Can't find washing soda in the Bay Area

[moribundman]

I checked the usual supermarket chains, including Smart&Final. I usually get "Why don't you use baking soda?"

Anybody know a source in the SF Bay Area?

PS: Tide gives me a rash.

 

[sprintman]

Why do you 'need' washing soda?

 

[The Critic]

Tide? I know of many people who are allergic to Tide. Try another brand of detergent. I'm currently using Sears High Efficiency Detergent w/Fabric Softener built-in. I need a "HE" detergent as I have a Kenmore Elite "Calypso" washing machine.

 

[moribundman]

That's turning into a global brain storming session. If you guys want, you can come by and do my laundy. I really only want to know where I can find washing soda locally.

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Originally posted by moribundman:
I checked the usual supermarket chains, including Smart&Final. I usually get "Why don't you use baking soda?"

Anybody know a source in the SF Bay Area?

PS: Tide gives me a rash.

---

Arm and Hammer has it. They call it super washing soda. I can't guarantee that they don't add something else to it, so read the label.

Check OSH or janitorial supply houses for Washing soda.

I have a Tide allergy. We use Costo's Kirkland Free&Clear liquid laundry detergent with no dyes or perfumes added. It comes in a white container. Cleans just as well as the perfumed dyed stuff and no rash.

 

[Pablo]

Guy in college. Used Tide. Made his grapes swell to the size of grapefruit!

Washing soda? Go to a natural market. You can't tell me there isn't one near you.

 

[Shannow]

Well I saw it on the shelf at Woolworths yeaterday, and Coles last week.

heck, if you drop by, I've got a half packet of unadulterated washing sodo I can lend you.

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Originally posted by moribundman:
That's turning into a global brain storming session. If you guys want, you can come by and do my laundy. I really only want to know where I can find washing soda locally.

---

I've bought it in a grocery store, but that was years ago.

1-800-524-1328 is Arm & Hammer's number. They should be able to tell you where you can buy it.

 

[moribundman]

I checked the janitorial department at a few places, but not yet OSH. I think Arm&Hammer's Super Washing Soda is not just washing soda, but I may be wrong and check again. I saw that at Safeway.

Natural markets? Hmm, Tader Joe (not THAT natural!) doesn't have it. I'll check some of the smelly hippie stores like Natural Foods.

Shannow, thanks for the offer, but I think driving to the soda mines in Nevada and filling my trunk will be faster than jumping the puddle!

 

[JHZR2]

is washing soda borax or something like ivory snow?

whole foods market?

JMH

 

[Shannow]

Sodium Carbonate, while baking soda is sodium bicarbonate.

 

[JHZR2]

aha

never had to use that before.

JMH

 

[Shannow]

It's useful stuff.

I add it to my bath sometimes (with epsom salts), use it to wash glasses sometimes, dry it out, and try to create anhydrous ethanol for my biodiesel experiments.

BTW, have you played with borax and PVA glue ?

 

[moribundman]

No, but I haven't had the need to make goo.

 

[Bio-T]

This will date myself, but many years ago when I was working in the oil field we would get a 50 pound bag of soda ash (sodium carbonate) and take it home to wash our dirty oil soaked clothes. I worked on the diesel engines and pump seals on the mud mixing machines and the electric motors on the trip tanks. Also I worked on the diesel engines on the generators. Mostly maintenance and seals changes.

 

[Shannow]

Tony,
the local steam trains use it as a water softener to prevent calcium/magnesium scale forming in the boilers.

 

[tom slick]

buy shaklee basic L off the internet. your cloths will be cleaner, last longer, non-irratating. it seems expensive until you relize you only use 1/4 cup per load. it's also enviro-friendly if you are into that stuff. most of their stuff I don't care for, but their laundry products are outstanding.

 

[PandaBear]

Why use sodium carbonate rather than laundry detergent? Is it better?

 

[moribundman]

It gets even the toughest blood stains out of the trunk liner.

 

[sprintman]

That's very good. I'm impressed.