Stacey
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Sodium carbonate - washing soda - soda ash - caustic sodaOn US papermaking sites these terms are being used interchangably (sp?) They talk about making lye solution from it but I thought lye was made from caustic soda not washing soda 
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marigold
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Well I personally wouldn't use washing soda and caustic soda interchangeably  
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Gervase
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You're right - ignore the ignorant websites. 'Washing soda' is an Americanism for Sodium carbonate. Although it's mildly alkaline, you can't make lye with it I'm afraid. You need caustic soda, which is Sodium hydroxide. It's strongly alkaline (wear rubber gloves and watch your eyes) and can be bought in Boots and hardware shops, where it's sold as a drain cleaner.
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Stacey
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That's what I thought - I use caustic soda for soap and didn't think you could make lye with washing soda
Pesky yanks 
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jema
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Scary  Not a mistake anyone wants to make.
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