Sodium Carbonate, Soda Ash Heavy, 1 kg

Heavy washing soda is sodium carbonate intended for making laundry and cleaning products. In a formulation it does several jobs at once: it softens water, keeps the pH in the alkaline range and supports the action of surfactants in removing grease. It is suitable for homemade and professional laundry powders, gels, cleaning pastes and degreasers.

It is supplied in technical grade with a high sodium carbonate content, free from GMO ingredients, parabens and fragrance allergens. It is used for making household products, not for products applied directly to the skin.

What it does in a formulation

• Water softener – binds the calcium and magnesium salts that make water hard. Surfactants are therefore not used up neutralising them, and the laundry product works even in hard water.
• pH regulator and buffering ingredient – the aqueous solution is alkaline, which helps to release greasy soils. In liquid products it keeps the pH in a stable alkaline range even when diluted.
• Detergent booster – supports the cleaning action of anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants.
• Abrasive ingredient – in dry cleaning powders and pastes it provides a mild abrasive effect, which disappears once it dissolves in water.

Use in a formulation

It dissolves in water, faster in warm water. When making liquid products, it is added gradually to the water while stirring constantly, not the other way round, so that lumps do not form at the bottom.

In powder blends it is mixed dry with the other ingredients. The powder is hygroscopic: it absorbs moisture from the air and gradually forms lumps. For this reason, do not leave the packaging open for long while working, and fill the finished blend into dry, tightly closed containers.

It is compatible with preservatives, fragrance and electrolytes. Fragrance compositions are added to powders only after the base has been mixed thoroughly.

Suitable for products such as

• Laundry powders and gels – as a water softener and an alkaline ingredient that supports surfactants.
• Cleaning powders and pastes – as an abrasive and alkaline ingredient for stubborn deposits.
• Degreasers and all-purpose cleaners – for pH adjustment and to support the action on grease.

Good to know

Sodium carbonate is considerably more alkaline than baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), which is why it has a stronger cleaning effect. At the same time, it is much milder than sodium hydroxide and does not saponify oils, so it cannot replace sodium hydroxide in soap making.

It reacts with acids, for example citric acid, releasing carbon dioxide. For this reason, acidic and alkaline ingredients are not combined in one finished product.

The designation heavy refers to the form of the raw material. The coarser grain has a higher bulk density, is easier to weigh and produces less dust when poured.

Frequently asked questions