Using Vinegar and Baking Soda in Laundry: Settings, Products, and Timing

You want to use vinegar and baking soda in your laundry. Maybe you want a natural way to boost cleaning, deodorize clothes, or soften fabric. Vinegar and baking soda are two of the most versatile laundry products, but using them wrong can cancel their benefits. Here’s how to use vinegar and baking soda in laundry with the right settings and timing.

Vinegar (acetic acid, 5%) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) are natural laundry boosters. Vinegar deodorizes, softens, and removes residue. Baking soda boosts cleaning, deodorizes, and removes stains. When used together, they create a chemical reaction that produces water, carbon dioxide, and sodium acetate. The key is to add them at different times: baking soda to the wash and vinegar to the rinse.

To use vinegar and baking soda in laundry, add half a cup of baking soda to the wash drum, add Tide Free and Gentle to the dispenser, add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser for the rinse, and use the right water temperature. Don’t mix vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle, don’t use more than 1 cup of each, and don’t use on silk or acetate.

What Works

Add Baking Soda to the Wash

Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the wash drum before adding clothes. Baking soda:

• Boosts cleaning power
• Deodorizes clothes
• Removes stains
• Softens water
• Balances pH

Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser. The machine releases vinegar during the rinse. Vinegar:

• Removes detergent residue
• Softens clothes naturally
• Deodorizes clothes
• Removes hard water minerals
• Brightens colors and whites

Use with Tide Free and Gentle

Always use vinegar and baking soda with Tide Free and Gentle. They boost cleaning but don’t replace detergent.

Choose the Right Water Temperature

Vinegar and baking soda work in all water temperatures:

• Cold water: Darks, delicates, bright colors
• Warm water: Most loads, everyday clothes
• Hot water: Whites, towels, heavily soiled

Choose the Right Cycle

Vinegar and baking soda work with all cycles:

• Normal cycle: Everyday clothes
• Permanent press: Synthetics and blends
• Gentle cycle: Delicates
• Heavy duty cycle: Towels, heavily soiled

Use for Deodorizing

For heavy odors, add 1 cup of baking soda to the wash and 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse. Or soak clothes in warm water with half a cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar for 30 minutes before washing.

Use for Softening

Add half a cup of vinegar to the rinse as a natural alternative to fabric softener. Baking soda in the wash also helps soften water and clothes.

Use for Brightening

Add half a cup of baking soda to the wash and half a cup of vinegar to the rinse. Baking soda boosts cleaning and vinegar removes residue that dulls colors.

Use for Stain Removal

Make a paste of baking soda and water for pre-treating stains. Apply vinegar full strength to stains (deodorant, coffee, rust). Let sit for 30 minutes before washing.

Use the Right Products

Detergent: Tide Free and Gentle

Stain removers: OxiClean Max Force Spray, Dawn Ultra Dish Soap, Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam

Laundry sanitizer: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

Ink remover: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

Machine cleaner: affresh Washing Machine Cleaner

Use for Machine Cleaning

Run an empty hot cycle with 2 cups of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda monthly to clean the machine.

What to Avoid

Don’t mix vinegar and baking soda in the same cycle. They react and neutralize each other, producing water and carbon dioxide. Add baking soda to the wash and vinegar to the rinse.

Don’t use more than 1 cup of each. Excess vinegar can damage elastic. Excess baking soda can leave residue. Use half a cup each per load.

Don’t use on silk or acetate. Vinegar is acidic and can damage delicate protein fibers. Baking soda is alkaline and can also damage delicate fabrics.

Don’t use as a detergent replacement. Vinegar and baking soda don’t have surfactants. Always use detergent.

Don’t use apple cider vinegar. It can leave residue and stain. Use white vinegar.

Don’t pour vinegar directly on clothes. Add it to the dispenser or dilute it.

Don’t mix vinegar with bleach. The combination produces toxic chlorine gas. Use one or the other.

Dosage Guide

Purpose	Baking Soda (Wash)	Vinegar (Rinse)	Notes
Everyday cleaning	Half a cup	Half a cup	Normal load
Deodorizing	1 cup	1 cup	Heavy odors
Softening	Half a cup	Half a cup	Replace fabric softener
Brightening	Half a cup	Half a cup	Colors and whites
Stain removal	Paste (pre-treat)	Full strength (pre-treat)	Let sit 30 min
Machine cleaning	Half a cup	2 cups	Empty hot cycle

FAQ

Can you mix vinegar and baking soda in laundry? Don’t mix them in the same cycle. They react and neutralize each other. Add baking soda to the wash and vinegar to the rinse.

What does vinegar and baking soda do for laundry? Baking soda boosts cleaning, deodorizes, and softens water. Vinegar removes residue, softens clothes, deodorizes, and brightens. Together they improve cleaning and freshness.

How much vinegar and baking soda should you use per load? Use half a cup of baking soda in the wash and half a cup of vinegar in the rinse for everyday loads. Use 1 cup of each for heavy odors.

Can you use vinegar and baking soda instead of detergent? No. Vinegar and baking soda don’t have surfactants. Always use Tide Free and Gentle as the detergent.

Can you use vinegar and baking soda on all fabrics? No. Don’t use vinegar on silk or acetate. Don’t use baking soda on very delicate fabrics. Use on cotton, synthetics, and everyday clothes.

References

1. Tide. “Vinegar and Baking Soda Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Vinegar and Baking Soda for Laundry.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Laundry Boosters Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Arm and Hammer. “Laundry Guide.” armhammer.com.