Baking soda is a natural cleanser and deodorizer. Adding it to your laundry is a great way to gently clean clothes and remove stubborn odors and stains. Baking soda can also help soften clothes, improve your detergent abilities, and maintain the whiteness of your white clothes. In addition, baking soda can also help keep your washing machine clean.
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Method 1 of 3: Washing Clothes with Baking Soda
Step 1. Soak before washing, if necessary
If you want to use baking soda as a deodorizer, soaking your clothes in the baking soda mixture overnight is a great way to go. This process will give the baking soda time to completely remove any stubborn odors from your laundry. Baking soda is great for clothes, towels and other fabrics that smell smoky, musty or sweaty.
- Mix one cup of baking soda with 3.5 liters of water. Pour into the bucket.
- Put your clothes in the bucket. Twist a little to make sure the clothes are completely wet. Add water if necessary.
- Let the clothes soak overnight. Your clothes will be ready to be washed the next day.
Step 2. Start washing a pile of clothes
Put your dirty laundry (and pre-soaked fabrics) in the washing machine. Add detergent as usual. Start with a wash cycle so that the washing machine begins to fill with water. Allow the washing machine to fully charge before continuing.
- If you want to wash clothes that smell musty, using warm water is the most effective way to get rid of the odor. The musty smell is usually caused by mold spores. Warm water will kill the spores.
- For soft, colorful fabrics, you should use cold water.
Step 3. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda after the washing machine is filled with water
Pour directly into a fully charged washing machine to mix with the water. Wait for the wash cycle to complete, as usual.
- For large quantities of laundry, you can add up to one cup of baking soda.
- Adding a cup of white vinegar will increase the baking soda's ability to remove odors.
Step 4. Dry the clothes outdoors
This is the best way to dry clothes that smell like smoke, musty or are full of sweat. Drying the clothes in the sun and in the wind will help to freshen the clothes. Even on cold days, you can dry your clothes outdoors. Choose a place that gets a lot of sunlight.
- If you don't want to dry your clothes outdoors, use a tumble dryer. After the drying cycle is complete, smell your clothes to see if your clothes need to go through the treatment process one more time.
- If your clothes still smell musty when you take them out of the dryer, choose a sunny day to wash them again and hang them outside to dry.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Stains with Baking Soda
Step 1. Make a baking soda paste
Baking soda is a great, natural stain remover. Baking soda is gentle enough on almost any type of fabric. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste. Alternatively, mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar.
- Baking soda paste works best on fabrics that don't require dry cleaning, as you'll need to rinse after you're done, leaving the clothes wet.
- Baking soda paste is great for removing stains caused by oil, solid lubricants, soil, food and other substances.
Step 2. Apply the baking soda paste to the stain
Gently rub into the stain. Make sure the paste covers the entire stained area until it goes past the edge of the stain. Leave it for 15 minutes.
- If the stain is on heavy cloth clothing, you can scrub it off with a toothbrush. Rub the baking soda over the stain to make sure the baking soda gets on all the fibers of the garment. This method works well for thick denim or cotton fabrics.
- Do not rub the baking soda on a soft cloth. Silk, satin and other thin fabrics can shrink when rubbed.
Step 3. Rinse off the baking soda
Run warm water over the clothes to rinse off the baking soda and the stain. For a softer cloth, you can wipe off the baking soda with a damp cloth.
Step 4. Repeat the treatment process if necessary
Some stains that are difficult to clean require more than one treatment. Dab the paste on the stain a second time. Leave for 15 minutes, then rinse. If the stain persists, you may need a chemical stain remover or take the cloth to a professional cleaning service.
Method 3 of 3: Dry Cleaning with Baking Soda
Step 1. Sprinkle musty-smelling clothes with baking soda
Fabrics that can only be cleaned by dry cleaning can be made brighter using baking soda. While it won't completely clean your clothes, the baking soda will absorb the musty odor and leave your clothes smelling fresh.
- Apply a light layer of baking soda to the cloth, then place in a sealed bag. You can use a flour sieve to spread the baking soda evenly.
- If you don't want the baking soda to get on your clothes, pour the baking soda into a clean sock. Tie the open end of the sock. Place the sock in the bag of clothing and seal it.
Step 2. Leave the baking soda overnight
It may take a while for the baking soda to completely absorb the musty odor. Place the bag and baking soda in a dry, cool place to leave overnight.
Step 3. Air the clothes outside
Open the bag and shake the clothes to get rid of the baking soda. Use a soft brush to remove any remaining baking soda, if necessary. Hang clothes in the sun. Leave the clothes in the wind outside for a few hours until they have cooled.
Step 4. Repeat if necessary
Strong odors may require you to treat your clothes more than once. Sprinkle baking soda on the clothes again, let it dry, then let the clothes air out. If your clothes still smell musty, you may need to take them to a professional laundry service.
Tips
- Replacing detergent with baking soda can be environmentally friendly. The content of harsh detergents can adversely affect the earth and water availability.
- The benefit of adding baking soda, in addition to regular detergent, is that it softens the laundry water and makes it able to clean your clothes better. Baking soda can also help in foam formation.
- Using baking soda for your laundry can help balance the pH level of the water in your washing machine. This, in turn, can help make your clothes cleaner.
- Use baking soda as a fabric softener. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle to make your clothes softer.
- Baking soda is great for removing stains from your clothes, but it's also great for getting rid of sticky, smelly and stubborn stains on your washing machine.
