Can I use baking soda in my laundry? Can baking soda clean clothes? Yes, you can use baking soda in your laundry, and it can clean and whiten your clothes while eliminating stains and odors.
The Benefits of Baking Soda in Your Laundry
Baking soda offers many laundry benefits due to its alkaline properties. It will raise the pH balance in the washing machine water and work as a natural cleaner and stain remover. It has antiseptic benefits and will help with deodorizing.
You can use this natural cleaning agent to brighten clothes, remove odors and stains, and soften fabrics. In brief, baking soda is also inexpensive and versatile.
You can use it to clean your kitchen sink and oven. It is very effective for cleaning your bathroom, but you can also use it for your clothes and house.
Can baking soda clean clothes? Yes, baking soda can clean your clothes and offer the following benefits.
Brightens Your Clothes
Baking soda has natural antiseptic properties and makes your clothes look new and fresh again. As a result, you can expect whiter and brighter clothes after every wash.
Boosts the Performance of Detergents
Once you add baking soda to a load of laundry after adding the detergent, it will improve the performance of the detergent by softening the hard water. It will result in cleaner, softer, and fresher clothes, and you will have to use less laundry detergent.
Softens Fabrics
With baking soda, you can get the desired softness, and you not have to use a fabric softener. It will regulate the pH balance in your water and eliminate mineral and detergent residues. Hence, you can have fresh and soft clothes.
Neutralizes Odors
Baking soda will neutralize odors and refresh your clothes. You can get the best results by pre-soaking your clothes with a solution of warm water and 1-2 cups of this natural cleaning agent.
Removes Stains
People use baking soda as a natural stain remover. You can use it for different stains, and it will offer a fast and effective solution to most stains.
Can Baking Soda Make Clothes Whiter?
Yes, baking soda makes clothes whiter. Once you add it to the water, it will brighten and whiten your clothes. It has natural whitening capabilities, and this property makes it a great natural alternative to bleach.
Does Baking Soda Clean White Clothes?
Yes, you can use baking soda to clean your white clothes. It will maintain the whiteness and make your clothes brighter.
Can Baking Soda Ruin Clothes?
Yes, baking soda can ruin your clothes by fading the vibrant hues of the wool and silk fabrics. Baking soda contains a high pH that will wane the keratin protein.
You can expect adverse effects if some dyes react negatively, resulting in discolored and dull fabrics. In brief, the high pH in baking soda can harm the protein-based and natural fibers, including silk and wool.
Baking soda can clean clothes but ruin them if you do not use it correctly. You will have to know the material before using baking soda for cleaning. This natural stain remover and freshener might not be the best for all fabrics.
Can Baking Soda Discolor Clothes?
Yes, baking soda can discolor clothes. It can fade vibrant colors and have the most impact on silk and cashmere wool fabrics.
Does Baking Soda Clean Stains in Clothes?
As mentioned earlier, baking soda cleans stains on clothes, and many people use it as a natural stain remover. You can use baking soda to remove different marks and spills.
You can make a natural stain remover with baking soda and water and apply the paste to the stain. Allow it to sit for fifteen minutes or overnight based on the stain type.
How Does Baking Soda Clean Stains in Clothes?
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is nothing more than a crystalline salt. When you mix this salt into the water, it will break down and form bicarbonate or sodium.
As a result, the alkaline level in the water will be high, and it will neutralize the acid. The acid in the water will generate carbon dioxide bubbles, creating an airy texture and dissolving the dirt and stains. Hence, your clothes will look new, refreshed, and stain-free.
What Stains Can Baking Soda Remove in Clothes?
Baking soda is the best natural solution for stains, and can use it for almost all types of spots. You can use baking soda to remove grease, sweat stains, fruit juice stains, vomit, or other marks. However, you will have to follow different cleaning methods based on the types of spots.
The most effective way to remove stains is to make a baking soda and water paste and apply it to the blemish.
If it is a grease stain, you can put the baking soda on the spot directly and leave it for thirty minutes to an hour. When it is a sweat stain, you can rub your baking soda paste on the stained area and then allow it to sit for a few hours.
But you will have to follow a different step for vomit stains. You need to apply the soda directly and allow it to soak for one hour.
Follow the timing and then rinse the area from the stain’s back. Use the paste when any spot is old and dry, and you can sprinkle the soda on wet stains.
Baking soda is versatile, and it can serve different purposes. You can use it to clean, deodorize, and refresh your clothes, and also, it will offer stain-removal benefits.
Can Baking Soda Clean Oil Stains?
Yes, baking soda cleans oil stains, and it is an effective solution for grease stains since it absorbs excess oil. You can use paste or powder based on the condition of the spot.
Does Baking Soda Clean Blood Stains?
Yes, baking soda is one of the best solutions for bloodstains, and you can use it for wet or dry blood spots. If it is a dry stain, you can use the paste on it and allow it to sit for an hour, and then you can lift it. As baking soda has whitening properties, it will remove the stain and residues, and you can restore the freshness of your clothing.
Does Baking Soda Clean Smoke Stains?
Yes, baking soda can clean smoke stains. You can dip a damp cloth into the baking soda and use it to remove stubborn smoke stains. Use a clean cloth to wipe away the remaining stain and rinse it.
Does Baking Soda Clean Water Stains?
Yes, baking soda removes water stains, but you have to make a cleaning agent with vinegar and soda. Apply it to the water stain and allow it to sit for around fifteen minutes. After 15 minutes, scrub the area and rinse it with water.
Will Baking Soda Clean Tea Stains?
Yes, baking soda is effective on a tea stain. You can apply the water and baking soda paste to the affected area. Scrub it with a soft and damp sponge.
Its abrasive and gentle nature will lift the spot from the surface. After removing stains, you can rinse the area to remove any remaining residue.
How to Use Baking Soda to Clean Clothes (Four Steps)
- Start filling the washer with water. Add detergent when the water is half full.
- Place your clothes in it.
- Once the washing machine is full of water, add 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda (depending on the size of the load and how soiled the laundry is)
- Run the wash cycle
Please do not put it in the detergent or bleach dispenser.
How to Add Baking Soda to Laundry
See the video below.
Can I Mix Baking Soda with Laundry Detergent?
It is recommended not to mix the laundry detergent and baking soda. Instead, first, you will have to add the detergent when the water is halfway, then you can add the baking soda when the washing machine is full of water.
Baking soda will make water soft and give a sharper white color to your clothes. Moreover, it will address the odor and stains. In brief, it will boost the efficiency of your detergent.
Is Baking Soda or Vinegar Better for Laundry?
They both do well in cleaning clothes. Baking soda is an abrasive and natural deodorizer, but vinegar is an acid. Baking soda can be ideal for cleaning and odor absorption, while vinegar can address hard water stains.
Conclusion
Can baking soda clean clothes? Yes, baking soda can clean clothes and has many other benefits. You can use this natural cleaning agent as a deodorizer, stain remover, fabric softener, and freshener.
It is affordable, safe, and easily accessible. However, you have to consider the materials you are washing while using this cleaning agent. It might not behave in the same way for all your fabrics.
Read our article – Can Baking Soda Clean Carpets? to learn how to use baking soda to clean your carpet.