• Washing soda can be found at some grocery stores.Washing powder image by lefebvre_jonathan from Fotolia.com
  
  As the number of laundry products on supermarket shelves continues to increase, it is becoming harder to find old-fashioned washing soda. Washing soda has been used for many years as an ingredient in homemade cleaning products. Washing soda can be bought at some grocery stores or can be special ordered from retailers. It also can occur in natural deposits from the earth.
  
  

Retail and Grocery Stores

• There are grocery chains that regularly stock washing soda, such as Meijer superstores in north-central U.S. Ace Hardware retailers can be found across the United States and also carries Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda. Target and Kmart stores stock washing soda at most locations. Another retail source of washing soda is your local pool supply retailer. Washing soda, or sodium bicarbonate, can be found at most pool supply stores where the pool chemicals and cleaners are kept.
  
  Washing soda is usually located with the laundry detergents and soaps near bleaches and brighteners. Cost and sizes vary; as of 2010, a 55 ounce box of washing soda could be bought for less than $4.00 at most of these retailers.
  
  

Online Sources

• If you are unable to find a local retailer that stocks washing soda, there are plenty of online sources where you can purchase it. Amazon, Meijer, Ace Hardware, Walmart and Kmart carry various sizes of washing soda online. Costs are typically higher due to shipping costs, but some of these retailers offer the option to ship your order to a local store where you can pick it up for no shipping fees. Consider buying in bulk to save money: Meijer's online store carries a case of 12, 55 ounce boxes of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda. As of 2010, the entire case cost $32.38. Amazon's website offers a wider variety of washing soda manufacturers and product sizes.
  
  

Natural Sources

• Washing soda is nothing more than limestone and salt. In the United States, almost 90% of naturally occurring sodium carbonate is found and mined in the Green River Basin of Wyoming. In 2007, more than 18 million tons of sodium carbonate was mined there. There are also small deposits of the chemical in California and Colorado. Worldwide, there have been over 60 sources of naturally occurring sodium carbonate located. Large deposits have also been found in China, Egypt, Africa, Peru, Mexico and India.