Is there anything you can use for tie dye instead of soda ash?

Question

We had a mixup and accidently used all the soda ash on a sock from a tie dye kit. It would be helpful to know where you can get soda ash also!

thanks

Answer 1

Soda ash is easy to buy locally. You can use washing soda from the grocery store if it is free of dyes and additives (Arm & Hammer brand is fine), or you can buy sodium carbonate from a hardware store or swimming pool supply store. Sodium carbonate is the scientific name for the active ingredient in both soda ash and washing soda. It is used to increase the pH so that the cellulose molecules in the cotton can attack and bond to fiber reactive dye.

Don't use sodium BIcarbonate, which is the scientific name for baking soda. It does not raise the pH as much as sodium carbonate and will not work very well.

Answer 2

Well you can use onion skins or I would go to an AC Moore or a Michaels and get a tie dye kit to make it easy.

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displ...

Answer 3

yes, baking soda works, but in different porportions. you can also get Soda Ash at any pool supply place or even Home Depot has some. It's in their pool supply section, I believe they call it Ph Push Up, or something like that.

you can also order some from the links below...

http://www.prochemical.com/index.htm

(also a good site for dye recipes and how-to's)

http://www.dharmatrading.com/

(great source for blanks and supplies)