What Does Baking Soda Do for Laundry?

You want to know what baking soda does for laundry. Maybe you’ve seen recipes calling for baking soda in the wash, or you wonder if it actually helps. Baking soda is a versatile laundry booster that does several things: it boosts cleaning power, deodorizes, softens water, and brightens clothes. Here’s what baking soda does for laundry and how to use it.

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a natural alkaline compound that boosts laundry performance in four main ways: it raises the pH of wash water to make detergent more effective, it absorbs and neutralizes odors, it softens hard water to help detergent work better, and it helps brighten whites and colors. The key is using the right amount and adding it at the right time.

To use baking soda for laundry, add half a cup to the wash drum with Tide Free and Gentle, use it for deodorizing and brightening, add vinegar to the rinse to balance pH, and clean the machine monthly with affresh. Don’t use baking soda on silk or wool, don’t use too much, and don’t use it as a detergent replacement.

What Baking Soda Does for Laundry

1. Boosts Cleaning Power

Baking soda raises the pH of the wash water, making it more alkaline. This helps detergent break down dirt, oil, and stains more effectively. Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the wash with Tide Free and Gentle.

2. Deodorizes Clothes

Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odor molecules. It works on sweat, mildew, cooking, and pet odors. Add half a cup to the wash for smelly clothes. For severe odors, soak clothes in a baking soda solution for 30 minutes before washing.

3. Softens Hard Water

Baking soda softens hard water by binding with calcium and magnesium ions. This helps detergent work better and prevents mineral buildup on clothes. Add half a cup to the wash if you have hard water.

4. Brightens Whites and Colors

Baking soda helps remove dulling residue from clothes, brightening both whites and colors. Add half a cup to the wash. For extra brightening on whites, add 1 scoop of OxiClean.

5. Removes Stains

Baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive. Make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to stains, let sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, and wash. It works on grease, food, and sweat stains.

6. Softens Fabric

Baking soda helps soften fabric by removing detergent residue that makes clothes stiff. Add half a cup to the wash and half a cup of vinegar to the rinse for naturally soft clothes.

7. Cleans the Washing Machine

Baking soda helps clean the washer by removing odors and residue. Run an empty hot cycle with 1 cup of baking soda. Follow with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.

How to Use Baking Soda in Laundry

In the Wash Cycle

Add half a cup of baking soda directly to the wash drum before adding clothes. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle. The baking soda boosts the detergent’s cleaning power.

As a Pre-Treatment

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply to stains. Let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub with a toothbrush. Wash normally.

As a Soak

Dissolve 1 cup of baking soda in a tub of warm water. Add smelly or stained clothes. Soak for 30 minutes. Wash normally.

In the Rinse (Don’t)

Don’t add baking soda to the rinse. Add white vinegar to the rinse instead. Baking soda and vinegar neutralize each other, so add them in different cycles.

For Machine Cleaning

Run an empty hot cycle with 1 cup of baking soda to deodorize and clean the machine. Follow with affresh monthly.

What Baking Soda Does Not Do

It Does Not Replace Detergent

Baking soda is a booster, not a detergent. It doesn’t contain surfactants to break down dirt and oil. Always use it with Tide Free and Gentle.

It Does Not Disinfect

Baking soda does not kill bacteria or mold. For disinfecting, add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse.

It Does Not Remove All Stains

Baking soda works on grease, food, and sweat stains. For ink, use Amodex Ink and Stain Remover. For tough stains, use OxiClean Max Force Spray. For grease, use Dawn Ultra Dish Soap. For food stains, use Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam.

Baking Soda Uses by Laundry Need

Laundry Need	What Baking Soda Does	How to Use	Amount
Boosting cleaning	Raises pH, helps detergent	Add to wash	1/2 cup
Deodorizing	Absorbs and neutralizes odors	Add to wash or soak	1/2 cup
Softening water	Binds with hard water minerals	Add to wash	1/2 cup
Brightening	Removes dulling residue	Add to wash	1/2 cup
Stain removal	Gentle abrasive	Make paste, apply to stain	Paste
Softening fabric	Removes detergent residue	Add to wash + vinegar rinse	1/2 cup
Machine cleaning	Removes odors and residue	Run empty cycle	1 cup

What Not to Do

Don’t use baking soda on silk or wool. Baking soda is alkaline and can damage protein fibers. Use a pH-neutral detergent for silk and wool.

Don’t use too much baking soda. Using more than 1 cup can leave residue on clothes. Use half a cup per load.

Don’t use baking soda as a detergent replacement. Baking soda doesn’t contain surfactants. Always use it with Tide Free and Gentle.

Don’t mix baking soda and vinegar in the same cycle. They neutralize each other. Add baking soda to the wash and vinegar to the rinse.

Don’t use baking soda on flame-resistant fabrics. Baking soda can affect the flame-resistant coating on children’s sleepwear.

FAQ

What does baking soda do for laundry? Baking soda boosts cleaning power by raising pH, deodorizes clothes by absorbing odors, softens hard water, brightens whites and colors, removes stains as a gentle abrasive, softens fabric by removing residue, and cleans the washing machine.

How much baking soda should you add to laundry? Add half a cup of baking soda per load. For stain removal, make a paste. For machine cleaning, use 1 cup. Don’t use more than 1 cup per load.

Can you use baking soda instead of laundry detergent? No. Baking soda is a booster, not a detergent. It doesn’t contain surfactants to break down dirt and oil. Always use it with Tide Free and Gentle.

Can you use baking soda on all fabrics? No. Don’t use baking soda on silk, wool, cashmere, or flame-resistant fabrics. Baking soda is alkaline and can damage protein fibers.

Can you mix baking soda and vinegar in the wash? No. Baking soda and vinegar neutralize each other. Add baking soda to the wash and vinegar to the rinse.

References

1. Arm and Hammer. “Baking Soda Laundry Guide.” armandhammer.com.
2. Tide. “Laundry Booster Guide.” tide.com.
3. The Spruce. “What Does Baking Soda Do for Laundry.” thespruce.com.
4. Good Housekeeping. “Laundry Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.