Water softener? (Haley's Cleaning Hints)

[Dave]

Just picked up a copy of Haley's Cleaning Hints at the library, and expected
to be able to look this up in the index. Anyone know what he is talking
about when he mentions "water softener"? Also called "washing soda." No
such thing on my grocery store shelves... I somehow thought this was a
code-word for baking soda. What is he talking about?

Ignorantly yours,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

[Vox Humana]

"Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c8j3l1$ltu@library1.airnews.net...
> Just picked up a copy of Haley's Cleaning Hints at the library, and
expected
> to be able to look this up in the index. Anyone know what he is talking
> about when he mentions "water softener"? Also called "washing soda." No
> such thing on my grocery store shelves... I somehow thought this was a
> code-word for baking soda. What is he talking about?

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Washing soda is sodium carbonate. I
believe that Arm and Hammer sells both but I have never looked for washing
soda. Interestingly, some people object to an "off taste" that they detect
in baked goods. This is the result of an incomplete reaction of baking soda
that turns into washing soda. This is a good reason no to use excessive
amounts of baking soda in recipes.

[Dave]

"Vox Humana" <vhumana@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:_89rc.40$MY4.16@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
>
> "Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:c8j3l1$ltu@library1.airnews.net...
> > Just picked up a copy of Haley's Cleaning Hints at the library, and
> expected
> > to be able to look this up in the index. Anyone know what he is talking
> > about when he mentions "water softener"? Also called "washing soda."
No
> > such thing on my grocery store shelves... I somehow thought this was a
> > code-word for baking soda. What is he talking about?
>
> Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Washing soda is sodium carbonate. I
> believe that Arm and Hammer sells both but I have never looked for washing
> soda. Interestingly, some people object to an "off taste" that they
detect
> in baked goods. This is the result of an incomplete reaction of baking
soda
> that turns into washing soda. This is a good reason no to use excessive
> amounts of baking soda in recipes.
>
>

Okaaaay. So, can I use baking soda (bicarbonate) in place of washing soda?
If I'm not mistaken, the only difference should be an extra H+ ion tacked
onto the carbonate ion. I know that baking soda will work in his recipe for
removing tarnish from silver (using hot water, aluminum foil and salt.)
Anybody know? I've already got plenty of baking soda on hand... May just
give it a try to see.

Thanks for the help,

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

[Vox Humana]

"Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c8j8ic$pet@library1.airnews.net...
>
> "Vox Humana" <vhumana@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:_89rc.40$MY4.16@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
> >
> > "Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:c8j3l1$ltu@library1.airnews.net...
> > > Just picked up a copy of Haley's Cleaning Hints at the library, and
> > expected
> > > to be able to look this up in the index. Anyone know what he is
talking
> > > about when he mentions "water softener"? Also called "washing soda."
> No
> > > such thing on my grocery store shelves... I somehow thought this was
a
> > > code-word for baking soda. What is he talking about?
> >
> > Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Washing soda is sodium carbonate. I
> > believe that Arm and Hammer sells both but I have never looked for
washing
> > soda. Interestingly, some people object to an "off taste" that they
> detect
> > in baked goods. This is the result of an incomplete reaction of baking
> soda
> > that turns into washing soda. This is a good reason no to use excessive
> > amounts of baking soda in recipes.
> >
> >
>
> Okaaaay. So, can I use baking soda (bicarbonate) in place of washing
soda?
> If I'm not mistaken, the only difference should be an extra H+ ion tacked
> onto the carbonate ion. I know that baking soda will work in his recipe
for
> removing tarnish from silver (using hot water, aluminum foil and salt.)
> Anybody know? I've already got plenty of baking soda on hand... May just
> give it a try to see.
>
> Thanks for the help,
>

I'm not advocating that you substitute one for the other. I just pointed
out the difference.

[Dave]

"Vox Humana" <vhumana@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Qeerc.1612$y04.738@fe1.columbus.rr.com...
>
> "Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:c8j8ic$pet@library1.airnews.net...
> >
> > "Vox Humana" <vhumana@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:_89rc.40$MY4.16@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
> > >
> > > "Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > > news:c8j3l1$ltu@library1.airnews.net...
> > > > Just picked up a copy of Haley's Cleaning Hints at the library, and
> > > expected
> > > > to be able to look this up in the index. Anyone know what he is
> talking
> > > > about when he mentions "water softener"? Also called "washing
soda."
> > No
> > > > such thing on my grocery store shelves... I somehow thought this
was
> a
> > > > code-word for baking soda. What is he talking about?
> > >
> > > Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Washing soda is sodium carbonate.
I
> > > believe that Arm and Hammer sells both but I have never looked for
> washing
> > > soda. Interestingly, some people object to an "off taste" that they
> > detect
> > > in baked goods. This is the result of an incomplete reaction of
baking
> > soda
> > > that turns into washing soda. This is a good reason no to use
excessive
> > > amounts of baking soda in recipes.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Okaaaay. So, can I use baking soda (bicarbonate) in place of washing
> soda?
> > If I'm not mistaken, the only difference should be an extra H+ ion
tacked
> > onto the carbonate ion. I know that baking soda will work in his recipe
> for
> > removing tarnish from silver (using hot water, aluminum foil and salt.)
> > Anybody know? I've already got plenty of baking soda on hand... May
just
> > give it a try to see.
> >
> > Thanks for the help,
> >
>
> I'm not advocating that you substitute one for the other. I just pointed
> out the difference.
>
>

Gotcha. Thanks.

Dave
db5151@hotmail.com

[caroline]

"Dave" wrote
> Just picked up a copy of Haley's Cleaning Hints at the library, and
expected
> to be able to look this up in the index. Anyone know what he is talking
> about when he mentions "water softener"? Also called "washing soda." No
> such thing on my grocery store shelves... I somehow thought this was a
> code-word for baking soda. What is he talking about?

'old fashioned' Soda crystals...? Used to be for clothes washing, I still
keep them around for making the dog vomit if something nasty has been eaten
;o)

[Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr.]

Hi Dave

A simple H+ molecule?

I'm sure you drink a little H2O every day!
And the air you breath is O2 right!

Therefore, a little oxygenated water should be good for you;)

However, I think I would lay off the H2O2 if I were you!
That little oxygen molecule just turned your water to poison.
H2O2 is Hydrogen Peroxide.

TTUL
Gary

[DrClean]

"Gary V. Deutschmann, Sr." <raiar@bbs.galilei.com.nospam> wrote in message
news:40ae4377.165566687@news.galilei.com...
> Hi Dave
>
> A simple H+ molecule?
>
> I'm sure you drink a little H2O every day!
> And the air you breath is O2 right!
>
> Therefore, a little oxygenated water should be good for you;)
>
> However, I think I would lay off the H2O2 if I were you!
> That little oxygen molecule just turned your water to poison.
> H2O2 is Hydrogen Peroxide.
>
> TTUL
> Gary
>

If you look on a hydrogen peroxide bottle bought from a pharmacy it suggests
that it can be used as a mouth wash.
--
DrClean
www.DrClean.co.uk
The Best Fabric Cleaning Resource on the Web