How to stop soda crystals going hard?

LadyDee

I've tried leaving them just in the plastic bag with a peg holding the bag closed; or nside the bag in a sealed plastic container; or tipped loose into a sealed plastic container, and the result is always the same - within a week all I have is a rock solid lump which is so hard I can't use. I've only used a couple of handfuls of my latest bag for the washing machine and virtually a whole packet is now unuseable.

There must be a way of keeping it in powder form - has anybody solved the problem?

I should be pleased to hear what the answer is before I buy yet another bag!

TIA

dandy-candy

Theyre not unusable, just crush them up again with a rolling pin. They are absorbing the moisture in the air so even in a jar it will happen unless you can suck out the air.

PlutoinCapricorn

Strange - mine don't do this. I have not got air conditioning or central heating, and always keep a window open.

LadyDee

dandy-candy wrote: »

Theyre not unusable, just crush them up again with a rolling pin. They are absorbing the moisture in the air so even in a jar it will happen unless you can suck out the air.

I cannot crush it - it is a lump of solid rock. I've tried taking the lump outside on the concrete step and giving it a hefty wallop. I've even tried using a grater, but no luck.

LadyDee

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

Strange - mine don't do this. I have not got air conditioning or central heating, and always keep a window open.

What do you store your crystals in? My home is warm, well ventilated, no dampness anywhere yet time and again I'm left with a solid chunk that I can't use, other than tipping boiling water over it in the drain outside and cleaning the drains. There's only so much cleaning the drains need (I must have the cleanest drains around) but I want to use it for the washing machine and cleaning inside the home!

GreyQueen

Hi LadyDee, I'm no stranger to the solid brick of soda crystals, even before they have been opened.

Once they have become a brick, the only thing I have managed to do to get bits off for use is to carve them off with a knife.

What I do now eliminates the problem altogether; as soon as you buy them, pour them into a clean plastic milk bottle (I use a 4-pinter which holds one-and-a-bit packets). Problem solved and soda crystals in a neat package and ready to deploy.

I also have a bit of tape on the bottle saying what they are, to avoid comedy accidents. HTH.

PlutoinCapricorn

I just keep them in their bag - dlp, green from Home Bargains - and roll the top over. One is in the bathroom cupboard, the other is on a trolley in my kitchen. I also put some in a plastic container when I go to the launderette. Occasionally they stick together but break up when I shake them.

LadyDee

Thanks GreyQueen - I've just seen this as a suggestion on another website, and in a very old thread here, so it must be a good tip and one worth trying. To try to avoid wasting my latest rock I've just dissolved it in a litre of boiling water in a bowl, transferred it to a plastic container and will use half a cup of this in my washing machine!

The irony is, this is packed and sold by a company called "Dri-Pak"!

Bronnie

I've never ever had the problem this badly and I don't give them any special treatment....the top of the packet just gets folded down and they're stored under the sink.

Can you get hold of any of those moisture absorbing silica gel sachets that are put in new handbags etc and pop those in with the soda crystals?

**just seen your last post...email the manufacturers and ask them.

GreyQueen

LadyDee wrote: »

Thanks GreyQueen - I've just seen this as a suggestion on another website, and in a very old thread here, so it must be a good tip and one worth trying. To try to avoid wasting my latest rock I've just dissolved it in a litre of boiling water in a bowl, transferred it to a plastic container and will use half a cup of this in my washing machine!

The irony is, this is packed and sold by a company called "Dri-Pak"!

Excellent thinking but if I may make a suggestion? I think a whole pkt of soda crystals down into just a litre may be a bit strong, might it be an idea to check the dilution ratio on the wrapper to see if it should be more diluted than that? I haven't a wrapper to hand as mine is decanted and I only use mine for cleaning, not in the w.m.

LadyDee

GreyQueen wrote: »

Excellent thinking but if I may make a suggestion? I think a whole pkt of soda crystals down into just a litre may be a bit strong, might it be an idea to check the dilution ratio on the wrapper to see if it should be more diluted than that? I haven't a wrapper to hand as mine is decanted and I only use mine for cleaning, not in the w.m.

Ah - yes. Didn't think to do that, but have now checked the wrapper and it's: Strong, 1 cup to a pint; Regular, 1/2 cup to a pint; and Weak, 1/4 cup to a pint, so I think it'll be OK.

Instructions say a tablespoon in with the wash in a w/m - not that I've ever measured it, I usually chuck in a handful! Not very MSE - will now cut down.:o