Soda lye is an effective product made from water and caustic soda. Toxic and dangerous for health and the environment, it cannot be used without protection. It is a major ally within the house, because it is recognized for its many and very varied uses. Let’s take stock of the characteristics of washing soda, its possible uses and the precautions to be taken.
What is washing soda?
Soda lye (or sodium lye, or caustic soda) is made up of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), i.e. it is an aqueous version of caustic soda. Soda is sold in several formats, in balls, in pellets, and, most frequently, in flakes. It is these flakes that dissolve best in water to make washing soda and to meet a very wide use within the house.
A distinction must be made between Saint-Marc laundry and soda lye. This famous product consists of soda crystals (sodium carbonate) and is much less aggressive than washing soda. Nevertheless, their uses are similar and their effectiveness close.
How to use washing soda?
Soda lye can have multiple uses.
She cleans the tiles
Soda lye is very useful for cleaning your tiles and tiled surfaces. You can thus clean limescale and limescale from tiles and earthenware in the kitchen and bathroom. Just dilute a little washing soda in hot water and rub the surfaces with a clean sponge. Then rinse with clean water.
She strips the wood
To strip your wooden furniture in order to repaint it, washing soda is an effective solution for removing the layer of old paint. Apply the washing soda to the surface of the furniture using a brush. Let it act for a few minutes. Then simply scrape with a spatula to effortlessly remove the flaking paint.
She takes off the wallpaper
To effortlessly remove your old wallpaper, dilute washing soda in a little hot water. Moisten the lengths to be taken off and leave to act. The wallpaper then peels off on its own.
It eliminates bad odors from drains
Over the days, the pipes end up getting clogged and the deposits that settle there cause unpleasant bad odors. To remove them, dilute washing soda in hot water and pour the mixture down the drain. Let it act, the odors will go away on their own.
You can use the same mixture to clean your garbage cans.
She unclogs the drains
Soda lye is useful for unclogging drains. Caustic soda is indeed one of the components of unblocking products sold commercially. We advise you to act in the evening before going to bed to let the product act all night long without disturbance, which also allows you not to be bothered, because the odors released can be unpleasant.
To do this, mix washing soda with clean water and pour everything into the clogged drains. Leave to act overnight and let at least one liter of water run the next day before using the sanitary equipment. The drain must be completely unblocked. If necessary, repeat the operation.
She degreases kitchen utensils
Soda lye helps remove grease deposits from kitchen utensils. Dilute a little washing soda in hot water and let it act in your pots, pans, pots, sauté pans and other greasy containers, or wash them with this mixture and a sponge. Your dishes will be clean and shiny.
She cleans and cleans household appliances
Soda lye cleans household appliances and removes all limescale and other residues and deposits. Just mix a little washing soda in a large volume of water. Clean your devices with this mixture, leave to act and rinse with clean water several times to be sure to eliminate any remaining soda lye.
This solution is effective for your kettles, coffee makers, ovens, microwaves, gas stoves, etc.
What are the precautions for use with washing soda?
Soda lye is a toxic and dangerous chemical product, it is therefore essential to respect certain precautions for use, because the risk of burns and intoxication is present. It is a highly corrosive product which consists of 70% water and 30% caustic soda!
Be sure to store washing soda in a dry place, away from heat and humidity and out of reach of children and pets.
Never use washing soda without wearing protective gloves. Whether or not you mix the product with other solutions, equip yourself with protective glasses and non-fragile and above all very covering clothing. Be vigilant and do not mix washing soda with prohibited products. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid errors and abstain if you do not have information about a product. It is also preferable to wear a muffler or protective mask to avoid inhaling the gases released by the product during use.
Always use caustic soda in an airy and well-ventilated room, with the windows open if possible, or, at best, outdoors. Either way, never allow children and pets near the area or room of use.
If washing soda comes into contact with your skin, immediately pour a mixture of white vinegar and water on the affected area to neutralize the effects of the washing soda. Prepare the cleaning beforehand, in case of a problem.
Never dispose of washing soda in nature, as it is toxic to the environment. Dilute it as much as possible when you empty it into your pipes after or during its use.