda solution and and wipe them clean.
12. Clean Your Coffee Pot – You can make your coffee pot like new again and get rid of all that caked on water scum with a washing soda rinse.
• Fill it up with hot water, add a tablespoon of washing soda, and let it soak. Pour out the water, wipe it down and then rinse.
13. Rinse Off Your Sidewalk – If you have a sidewalk that is in the shade and prone to moss, you can stop the moss growth with washing soda.
• Sprinkle the soda directly on the moss. Sprinkle some water over the top and allow it to sit for a few days. Use a hose to spray off the moss.
14. Clean Dirty Blinds – Dirty blinds that have caked on grease, soot, and even grease can look good as new again.
• Just soak them in a tub filled with a cup of washing soda and hot water. Allow to soak overnight, drain the tub, and then use the shower to rinse away the soda mixture.
15. Remove Wax Buildup – Wax buildup on linoleum or wood floors can be removed with a little washing soda.
• Take your washing soda paste, spread it where needed, and allow it to sit for a few hours or overnight. Wipe away and repeat if needed.
16. Plucking Chickens – Plucking chickens is a lot easier after you have soaked the bird in a washing soda solution. It makes the feathers quick and simple to pluck.
• Just fill a bucket with hot water and add a cup of washing soda, then stir it up.
17. Remove Mildew – There's a great way to get rid of mildew, but believe it or not, it involves milk.
• Add a 1/4 cup of washing soda and a cup of milk to a gallon of water. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray areas where mildew tends to grow. Wipe down with a cloth.
18. Wash Your Deck – Don't bother with deck cleaner. There's a simpler way.
• Sprinkle washing soda all over your deck and scrub it down. Rinse it off with the hose and allow to dry in the sun. This can help remove debris from trees, cooking or spills.
19. Clean Garden Tools – Keep your garden tools in good shape by giving them a good scrub down at the end of each season with a washing soda solution.
• Just spray them with washing soda solution and scrub them well. Repeat as necessary. Make sure you dry thoroughly before storing away for the winter.
20. Remove Paint – If your paint job has got a little out of hand, you can use a washing soda paste to scrub away paint drops.
• For this, use your washing soda paste. Spread it on the unwanted paint, let it dry, then rinse it off.
21. Clean Your Fireplace – Clean the glass on your fireplace or pellet stove with a washing soda. It will remove the soot and leave streak free glass.
• Spray your washing soda solution on it and scrub. If necessary, use a washing soda paste.
22. Clean Silver – Cleaning silver jewelry or other silver items is a cinch.
• Add 1/2 cup of washing soda to a gallon of water. Line a dish pan with foil, add your silver, and then pour the solution over the top. Allow it to soak for 15 minutes, rinse and dry.
23. Improve Your Pool Water – If your backyard pool is running on the low side of the pH scale, you can add a little soda to help bring down the acidity and create a better balance.
• Just sprinkle soda into the pool, adding a little at a time until you get the desired level.
You can get two boxes of washing soda for about $20 (as of this writing). What are some other uses for washing soda? Leave a comment and tell us what we forgot!
Washing soda can also be used for pest contol and to unclog drains.
The first sentence on #23 should say “if your backyard pool is running on the LOW side of the pH scale”…
You’re right, thanks for pointing that out!
Never heard of washing soda.baking soda yes.sounds like same uses except baking soda for levener.