How to Use Baking Soda in Laundry for Fresher and Cleaner Clothes

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Deodorize, soften fabrics, remove stains, and more

Co-authored by Susan Stocker and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: June 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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Ways to Use Baking Soda in Your Laundry Routine

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Baking soda is an amazing natural deodorizer, cleanser, and stain treatment. It can even boost the cleaning power of your laundry detergent, and act as a natural fabric softener. If you’re interested in adding baking soda to your laundry routine, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over all the different ways you can use baking soda to up your laundry game, and answer a few FAQs. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Adding Baking Soda to Laundry

Add ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda directly to the washing machine drum. Place your clothes in the washer, pour your laundry detergent into the dispenser, and run the wash cycle as normal. The baking soda will boost the power of your laundry detergent, leaving your clothes extra clean and fresh.

Section 1 of 2:

Ways to Use Baking Soda in Your Laundry Routine

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Boost your laundry detergent Add ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda to enhance the cleaning power of your regular laundry detergent. Pour the baking soda directly into the empty drum of your washing machine (not the detergent dispenser), then add your dirty clothes. Next, add your laundry detergent to the dispenser, and run the washing machine cycle as normal.^{[1]
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Research source} Your clothes will be even cleaner and fresher than usual!^{[2]
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- If you use laundry detergent pods instead of liquid detergent, place them into the drum along with the baking soda before adding your clothes.
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Enhance the power of bleach For top-loading machines, add ½ cup (136 g) baking soda to the drum before adding clothes. For front-loading machines, you’ll only need ¼ cup (68 g). Next, place your bleach-safe white clothes in the machine, then pour laundry detergent and bleach into their dispensers. Finally, run the wash cycle as normal. The baking soda will make the bleach more effective and boost its whitening power!^{[3]
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- Always check the care label to make sure it’s okay to use chlorine bleach on your clothes! If the clothing item is bleach safe, you’ll see an outline of a triangle.
- A triangle with an X through it means the item is not bleach safe, and a triangle with two lines inside means you should only use non-chlorine bleach.^{[4]
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- If your clothes aren’t bleach safe, simply add the baking soda to your laundry load and skip the bleach.
  - Baking soda can still brighten your white clothing and make colored clothing more vibrant on its own, without any risk of pesky bleach stains!^{[5]
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Instead of using a traditional fabric softener, try adding ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda during your washing machine’s rinse cycle. Baking soda combats hard water and reduces static, leaving your clothes soft and wrinkle-free. And, unlike traditional fabric softeners, baking soda is natural and fragrance-free, meaning it’s gentler on your skin and better for the environment. Simply add ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda to the washing machine once the rinse cycle has started, and let it work its magic!^{[6]
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Baking soda is a powerful odor fighter, so it will neutralize any bad smells lingering in your clothing items.^{[7]
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Research source} Whether you’re washing sweaty workout clothes or clothes that smell like smoke from a campfire, baking soda should leave them smelling fresher than ever! Just add ½ cup (136 g) of baking soda to the drum during your washing machine’s rinse cycle, and say goodbye to unpleasant odors.
To remove stubborn odors and pre-clean heavily soiled clothes, try soaking them in a baking soda solution before laundering them in the washing machine. Simply fill a large bucket with a gallon of water, then pour in 1 cup (272 g) of baking soda and let it dissolve. Place your clothes into the water to soak overnight, then launder them in the washing machine as normal.^{[8]
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Research source} This is a great way to deep clean extra dirty items, and it will also make colors more vibrant and brighten white clothing!^{[9]
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Hand wash delicate clothing Add 4 tbsp (68 g)of baking soda when hand washing delicates to get them extra clean. First, fill your sink with cool or lukewarm water. Next, add a bit of laundry detergent and 4 tablespoons (68 g) of baking soda, and swish the water around until they dissolve. Add your clothing items and gently work the soapy water into them with your hands.^{[10]
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Research source} Rinse thoroughly, and that’s it!
- The baking soda will enhance the power of the detergent and fight odors, leaving your delicates extra fresh.^{[11]
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Treat stains Mix ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) water and 4 tbsp (68g) baking soda to make a stain removing paste. Wet the stained area of your clothing with water, then scrub the baking soda paste into the stain. Let the paste sit for 30 minutes to an hour, then rinse it off. Finally, wash the item in your washing machine as normal.^{[12]
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- Baking soda paste works well to remove stains caused by sweat, oil, grease, dirt, food, and many other substances.^{[13]
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- Make sure the stain is completely gone before drying the item. If you still see the stain, repeat the process of treating it with the baking soda paste one more time.^{[14]
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Freshen clothes between trips to the dry cleaner’s Spruce up items that are dry-clean only with some baking soda. Sprinkle the item with a thin layer of baking soda, then place it in a sealed plastic bag and let it sit overnight. In the morning, remove the item from the bag and shake off the baking soda. This method won't actually clean clothes, but it will absorb musty smells and keep them fresh until you can make it to the dry cleaners!^{[15]
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- If you don’t want to put the baking soda directly onto your clothes, fill a sock with baking soda and place it into the bag with your item. This should work just as well to absorb odors.
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Deodorize shoes and socks Sprinkle baking soda into your shoes and socks to get rid of bad smells. Baking soda neutralizes pH, which makes it a powerful odor fighter. It also absorbs moisture and sweat.^{[16]
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Research source} Simply sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda into your shoes each night, then shake the powder out in the morning before wearing them.^{[17]
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Research source} You can also put a small amount of baking soda into your socks before putting them on for some extra odor protection.
- If you don’t want to sprinkle loose baking soda into your shoes, try making a quick deodorizing pouch with a coffee filter.
- Just fill two unused coffee filters with a few tablespoons of baking powder, then secure each of them with rubber bands.
- Place a pouch into each of your shoes overnight to neutralize odors.^{[18]
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Sprinkle baking soda on dirty areas of suede and rub it in with a soft brush. Let the baking soda sit for about 15 minutes to soak up odors, grease, and dirt. Finally, dust the baking soda off.^{[19]
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Start by adding 1 cup (272 g) of baking soda to the drum. Next, run the washer on a heavy-duty setting with hot water. Once the machine is filled up with water, pause the cycle and add 4 cups (950 mL) of white vinegar. Resume the wash cycle, and let it run its course. When the cycle ends, open the lid and allow the machine to air dry. Your washer will now be fresh and mildew-free!^{[21]
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Mix equal parts baking soda and water to create a paste. Make sure your iron is unplugged first, then use a soft toothbrush to rub the paste onto the plate of the iron. Next, wet a clean cloth with distilled water and use it to wipe off the paste. Your iron should now be free of burn marks and grime!^{[22]
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Section 2 of 2:

Baking Soda FAQs

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Is baking soda safe to use on colored clothes? Yes, it is! Green cleaning expert Susan Stocker explains that baking soda is 100% safe to use on colored clothing items. In fact, baking soda actually brightens colored clothes and makes them more vibrant.
- If you’re worried about discoloration, you can always perform a patch test before using baking soda for your peace of mind.
- Simply find a small, unnoticeable area of the clothing item, and apply a bit of baking soda solution (equal parts baking soda and water) to the area.
- If you don’t see any changes in the color or fabric, you’re good to go!
No, it is not a good idea to add baking soda to your detergent dispenser because it can cause a clog. Instead, pour it directly into the drum of your washing machine before placing your clothes inside.^{[23]
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Yes, this is a great way to use baking soda. “Mix up a cup of baking soda with about 10 drops of lavender essential oil for a pleasant smell,” says Stocker. Sprinkle the mixture onto the carpet, then “let it absorb for at least an hour before vacuuming it up.” Your carpet should now smell super fresh!
Vinegar has similar uses for laundry, which makes it a great alternative if you don’t have baking soda on hand. You can add vinegar to laundry to deodorize, treat stains, soften fabrics, brighten colored clothing, and whiten white clothing. It’s also great for removing mold and mildew from your washing machine.^{[24]
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What happens when you add baking soda to laundry?

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Professional Cleaner

Expert Answer

Baking soda brightens clothes and removes odors, and if you mix baking soda and vinegar together, it kills 99% of bacteria.

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Can I use baking soda when there are both colored and white clothes in the wash?

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Yes, baking soda is only a natural cleaning agent. It has no color or bad chemicals that would mess your clothes up. I've done it before, it turns out great!

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How can I liquefy baking soda?

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Put the baking soda in hot water and let it disintegrate until it turns into a bubbly solution.

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Tips

Baking soda also works well to remove melted crayon stains from clothing. Just add 1 cup (272 g) of baking soda to the washing machine along with your detergent.^{[25]
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You can also use baking soda to deodorize your laundry hamper. Simply sprinkle some baking soda over your dirty clothes to neutralize odors until you get a chance to wash them.

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Baking soda is great for controlling suds in your washing machine. If you notice that too many suds are forming, pause the wash cycle and sprinkle baking soda on them to break them down.

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