Washing soda VS baking soda

[JKSemeraro]

Everything I see says you can't use baking soda, only washing soda. Why? I built my first e-tank before I watched any YouTube or was on any forums, just used my 20+ year-old high school science and it's been working just fine with baking soda. So why does everyone who talks about E-tank cleaning CI say it has to be washing soda?

 

[Doug D.]

Probably more to do with washing soda (sodium carbonate) being pound for pound cheaper in the package sizes most commonly available for both. Some people also use and prefer sodium hydroxide (lye) for a hybrid lye/electro effect.

 

[CoreyB]

Probably more to do with washing soda (sodium carbonate) being pound for pound cheaper in the package sizes most commonly available for both. Some people also use and prefer sodium hydroxide (lye) for a hybrid lye/electro effect.

So you can do electrolysis with lye?

 

[Doug D.]

Yes, several past discussions of same here. Search using both terms.

 

[Scott J.]

Several sources say washing soda is more effective per unit something than baking soda. Washing soda is inexpensive enough in Walmart so I use that. Using washing soda (and probably baking soda) is OK to pour on the ground when I deem it time to change the solution. Don't need to be super careful about skin contact with the washing soda solution although I wouldn't make a habit of it.