Baking soda is a product that fights dirt and odor naturally. Using it to wash clothes is a great solution for removing stubborn stains and bad smells without harming the fabric.
It can also help to soften garments, increase the effectiveness of soap, and keep fabrics sparkling clean. In addition, baking soda helps keep the washing machine clean.
How To Effectively Use Baking Soda In Laundry
It’s a good idea to soak your clothes in a solution of baking soda overnight, especially in cases of strong smells. This will enable the baking soda to have enough time to penetrate deep into your fabric fibers and actually eliminate the particles that cause the odor.
- Works well with clothes, towels, and other items that smell musty, smoke, or sweat.
- In a bucket, mix a full cup of baking soda with 4liters of water.
- Place the clothes in the bucket and stir a little to ensure they are all wet. Add more water on top if needed.
- Let it soak overnight. They will be ready for washing the next day.
Putting The Clothes To Wash
Put the soda-treated fabrics in the washing machine, add powdered (detergent) or liquid soap as usual and start the wash cycle as you’ll normally do.
You can run a warm wash cycle if the machine has the option of using hot water, using it is ideal for clothes with a musty smell. The high temperature kills the spores that cause the odor.
Now add half a cup of baking soda when the machine is fully loaded, you can also add more baking soda if you’re doing a lot of laundry at once.
Add a cup of white vinegar to further increase the effectiveness against odor.
Always Put Clothes Out In The Open To Air Dry
It is more recommended that we do laundry tasks on sunny days with a little wind. This is really the best option for clothes that once smelled of mildew, smoke, or sweat. The sun and wind will help finish the washing process.
You can also make use of your dryer If that’s your preferred choice, but ensure you sniff the clothes after you’re done to check if the odor is gone.
If the garments still smell musty, wait for a sunny day to wash them again and place them on the line to dry.
Removing Stains
Baking soda is a great natural stain remover, this is because it is soft and can be used on almost any type of fabric. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste. Alternatively, you can use hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar instead of water.
It works well to remove stains caused by oil, grease, dirt, food, and many other substances.
Apply The Paste To The Stain
Apply enough to cover the entire stained area, extending a little beyond the edges, and rub in lightly. Let it act on your fabrics for about 15 minutes.
Use an old toothbrush if the fabric is tough. Rub the stained area to ensure that the solution cleans all the fibers. You should avoid this formula on delicate items like silk, satin, and other fine fabrics because it can damage them.
Rinse your fabric under running water to remove baking soda and dirt. You can also use a damp cloth for more delicate fabrics.
Repeat the process if necessary as some tough stains require more than one application. Apply the baking soda paste to the stain again. Let it act for 15 minutes and then rinse. If the stain persists, you may need to use a chemical stain remover or take the item to a professional dry cleaner.
Doing A Special Dry Cleaning Procedure
Items that require a special dry cleaning procedure can be treated with baking soda. the clothes won’t be exactly clean, but the musty smell will go away.
Form a thin layer of baking soda on top of the garment; place it in a bag, and seal. You can use a flour sieve to evenly distribute the powder.
If you don’t want to use the product directly on your clothes, use a clean sock. Put the baking soda in there and then tie a knot in the sock.
Leave it for one night. It can take a while for the baking soda to fully absorb the musty smell. It is also important to leave the bag in a cool dry place.
Put The Clothes To Air On The Rope
Open the bag and dust out the garment to remove the soda particles. Use a soft brush to remove excess, if necessary. Hang the fabric outside and leave for a few hours to get some air.
Natural Softener
Baking soda helps regulate the pH level of your washing machine rinse water, preventing it from being too acidic or alkaline. Adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to each rinse cycle acts as a balance towards eradicating detergent or mineral deposits in the water thereby preventing them from settling back on the garment.
As a natural mineral, baking soda is less harmful to the environment than synthetic fabric softeners with scents that mask odors. This also makes it a good choice for people with allergies and sensitive skin.
Unlike synthetic fabric softeners that can interfere with the flame retardant components on children’s pajamas, baking soda can be used safely.
Soft And Natural Abrasive (For Fabrics And Dishes)
Baking soda is a mild natural abrasive. To remove accumulated starch and burnt deposits on the faceplate of a cold plate, mix slurry form of baking soda together with water.
Using a white cloth, rub the paste over the surface of the plate. For stubborn build-up, use the cloth to gently rub in and repeat until the build-up is gone.
Finish by wiping off the plate surface with a cloth dampened with white distilled vinegar. Your plate will glide smoothly afterward.
Why Use Baking Soda For Laundry?
Substituting baking soda for regular laundry has benefits for the environment. The chemicals in the soap can be harmful to the water supply system and the planet in general.
When used in conjunction with a regular washing machine, baking soda makes everyday washing more efficient, resulting in cleaner clothes. It can also help to make more foam.
Using baking soda in the wash can help balance the pH levels of your washing machine water. And so, consequently, make the clothes cleaner.
Use baking soda as a fabric softener. Pour in half a cup of baking soda before any wash cycle.
Baking soda can also be used to clean the washing machine, removing bad smells and dirt stains.
Now you know how to effectively use baking soda to treat clothes that you need to care for and clean. Feel free to go to the supermarket and buy a bottle of baking soda if you don’t already have it at home. This product is fairly inexpensive and has abundant uses that will make your life easier.