\nMy reading suggests that washing soda, washing ash, and sodium carbonate are all the same thing. It can be used as a degreaser. While sodium carbonate is chemically active and should only be used while wearing gloves and eye protection, my understanding is that it doesn’t give off harmful fumes.<\/p>\n
\nIt seems the mechanism behind sodium carbonate’s cleaning power is that, once it dissolves in water, the carbonate (charge of -2) grabs a hydrogen from a water molecule, leaving hydroxide. I’ve seen at least one dishwasher detergent that used sodium carbonate.<\/p>\n
\nI haven’t used sodium carbonate on a large scale, but I’ve seen it suggested as a degreaser for auto parts. It seems a safer alternative to some of the degreasers commonly used.<\/p>\n
\nSource:<\/p>\n
autorepairindy.com<\/a><\/p>\n onegoodthingbyjillee.com<\/a><\/p>\nJack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane,<\/a> Campbell River, BC.\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Self-tutoring about cleaning: the tutor mentions washing ash. My reading suggests that washing soda, washing ash, and sodium carbonate are all the same thing. It can be used as a degreaser. While sodium carbonate is chemically active and should only …<\/p>\n