How to Use Baking Soda in Laundry

How to Remove Laundry Stains with Baking Soda

Baking soda is often combined with water to form a paste to remove any acidic stains like coffee, fruit juices, and various bodily fluids like blood. Here's how:

• Make a paste. Mix equal parts baking soda and water into a paste that you will use to help lift the stain.
• Apply it to the stain. Apply your paste to the stain, rubbing it in with your fingers or a toothbrush.
• Let it sit. Let the garment and the mixture sit until it dries.
• Rinse and wash. Rinse away the mixture, and you should discover that the stain is reduced or gone. Repeat the first steps if needed, and then wash as usual.

If you're unsure how to treat a specific stain, try The Spot Check below to help you find out.

Baking Soda vs. Washing Soda vs. Vinegar in Laundry

Baking soda, washing soda, and vinegar are each effective in different ways for stain and odor removal in the laundry.

• Washing soda: Washing soda and baking soda are closely related fine, white powder substances. Washing soda, or sodium carbonate, is a stronger cleaner. It is a naturally occurring chemical compound derived from plant ash. Its alkalinity is about 11 on the pH scale, about the same cleaning strength as bleach. Washing soda is best for removing stains and brightening clothing. It also works great as a fabric softener.
• Baking soda: Chemically called sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is also alkaline, about 8.4 pH. Like washing soda, it can be used to remove stains and grease. Baking soda, on the other hand, is less abrasive on fabrics and works well for softening clothes. It helps control overflowing suds and brings aged linens back to life.
• Vinegar: Distilled white vinegar is a clear liquid containing acetic acid with a pH of 2.5. Vinegar is a household staple used in laundry to remove stains, soften fabrics, banish odors, brighten and whiten clothing, reduce lint and pet hair, and more. During the rinse cycle, you can add vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser in front-load washers or directly to the drum in top-load washers. Both baking soda and vinegar can be used to clean your washing machine.
  

Additional Tips for Using Baking Soda in Your Laundry

• Chlorine bleach is often used to help remove odors and general grime in our laundry, and you can boost its powers by regulating the water's pH level with baking soda.
• A half cup of baking soda can also boost the power of value laundry detergent.
• A half cup of baking soda may also help soften your clothing, instead of using synthetic fabric softeners.
• You can clean your iron with baking soda. Using a white cloth, rub a paste of baking soda and water over the face of the iron.
• If you accidentally use regular laundry detergent in a HE laundry machine and discover suds flowing out of it, toss some baking soda inside the washer. The baking soda can absorb some of the moisture.