Soda Crystals - why are they solid?

Recently, we've been receiving reports about soda crystals becoming solid and seemingly unbreakable. There are a couple of reasons why this can happen.

Firstly, soda crystals can sometimes harden because they have a tendency to absorb moisture from the air. When they are exposed to high humidity or stored in a damp location, the individual granules can clump together, forming a solid mass. 

Another reason why the crystals can harden is because they are quite sensitive to extreme heat and need to be stored in a cool, dry place. Soda crystals are what you might call a 'wet' product and when the temperature rises above 32 degrees, they begin to 'melt,' and as they cool down again, they solidify. In the UK, this isn't usually a problem because our temperatures rarely reach or remain at these extremes. So, if your soda crystals seem to have 'melted' or hardened, it may not be because they got wet.

The manufacturer's recommendation is to keep soda crystals away from high temperatures. On hot days, it's best not to leave them in shop windows for extended periods or store them in places exposed to direct sunlight. Instead, keep them in a cool, dry area away from bright light. It's also wise not to leave them in your car's boot or store them in airing cupboards, sheds, or porches. Never leave them out on window ledges, and if you're storing them under the kitchen sink, ensure they are away from hot water pipes and any heat-emitting appliances like ovens or washing machines.

To keep soda crystals in their best condition, try to maintain a storage temperature below 25°C. If this is challenging during extreme heatwaves, you might consider keeping them in the fridge until the weather cools down.

What to do if your soda crystals have become rock-hard?

If you notice lumps, they can usually be broken apart with some pressure. However, if they've solidified like a brick, don't worry; they still retain their excellent cleaning and degreasing properties. We recommend your customer peels back the top of the bag and dips the solid block into warm water. It will dissolve readily, and they can use the resulting solution for various cleaning tasks. For instance, you could use the solution  to clean and degrease your kitchen appliances. Alternatively, you could try breaking them apart using a kitchen grater to transform them back into a usable form. Just remember to store them correctly to prevent clumping in the future.