25 replies to this topic

[Mya]

^ my recipe ^Beach

where do you get sodium carbonate, and what is it's significance?

[beach]

I get it at my local grocery. It's sold as Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. I have very hard water (bicarbonates) and it softens the water making cleaners more effective and eliminating the white, powdery film that remains when I use straight oxy (Sun Oxygen cleaner actually)Beacheta: sodium carbonate is what is used in Rain Soft, et al, a powdered water softener that's used in the washing machine, minus the perfume

Edited by beach, 25 April 2012 - 09:27 AM.

[Mya]

I get it at my local grocery. It's sold as Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. I have very hard water (bicarbonates) and it softens the water making cleaners more effective and eliminating the white, powdery film that remains when I use straight oxy (Sun Oxygen cleaner actually)Beacheta: sodium carbonate is what is used in Rain Soft, et al, a powdered water softener that's used in the washing machine, minus the perfume

have to check that out, have moderate bicarbonate water as wellI also use the Sun Brand Oxy

[zymot]

PBW facsimile = Generic Oxygen Cleaner+Red Devil TSP90 Sodium Metasilicate Cleaner+ little bit of powdered detergent.

PBW facsimile = Generic Oxygen Cleaner+Red Devil TSP90 Sodium Metasilicate Cleaner+ sodium carbonate.

^ my recipe ^Beach

the facsimile has the same ingredients as the PBW @ 1/3 the cost

I am curious, how do you know it is the same stuff? Not a challenge from me.What proportions do you use to mix up your stuff?I do not use enough of the stuff to mix up a batch. 1/3 the cost? 75 cents against 25 cents, still a savings only 50 cents. I am too lazy to shave 50 cents off my brew day.

[beach]

have to check that out, have moderate bicarbonate water as wellI also use the Sun Brand Oxy

Yellow Box ~8x10Beach

[Mya]

I am curious, how do you know it is the same stuff? Not a challenge from me.What proportions do you use to mix up your stuff?I do not use enough of the stuff to mix up a batch. 1/3 the cost? 75 cents against 25 cents, still a savings only 50 cents. I am too lazy to shave 50 cents off my brew day.

I should amend to say that it is not "the same" it is an approximation based on the published ingredients of PBWI mix the ingredients in the amounts they are sold in 6lbs/4lbs/.5 lbsPBW is not sold in the Spokane area and shipping it in is prohibitively expensive, so my $13 for 10.5 lbs is worth it to me