What is Soda Ash for Tie Dye and How to Apply Them?

When it comes to dyeing auxiliaries—especially for fiber reactive dyes—the use of alkali, such as soda ash, is inescapable. As more and more people are getting into the art of tie dyeing, they fascinate about its function and inner-workings. To successfully indulge in any craft, one needs to understand its basics. And that’s exactly what this article is all about. You’ll get to know all about this chemical, from its chemistry to where you can get the best soda ash for tie dye.

So, without further ado, let’s start with answering the most obvious question:

Soda ash, washing soda, also chemically known as Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃) is a mild alkali. A lot of people misunderstand that soda ash and baking soda are the same things. Baking soda is Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) which possesses less basic attribute than soda ash. If we talk in general, the basic reason of using soda ash is to increase the pH level.

There are assorted forms of soda ash available to hand containing a handful number of water molecules; these hydro fragments escalate the size and molecular weight of the chemical. The result of using those is that a higher quantity is required to get the same effect as the others. Pure sodium carbonate apart from water units, if exposed in humid conditions for few years, absorbs water and gets hydrated.

Deca-hydrated sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃.10H₂O) is mostly used as washing soda, although it is three times less potent than the pure form. However, pure soda ash could also be brought into play while dyeing. As a dyer you don’t want to mistake bicarbonate for carbonate; it will cost you more as higher amount of bicarbonates squandered during dyeing when compared to the latter.

Now, let’s talk about the function of soda ash in dyeing. We all know that reactive dyes require alkaline condition to get fixed in the fiber during dyeing. Generally, washing soda enables the fixing step while dyeing and printing with PROCION dyes and REACTIVE CD dyes. Fiber reactive dyes create covalent bonds with cellulosic material after fixation and become a part of the fiber structure. The chemical reaction involved is as follows,

D-SO₂-CH₂-CH₂-OSO₃Na +OH-cell⇒ D-SO₂-CH₂-CH₂-O-cell + NaHSO₃

It is sometimes used in pre-treatment to increase scouring efficiency.

Now, the question is, “Will it be applicable for other dyes?”

The answer is simple, No! Other dyes do not require alkali for fixation like reactive dyes.

Looking for the soda ash for tie dye instructions?  Well, first, you need to know that soda ash can be applied in three distinct ways with tie dyes or any type of dyes for that matter.

Generally used in tie-dyeing. To know this process first, we should know about ‘tie-dyeing’ and then ‘tie-dyeing with soda ash.’

Tie-dyeing is a hand dyeing process in which colored patterns are generated in the fabric after dyeing. Small portions of the fabric are gathered together and tied firmly before immersing in a dyeing bath to get colored. After soaking the clothes for a pre-determined period they are opened as beautiful designs are generated on the surface; the dye particles couldn’t have penetrated into the tied section of the garments, being the reason.

People usually have fun time leisure with kids and family doing tie dye while professionals make effort to improve and implement it in machines as resist printing.

Now, let’s get to the process of tie-dyeing with soda ash. At first, half/ one cup of soda ash is added to a gallon of water before doing a little bit simmer to dissolve it. Well, you may need to make do the amount as material weight and required water volume vary.
Also, you have to remember that there’s a saturation level. Meaning, the most amount of dyes will get fixed at a particular concentration of the alkali. Adding more than that wouldn’t result in more dye pickup. Thus, you won’t notice any significant change. Check the 1/2 cup and 1/4 cup samples. There’s very little change in depth.

Tinctorial Strength of Soda Ash in Different Concentrations (Courtesy of Vicki Welsh)

So, refrain from wasting your alkali (Soda Ash). 1/2 Cup of it tends to do the job most of the time. But you can experiment on it to decide which concentration works the best. Because the purity varies from batch to batch.

Now, the garments are drenched in the soda ash-water mixture from about a minimum of five minutes to around a maximum of one hour by hand using protective gloves. And finally, after that, dyes are added to the solution.

Soda ash could be used as one of the print paste ingredients while printing with reactive dyes. The fact that downsides this practice is shorter dye time of fabric dyes when mixed with this. However, some latter-day top grade reactive dyes, say Procion MX for example, remain dyeable for about a week. One thing as a dyer you should know, controlled temperature and humidity could bring you the best upshot.

This tendency is quite common in reactive dyeing of knit goods, low water-immersion and immersion dyeing processes.

Now the question is,

Chemicals that can adjust the pH of water could turn out very useful while dyeing. Sodium hydroxide also provides alkaline pH as well as Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). But the stress with these is that they ain’t as safe as using sodium carbonate. Sodium bicarbonate probably could have been a perfect replacement only if it conferred a greater alkaline condition. Sometimes a mixture of soda ash and sodium bicarbonate is suggested for some recipes of silk.

If we measure by weight, almost three times more sodium bicarbonate is required to get the same pH as soda ash, and it is nearly five times more when calculated by volume. Always remember to add sodium hydroxide of tri-sodium phosphate in water, not water in them. But for soda ash, this precaution isn’t that significant, it could be followed for more precise control, however.

Another supremacy of soda ash is that if you drop more or less soda ash by mistake, the deviation of pH value from the desired one is negligible. On the other hand, sodium hydroxide, being highly alkaline, changes pH swiftly. And so, obtaining actual pH could be burdensome.

When you think of substituting soda ash with other alkalis, you should check and maintain the pH adequately. Because, too high pH will deteriorate the fabric properties, and too low pH is not favorable for reactive dyeing.

Having all these said, you don’t always need clinging to sodium hydroxide, because sodium silicate could be an excellent substitute for soda ash. It is also called water glass and is generally suitable for printing with Procion MX or dyes that are similar in qualities with that.

However, there is a significant disadvantage of sodium silicate; it turns into gel in acidic exposure and it’s pretty much complicated to remove the gel. Moreover, precautionary steps should be taken to get rid of this problem. Generally, rinsing with some low alkaline solution or just water to increase the pH.

Previously mentioned that the protein fiber requires citric acid or acetic acid as they need low pH during their dyeing process. And also, the protein fibers such as wool will be damaged in alkaline conditions created by soda ash. But as using citric acid or acetic acid will not full the pH requirement for cellulosic fibers, it can not be used.

And the final question is,

Grocery stores sell soda ash, but we don’t recommend you buying from them as it contains impurities (other salts or chemicals, and also the presence of dirt and dust particles), as a result not suited to dyeing.

Some of the manufacturers offer ‘Super washing soda. It is free from added or accidental impurities, however it’s hydration level is high. So, more of it will be required to reach the desired pH level compared to the the pure ones.

Stores that vend swimming pool supplies can be a place where you find pure soda ash. They keep the unadulterated form; quite understandably, maintaining pool water pH is vital.

You can of course buy soda ash for tie dye from an online platform. But make sure your’e getting it from professional hands.

We found the following two products to be the best.