Alternatives to Soda Ash

Soda ash, also known as sodium carbonate, is used in a wide variety of applications ranging from glass making to electrolysis. Soda ash is derived from plants and typically comes in white powder form. Domestically, soda ash is most commonly used as a laundry detergent supplement to soften water and help remove oil, grease and other stains from clothing, to clean stainless steel kitchen utensils and appliances, and as a fixative in fabric dyeing. For these common uses, a variety of substances can work as substitutes.

Soda ash is used to make detergents and laundry supplements that soften water and help remove stains. These products are often referred to as washing soda. Another way to soften laundry water and fight stains is to add white vinegar. Vinegar naturally softens water, breaks down stains, neutralizes ingredients in detergents that can cause adverse skin reactions and eliminates static cling. For non-delicates, add 2 cups of vinegar during the rinse cycle. For delicates, add 1/2-cup of vinegar.

Baking soda is made with soda ash and is often used to clean stainless steel, non-aluminum items such as silverware, pots and pans, sinks, and kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Stainless steel is durable, but not totally resistant to corrosion, and routine cleaning will help maintain the appearance and longevity of your stainless steel items. There are a few alternatives to baking soda, depending on the nature of the cleaning job. To do a light cleaning job of superficial drips or fingerprints, buff the item with window cleaner. To get rid of harder-to-remove, oil or grease, use an acetone paint thinner or nail-polish remover and scrub with a soft, non-abrasive scrubber. To remove rust, soak the items in a solution of 9-parts warm water and 1-part nitric acid for not more than an hour.

Whether you are making a tie-dyed shirt or are just changing the color of fabric, many types of fabric dyes require the use of soda ash to "fix" the dye. Soda ash makes the die permanent by changing the dye's pH levels. A viable alternative to soda ash is sodium silicate, sometimes called liquid glass. Sodium silicate fixatives are made up of a silicon and oxygen polymer and fixing dyed fabrics with sodium silicate is typically done by saturating the fabric, rolling it up in plastic for several hours, then washing it out thoroughly with fresh water.