Silver jewelry question

wrote

My hackles were instantly rising but then I thought, no, I am proud to
be an immigrant. You just got born in England, they had to have you,
whereas I asked Canada if they would take me and they elected to do
so! Pick the bones out of that lot you GOW you !

It's definitely not baking soda, I know exactly what you mean, and I
have never seen it over here. I think we need a chemist and there are
at least a couple around rctn. What about Jim, he would know both
what we are talking about and possibly the chemical equivalent here?

Sheena

"Just got born? JUST GOT BORN???" As the good nuns would have said "What
on earth happened to your education?" (Duck).

Pat P

AHA! So Borax ISN`T the same. Sodium carbonate - that`s the right stuff.
Isn`t Borax a lot stronger in any case?

Pat P

"Jenn Ridley" wrote in message
...
Lynne asks:
Next question from a silly American:
What's "washing soda"?

Lynn

Washing soda. It's found in the laundry area of most grocery/general
stores. It's a laundry aid/detergent booster. Chemically, it's
sodium carbonate.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) will work, too. I've not tried it
with washing soda (I generally use borax as my laundry aid).

jenn
--
Jenn Ridley

WIP: Santa Christmas Stocking, Will Work for Freezer Space, Emperor's
Coat, Stretch
Most recently Finished: Turnberry Ridge, Noah's Journey, SPRING Flowers

I expect we use Washing soda because it has the same effect but is a whole
lot cheaper. (Answering the posts in the wrong order - for some reason I
always seem to start at the bottom and work up!)

Pat P.

"Lucille" wrote in message
news
But Baking Soda will work. I used boiling water, baking soda and tin foil
with great success.
Lucille

wrote in message
...
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 01:42:55 +0100, "Pat Porter"
wrote:

The soda crystals that used to be used to soften the water - like
broken
bits of glass? Not often used these days, but I always keep a packet
under
the sink - good for wetting and rubbing on stings and bites! Like
bathsalts
without the colour and perfume, only much coarser. Phew!

Maybe you don`t get it over there - maybe it`s too old fashioned for
you
folks! Maybe it`s just our common language letting us down again! I`d
be
interested to know what you DO call it - do you know, Sheena? Being an
immigrant, you should do! Now don`t YOU go all sensitive on me for
calling
you an immigrant!

Pat P.

My hackles were instantly rising but then I thought, no, I am proud to
be an immigrant. You just got born in England, they had to have you,
whereas I asked Canada if they would take me and they elected to do
so! Pick the bones out of that lot you GOW you !

It's definitely not baking soda, I know exactly what you mean, and I
have never seen it over here. I think we need a chemist and there are
at least a couple around rctn. What about Jim, he would know both
what we are talking about and possibly the chemical equivalent here?

Sheena


"Lynn Hansen" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Pat Porter" wrote:

Yes that`s right - aluminium foil, as we call it. The stuff that
comes
in
rolls, for wrapping the turkey in, etc! Just scrunch it up a bit,
and
put it
in a bowl. Large handful of washing soda, boiling water to cover
and
watch
it fizz! Looks quite scary, but it`s fine.



Next question from a silly American:
What's "washing soda"?

Lynn

You can buy it at the grocery store, at least in Boston, in the laundry
section. I don't know if the chemical composition is different than
baking soda, however. It may just be a matter of refinement.

Meredith

I have a box sitting in front of me which is Arm & Hammer brand and is labeled
All Natural Super Washing Soda and says it is a detergent booster. It also
says that it may be harmful if swallowed and may irritate eyes, also, keep out
of reach of children. It is fragrance free, phosphate free and contains sodium
carbonate.

It may be found in the laundry area of stores and supermarkets. Does work.

Eleanor the Elder

Washing soda is sodium carbonate
anyone wanting to read the chemical explanation -
http://www.gcsescience.com/xaa15.htm
Take care
Jan (a poor but honest pharmacy tech!!!!)
wrote in message
...
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 01:42:55 +0100, "Pat Porter"
wrote:

The soda crystals that used to be used to soften the water - like broken
bits of glass? Not often used these days, but I always keep a packet
under
the sink - good for wetting and rubbing on stings and bites! Like
bathsalts
without the colour and perfume, only much coarser. Phew!

Maybe you don`t get it over there - maybe it`s too old fashioned for you
folks! Maybe it`s just our common language letting us down again! I`d be
interested to know what you DO call it - do you know, Sheena? Being an
immigrant, you should do! Now don`t YOU go all sensitive on me for
calling
you an immigrant!

Pat P.

My hackles were instantly rising but then I thought, no, I am proud to
be an immigrant. You just got born in England, they had to have you,
whereas I asked Canada if they would take me and they elected to do
so! Pick the bones out of that lot you GOW you !

It's definitely not baking soda, I know exactly what you mean, and I
have never seen it over here. I think we need a chemist and there are
at least a couple around rctn. What about Jim, he would know both
what we are talking about and possibly the chemical equivalent here?

Sheena


"Lynn Hansen" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Pat Porter" wrote:

Yes that`s right - aluminium foil, as we call it. The stuff that
comes
in
rolls, for wrapping the turkey in, etc! Just scrunch it up a bit, and
put it
in a bowl. Large handful of washing soda, boiling water to cover and
watch
it fizz! Looks quite scary, but it`s fine.



Next question from a silly American:
What's "washing soda"?

Lynn

On Sat, 30 Aug 2003 22:39:27 -0700, Russell Miller wrote:
This silly Canadian knows! Washing soda is Borax. If you want to get
it really cheap, go to a swimming pool place. One of those places that
sells chemicals for swimming pools. They have what they call 'pool
soda' It's to same thing at a fraction of the cost. )

Borax is sodium borate, washing soda is sodium carbonate. Borax, btw,
can have some interesting health effects if used to excess, and the boron
does not biodegrade -- it's an element, not a compound.

If you're going to use the aluminum foil and washing soda trick for tarnish,
be sure you're not dealing with plated silver, as this process is
pretty agressive and you can be down to bare base metal in just a few
minutes.

Kay Lancaster