Revitalize Your Laundry: Baking Soda Hacks for Fresh, Clean Clothes and Odor Elimination

Baking Soda is a natural, safe, and affordable cleaning powerhouse. If you haven’t tried using baking soda for laundry, you’ll want to start after reading this guide.

What can baking soda do? Beyond being a baking staple, this versatile ingredient freshens smelly fridges, gently removes stains from surfaces, and even keeps your clothes smelling great. In fact, using baking soda in laundry is one of the best ways to keep your garments fresh.

Is baking soda safe for clothes?

Absolutely. Baking soda neutralizes odors, brightens dull fabrics, and tackles grease stains—all while being gentle and chemical-free. Its mild alkalinity makes it perfect for cleaning without harming your skin or fabrics.

Benefits: Baking soda is incredibly affordable, so stock up on a large bag for laundry and household cleaning.

How to use baking soda in laundry?

Eliminate stubborn odors

For clothes with a sour or musty smell, rewash them with baking soda. If freshly dried clothes lack freshness, do the same. This extra step is worth it—lingering odors won’t stand a chance against a baking soda rinse.

Here’s how:

1. Dissolve 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda in 3–4 cups of warm water. Add to your washer during the rinse cycle, if possible.
2. Add your regular detergent and wash with warm water. Warm water ensures baking soda dissolves fully. Rinse with cold water to prevent fading or shrinkage, unless care labels specify otherwise.
3. Dry as usual.
4. For heavily soiled items (food, smoke, sweat), follow the above steps but add an extra rinse cycle to ensure odors are completely gone.

Freshen non-washable fabrics

Revitalize curtains, dry-clean-only items, or pillows with baking soda. Just add one extra ingredient for a fragrant boost.

1. Mix 1 cup of baking soda in a Mason jar.
2. Add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. Stir directly in the jar.
3. Place a cloth or parchment paper under the jar’s lid to contain the mixture while allowing fragrance to disperse.
4. Place the jar in the smelly container overnight or longer if needed.

Tip: Use this mixture in fabric bags or closets. Seal tightly to prevent spills.

Remove tough stains

Baking soda’s absorbent and mild abrasive properties make it ideal for grease stains. Simply scrub and watch stains vanish.

1. Rinse the stain from the fabric’s reverse side to prevent setting.
2. Sprinkle baking soda directly on the stain.
3. Add a drop of dish soap or detergent.
4. Scrub with fingers, a soft brush, or clean toothbrush.
5. Let sit for 15 minutes.
6. Wash as usual.
7. Repeat if stains persist before drying.

Boost detergent and bleach performance

Baking soda enhances detergents and brightens whites. However, use it sparingly and avoid mixing with unknown substances.

1. Mix 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of warm water until dissolved.
2. Pour into the washer, directly onto clothes. Add during the rinse cycle if possible.
3. Add detergent and wash with warm or cold water.