Cleaning silver question

In reading some previous posts about cleaning silver (now everyone
will know how far behind my life is). This is the simple process
using aluminum. One post said to Fill the container with hot water
and toss in about 1/4 cup of baking soda. Then in John’s wonderful
description of what is happening and how it works, he states: One
way of removing tarnish is to dissolve some washing soda (NOT
bicarbonate) in hot water in a small bowl, then put a piece of
aluminium foil in the solution. But baking soda is bicarbonate,
isn’t it? And what is washing soda? Thanks in advance for going over
this one more time for the slow of learning. Deb

Baking soda = NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate)
Washing soda =NaOH (sodium hydroxide)

Sodium hydroxide is a highly caustic compound that you can use to
strip flesh from bone with! But don’t be scared of it. Like all
thinjgs in life you need to take risks in order to have
fun…snowboarding, in-line sking, dating!

Use protective gloves and don’t breath the dust in - just like
housework!

Tony Konrath