To avoid the heartbreak, you get when you see tie-dye not glowing brightly, soda ash is the element you need to add. Considering how important it has become for tie-dye, you should always be prepared to make it yourself in case you aren’t able to get it from the market. Not as hard as it has been depicted, continue reading the article, and you will know how to make soda ash for tie-dye the easy way.

Since you are here looking for the solution, we won’t be taking your time, and let’s get straight to the topic.

How do you make soda ash?

Soda ash, also commonly known as washing soda, can be easily prepared at home. The only element that you need is baking soda.

See, you may already have the baking soda in your kitchen. Now is the time to utilize it all for good. But how do you create it? It’s too easy.

To make soda ash for tie-dye, all we need to do is heat up the baking soda to 300°F for about 60 minutes. There you have the soda ash ready to use.

Now comes the question of how you will supply that much heat and that too for a continuous 1 hour. That, too, is quite simple.

Use your oven for this. Set the temperature and the time, put the baking soda in it, turn the oven on, and just wait for the process to complete. There cannot be an easier method than this one.

Is it something you are curious about? Continue to read and learn what actually happens during the heating process and how the baking soda is converted into soda ash.

The science behind making soda ash

As it all starts with baking soda, we are going to see scientifically how it is transformed into soda ash.

The chemical name of baking soda is sodium hydrogen carbonate represented with the formula NaHCO₃, whereas the soda ash is called the sodium carbonate with a formula Na₂CO₃.

Keeping this in mind, when you heat sodium hydrogen carbonate, aka the baking soda, the water, and the carbon dioxide will release out, leaving behind only the sodium carbonate, aka the soda ash. As simple as that, heating does all the work, and you have no other involvement.

Benefits of using soda ash for tie-dye

Having diversified uses in our daily life, soda ash is an important element for the tie-dye process. It is widely used in tie-dyeing for achieving better results as it helps fiber absorb dye and produces more vibrant colors. Prevent fading and bleeding; if you are not using it, do not get surprised if you get very pale colors at the end.

However, given the benefits, it will only be achieved when you use the soda ash the right way. While we discuss the procedure below, you may also check out what soda ash is for tie-dye, and you will know the true importance of it for the dying process.

How should soda ash be used for tie-dyeing?

Remember that if you are not using it the right way, it may not yield the expected results. Thus, it is crucial that you can identify and tell the right steps.

Soda ash particularly can be applied in 3 ways. Before the dye, during, and after the dye. However, it is good to use it before. Let us take you through the process so that you can do the next project whenever you are ready.

An important point to highlight, use soda ash with safety; it may cause irritation if you get this on your skin. It’s always good to wear gloves and protective glasses when you deal with this. Adhering to the safety protocols, below are the steps to follow.

• First, prepare the solution by mixing soda ash with water. One cup of soda is enough for a gallon of water. Stir it up nicely so that the soda dissolves completely.
• Following this, soak the piece of garment in the solution and let it be there for at least 15 minutes.
• Take it out then, squeeze the water and carry on with the dyeing procedure.

Having said that, the dye quality depends on other factors as well. From choosing the right type of fabric to selecting the dye, if you want, you can check out how to tie-dye sweatshirts, sweatpants, jeans, or socks.

Conclusion

Isn’t it easy? All you need is to set the oven for the required time and temperature, and you are good to go. You don’t need anything else other than baking soda. Anyways, if you don’t want to involve yourself in the process, get to know where to buy soda ash for tie-dye.

As now you know all about it, prepare the soda ash yourself and make the best out of tie-dye.