I copied part of an article on the use of baking soda vs. washing soda in laundry from URL: http://www.diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/article_bakingsoda.asp "The Baking Soda/Washing Soda question pondered . . . A definition from Dr. Dan Berger (Faculty- Chemistry/Science dept. at Bluffton College) gives a bit of understanding regarding the primary difference between Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate) and Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate). ". . . washing soda will consume two equivalents of acid, while baking soda will only consume one equivalent." So, what does this mean for those of us concerned about laundering our cloth diapers and family laundry? Well, basically that Washing Soda is a stronger base than baking soda, and is in fact, CAUSTIC. This is one reason why it isn't used for baking! Washing Soda is caustic/alkaline with a pH of 11 (with 7 being neutral). Though it does not give off harmful fumes, you do still need to use/wear gloves when handling it directly as a cleansing agent. In reading about safe household cleaners, it always is recommended to save the Washing Soda for the stubborn stains that you are going to tackle by making a paste. For instance, if speaks about petroleum spills on garage floors . . . grease build-up in your oven . . . y'know, truly STUBBORN STAINS! Baking Soda is only slightly alkaline with a pH around 8.1 (again, 7 being neutral). What exactly is PH? I personally prefer Baking Soda to Washing Soda for my laundry because it is a much milder alkali and yet, still can lift dirt/grease/urine/poopies off my diapers/laundry effectively to dissolve easily in the wash water. Because it is so very water soluable, it dissolves before its soft crystalline molecules can scratch or damage a surface. The same is NOT TRUE of Washing Soda - because of its extra alkaline, it can eat away at elastic and cloth over time and is also used to rough-up fabric for dying. In fact, Washing Soda has just enough alkaline content to fall short of being labeled non-toxic. Baking Soda and Washing Soda have the power to neutralize odors, instead of just covering them up. Most unpleasant odors come from either strong acids (like our baby's urine) or strong bases (fish oils - which we find in some of our mainstream diaper rash ointments). The Baking Soda and Washing Soda deodorizes by bringing both acidic and basic odor molecules into a neutral state. Robert Barefoot - Medical Journalist - cites from Nobel Prize Winner, Otto Warburg's work in his article, "Why is our pH Balance So Important . . ?" He substantiates that all body fluids are supposed to be mildly alkaline at pH 7.4, EXCEPT for stomach and urine fluids. Stomach fluids must remain acidic to digest food and urine must remain acidic to remove wastes from the body. Drawing from what we know of Baking Soda's neutralizing properties and the acidic levels naturally present in our baby's urine, we can see how Baking Soda would help restore pH balance in our washing routines. We know that our body also produces a form of sodium bicarbonate (Baking Soda) and utilizes it much like we do with our laundry. For instance . . . our body's naturally produced sodium bicarbonate neutralizes the stomach acids mentioned above (helping to prevent ulcers) and neutralizes plaque acids (helping to prevent tooth decay). So, this 'like' substance that even our bodies produce is most definitely a safe alternative for stain removal and pH balance in our laundry/for our diapers." Lorna

Here is one I got from a book: - 1 teaspoon baking soda - 1 teaspoon oil (any oil will do, like cooking oil) - a few drops of liquid soap (I use natural dishwashing soap) - 1 litre of water This is much like what Elks proposes above, with the added benefit of oil, which makes sense as it helps to make the mix stickier so it stays on longer. A word of advice, though. I find that if I start with the water and add the other ingredients to that, this will hardly ever become a homogenous mixture. Therefore, I would try mixing the baking soda, the oil and the soap really well first and only then diluting this slowly with the water. I just sprayed two pumpkins with this (they caught it from a pair of garden center bought zucchini - so much for buying started plants!). I used a brass plant mister for this (see link below). While this may be far from being a standard garden tool, I find this works better than other implements as it really creates a fine cloud of mist that can reach where other tools can't (we all know how tough it can be to get the stuff UNDER the leaves, where it really matters). When almost full, you can even turn it up to target leaves from below and still works great. Also, because the mist is so fine, there is less waste and also less of a chance of overdoing it and burning the plant. Just saying, because I have been wondering if it just might be that those who complain that baking soda doesn't work for them are simply not applying the stuff right. I'll let you know what gives. Here is a link that might be useful: Brass plant mister

I have used A & H baking soda in the wash for years, with great results. It doubles the whitening power of liquid chlorine bleach, which means I can use half the recommended 'dosage' of bleach when I wash really dirty white clothes and towels. I also use baking soda on my guys' stinky clothes they wear for outdoors work. It does a great job of deodorizing them. I have noticed it also softens water, which should be a boon for those who live in hard-water areas. Overall, it's a great detergent cleaning booster -- the most inexpensive I can think of. I buy it at a local warehouse store in huge plastic, resealable bags which last several months. (I also use it for other things besides laundry.)

Lucille, some of the most toxic products we have in our homes are the artificially scented things. The manufacturers get away with it because they are often added in tiny amounts. But when we are exposed all day, every day to these petrochemicals in our soaps, laundry products, foods, perfumes, and air fresheners, the exposure can be damaging. For some interesting reading, look up 'toxicity of scents' or similar in a google search. The list of those who should avoid the use of scented household products are babies, children, the elderly, pregnant women, men and women who plan to have babies (the chemicals affect sperm), those with compromised immune systems, those taking meds that may affect their liver, all pets (birds and cats are especially sensitive). Even those products labeled "natural, organic" and the like can be loaded with some of these chemicals.