0. Replies. 8. Soda crystals can be used in the household as an alternative to commercial cleaning products, such as bleach, soaps and detergents, to remove stains, degrease materials, remove tarnish and unblock drains. Properties and Uses of Caustic Soda. It is a versatile product to have around the house as it has so many uses. Sodium Hydroxide Uses: Caustic Soda or Sodium Hydroxide has many different uses such as unblocking drains and making soap. It is also used in the manufacturing of textiles and paper, as well as a cleaning agent in soaps and detergents. The water will boil and fizz. Pour caustic soda in the loo at arms length. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations Na + and hydroxide anions OH −. Herman - MP for all! Close loo lid. As they say, 'prevention is better than cure'. A baking soda bath is often recommended to soothe itchy skin. Soda crystals do not release harmful fumes when handled or mixed with water, but you should always wear rubber gloves because it is a caustic product that can irritate your skin. The sodium hypochlorite in household bleach is produced by reacting sodium hydroxide with chlorine. 4. Caustic soda is sodium hydroxide and is a more 'aggressive' product than Soda Crystals (Sodium Carbonate Decahydrate). How effective might it be? 7. 6. Caustic soda main uses include being used as a drain pipe cleaner, unblocks drains, removes built up grease from ovens, used to make soap and detergents. In industry, the caustic soda uses are varied: it's one of the main ingredients in the manufacture of soap and paper, and it's also used to extract aluminum from ore, to cure olives and even to make aspirin. Caustic soda is used in many industries, primarily as a neutraliser of acid in water treatment and in industrial cleaning. Hide caustic soda away in the safest and most secure place in your house - never let anyone touch it without protective measures in place. I've recently bought some expensive weedkiller but I'm wondering if the soda would have just the same effect. Bought some caustic soda to try to clean out drains but noticed on the bottle it said it could also be used on weeds. Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. Leave it for as long as it says on the packet. 5. The confusion may occur because Caustic Soda is commonly used to clear blocked drains; our advice is that it's best to keep drains clear in the first place, before they become blocked. Appearance: Solid; Formula: NaOH; MW: 39.997; Melting point: 318 (degrees Celcius) Density: 2.13 g/cm3; CAS no. These baths are a commonly used remedy for itching from bug bites and bee stings (28, 29).Additionally, baking soda … Flush loo couple of times before anyone uses it. I'd prefer to go with the quickest or most efficient regardless of whichever is cheaper.