How to Clean Clothes with Baking Soda: Complete Guide

Remove Mold from Clothes with Baking Soda

Mold is one of the toughest laundry issues, leaving clothes with stains and a stubborn musty odor. Regular detergent often isn’t enough, but baking soda can help break down mold and neutralize the smell.

To use it, fill a bucket with warm water and stir in half a cup of baking soda. Soak the moldy clothes for two to three hours, then wash them in your machine with your normal detergent. This simple method loosens mold growth while refreshing the fabric.

If odors remain, add a cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle. Used separately, vinegar and baking soda work together to tackle odor-causing bacteria. In humid areas, a baking soda soak once a month helps prevent mold from returning.

Steps to treat moldy clothes:

• Fill a bucket with warm water and add ½ cup baking soda.

• Soak clothes for 2–3 hours.

• Wash as usual with detergent.

Soaking Clothes in Baking Soda Overnight

Some fabrics hold onto odors more than others, especially towels, gym wear, baby clothes, and pet bedding. A quick wash isn’t always enough, but soaking overnight with baking soda helps neutralize deep-set smells and residues.

Steps for overnight soaking:

1. Fill a tub or large basin with warm water.

2. Add 1 cup of baking soda and stir until dissolved.

3. Submerge clothes fully and leave overnight.

4. Wash in the machine as usual the next morning.

By the next day, the fibers will feel softer and smell fresher. For items that get musty often, repeat this process once a month.

Baking Soda for Laundry

Adding baking soda directly to your washing machine is the easiest way to upgrade your laundry routine. It enhances detergent performance, softens fabrics, and neutralizes odors without any extra effort.

In a top-loading machine, sprinkle half a cup of baking soda directly into the drum before adding clothes and detergent. In a front-loading machine, place the same amount into the detergent compartment. This balances the water’s pH, which helps detergents work better while reducing residue.

You may even find you need less detergent than usual, saving money while getting fresher results. Baking soda is also handy for high-efficiency machines prone to producing too much foam. Adding some directly into the drum absorbs excess moisture and keeps suds under control.

Baking Soda for White Clothes

White clothes often fade or turn yellow despite regular washing. Instead of harsh bleach, baking soda offers a safe and natural alternative to restore brightness.

To whiten clothes, mix one cup of baking soda into a gallon of warm water and soak garments for four to six hours. For tough stains, leave them overnight. After soaking, wash the clothes in your machine as usual. Baking soda acts as a gentle brightener, refreshing fabric without damage.

For an extra boost, you can pair baking soda with lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide. Both provide natural whitening power but remain gentler than bleach. Always test them on a small hidden area first, especially with delicate fabrics.

Explore More: How to Clean a Bathroom With Baking Soda (Toilet, Sink, Tiles & More)

Benefits of Baking Soda in Laundry

Baking soda is a versatile addition to any laundry routine, offering several benefits:

• Odor removal: Neutralizes stubborn smells from sweat, mildew, pets, and smoke.

• Brightens fabrics: Restores whites and keeps colors looking vibrant.

• Stain treatment: Helps lift common stains such as coffee, wine, and juice.

• Natural softener: Leaves clothes comfortable to wear without chemical residues.

• Machine care: Reduces detergent buildup inside washers, helping prevent odors and extending machine life.

Removing Stains with Baking Soda

Stains are where baking soda truly shines. Its alkaline, absorbent nature makes it perfect for neutralizing acids and pulling out pigments from fabric. It works especially well on coffee, tea, wine, tomato sauce, and fruit juice.

What You’ll Need

• Baking soda

• Your usual detergent

• Cold water

• An old toothbrush or soft-bristled brush

• Paper towels or a microfiber cloth

General Paste Method
Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of water to form a paste. Apply directly to the stain, rub gently, and let dry. Brush off the residue and wash as usual.

Specific Stain Treatments:

• Blood: Apply paste to damp fabric and leave for 1 hour before washing.

• Sweat: Repeat the paste method until discoloration fades.

• Wine or fruit stains: Sprinkle dry baking soda on the damp area for 15 minutes before washing.

• Vomit or odor-only stains: Apply paste or sprinkle dry baking soda overnight, then wash.

Boosting Paste Effectiveness
For greasy stains, mix baking soda with vinegar to fizz out oils. For white fabrics, combine baking soda with hydrogen peroxide for whitening. Always test on a hidden area first.

Boosting Paste Effectiveness

Some stains require stronger treatment. For greasy marks, mix baking soda with vinegar instead of water. The fizzing action helps lift oils and grime. For white fabrics, combine baking soda with hydrogen peroxide to create a bubbling reaction that whitens and removes pigments. Always test these mixtures on a hidden area first to avoid damaging delicate materials.

Baking Soda vs. Washing Soda vs. Vinegar

Baking soda is often compared with washing soda and vinegar, but they each serve different roles. Washing soda, or sodium carbonate, is a stronger alkaline cleaner with a pH similar to bleach. It is excellent for tough stains and brightening clothes but more abrasive.

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is milder, with a pH of about 8.4. It is safe for most fabrics and skin, making it ideal for everyday laundry use. It deodorizes, softens, and helps refresh fabrics without being too harsh.

Vinegar, particularly distilled white vinegar, is acidic with a pH of 2.5. It is most effective in the rinse cycle, where it softens fabrics, eliminates odors, brightens whites, and reduces lint and pet hair.

The key rule is not to mix vinegar and baking soda in the same wash. They cancel each other out. Instead, use baking soda during the wash cycle and vinegar in the rinse cycle for maximum benefit.

How to Use Vinegar and Baking Soda in Laundry

Baking soda and vinegar are both powerful natural cleaners, but they should not be added at the same time. When combined directly, they neutralize each other and lose cleaning power. Instead, use them in separate stages of the wash.

Best method for combining vinegar and baking soda:

• Wash cycle: Add baking soda to boost detergent power, soften fabrics, and neutralize odors.

• Rinse cycle: Add vinegar to break down detergent residue, brighten clothes, and reduce lint or pet hair.

This two-step method gets the best results without canceling out the effects. It works especially well for odor-heavy loads such as towels, gym clothes, or smoke-exposed fabrics.

Cleaning a Washing Machine with Baking Soda

Your washing machine collects detergent residues, fabric softener buildup, and soil over time. If not cleaned, it can develop odors that transfer to your laundry. Baking soda is a simple solution for keeping your washer fresh.

Steps to deep-clean with baking soda and vinegar:

• Set the machine to the largest load, hottest water, and longest cycle.

• Add 4 cups of vinegar to the drum, fill with hot water, and let it soak for 1 hour.

• Restart the cycle.

• During the rinse, add 1 cup of baking soda.

• When finished, wipe the drum and exterior with warm, soapy water.

For maintenance, clean dispensers monthly with vinegar water, leave the lid or door open after each wash to let the drum dry, and avoid storing products on top of the washer where spills can damage controls.

Additional Uses of Baking Soda in Laundry

Baking soda offers more than just stain removal and deodorizing. It can improve the effectiveness of chlorine bleach by balancing water pH, making it stronger against stains and odors. Even inexpensive detergents perform better when combined with baking soda.

It also replaces chemical fabric softeners, leaving clothes naturally soft. A paste made of baking soda and water can be used to clean the surface of an iron, removing residue that affects performance. And in high-efficiency washers, baking soda helps reduce excess foam caused by too much detergent.

Conclusion

Baking soda is one of the simplest yet most powerful tools you can add to your laundry routine. It freshens musty fabrics, whitens whites, removes stains, and even helps maintain your washing machine. By soaking clothes overnight, applying paste to stains, or adding it to the wash cycle, you can enjoy cleaner, softer, and brighter laundry without relying on harsh chemicals.

Disclaimer

Although baking soda is safe for most fabrics, always test on a small hidden area before applying it widely. Avoid using it on delicate materials such as silk or wool, as it may weaken fibers. Results can vary depending on fabric type, stain age, and washing conditions. For valuable or delicate garments, follow the care label instructions or seek advice from a professional cleaner.

FAQs

Is baking soda safe for all fabrics?
Baking soda is safe for most fabrics, but it should be avoided on delicate materials like silk or wool, which may weaken over time. It is generally safe for colored clothes too, provided they are colorfast.

Can vinegar and baking soda be used together?
Not in the same wash. For best results, add baking soda in the wash cycle and vinegar in the rinse.

How long can I leave baking soda on stains?
Baking soda can be left on overnight. Covering the spot with a damp paper towel helps prevent the paste from drying out too much.

Can baking soda replace detergent?
No. Baking soda is powerful but works best as a supplement, improving cleaning performance and freshness alongside detergent.