Written by Angela Reviewed by Daniel

11 Surprisingly Amazing Uses For Baking Soda In The Laundry

Running low on your usual stash of laundry potions? Don’t sweat it, your humble pot of baking soda is about to become the hero of your laundry room. Let’s face it, almost everyone has a pot of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) in their cupboard because of how versatile it is in the kitchen.

But did you know that the same pot of baking soda can be used to great effect in the laundry too? Most of the uses that feature on this page were developed before most of us were even born. You can thank the Victorians for doing all the hard work. Victorians: solving our modern problems before TikTok made hacks cool.

11 Baking Soda Laundry Hacks

So, let’s get straight into the not so secret laundry hacks that use baking soda. Some of them will definitely be a surprise to you while others you might have heard of before. But either way, these hacks actually work and as baking soda is far cheaper to buy than many of the products they’ll be replacing and is an all natural product. You’ll be saving money while also doing your bit for the environment as well.

A Brief Word Of Warning: If you have any doubts about the colour fastness of an item or the suitability of using baking soda on delicate items, we recommend trying it out on an inconspicuous area of the garment first.

Now that we’ve got that warning out of the way, let’s get on with the 11 amazing uses for baking soda in the laundry. Be sure to read to the end for a few bonus uses as well!

#1. Fabric Softener

If you like the feel of soft clothes against your skin, but are worried about being exposed to more chemicals than a school science fair, this ones a must! All you need to do is make a solution from;

One part baking soda
Two parts water
One part white vinegar

Store in a bottle and add four tablespoons to the washer just before the final rinse. Trust me, you don’t want to mistake this concoction for your morning smoothie, so, label it like your laundry depends on it. Oh wait, it does.

#2. Blood Stain Remover

Had a clumsy kitchen mishap or a dramatic game of tag? No judgment here, just grab the baking soda. If you happen to have been unfortunate enough to get blood stains on your clothes, you’ll know just how difficult they can be to remove.

The next time this happens, reach for your trusty tub of baking soda and a bottle of distilled white vinegar.

This dynamic duo is all you need (along with a bucket of water). Simply soak the clothing in a bucket of water and add one cup of white vinegar and one cup of baking soda. Leave to soak overnight and then wash in the usual way the following day.

#3. Vomit Cleaner

Vomit stains not only smell bad and look unsightly, they are also germ laden bacteria nests. Plus they can be notoriously difficult to remove too! Let’s be honest: nothing says “fun times” quite like cleaning up vomit. But baking soda makes the job just a bit less, well, gross.

All you need is your new laundry superhero, baking soda. Simply fill a bucket with warm water and add 2 cups of baking soda and swirl it around to get the baking soda to mix well.

Then add the affected garment and soak overnight. The next day, just wash the item in the usual way.

#4. General Stain Remover

If you get something spilled on your shirt, rinse it immediately in cold water before the stain gets a chance to dry. Then mix up a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the stain.

Leave it to soak for around 10 minutes before washing in the usual way. But don’t try this on delicate items like silk shirts as these need specialist treatments.

#5 Whitener

If your whites are at the stage where they should be called greys, and you don’t want to use a product that’s full of chemicals that you can’t even pronounce, this one’s for you. When your ”whites” are auditioning for a role in a 50 Shades of Grey sequel, it’s time to break out the baking soda.

Just mix one cup of baking soda with one cup of lemon juice and soak your whites for one to two hours.

Alternatively add the mixture to the detergent drawer along with your regular detergent and run your usual wash cycle.

#6. Ink Spill Remover

Pens: great for writing; terrible for pockets. Luckily, baking soda doesn’t judge your life choices. If you’ve had a pen leak in your pocket which has stained your shirt, just make a paste from baking soda and white vinegar and apply it directly to the stain.

Leave to soak in (20 to 30 minutes) before washing in the usual way. Add another cup of baking soda to the wash to ensure the full removal of the ink stain.

#7. Crayon & Marker Remover

The same method used for removing ink stains will work for crayon marks as well as marker stains. Because kids and permanent markers are apparently a match made in chaos heaven. Just make a paste from baking soda and white vinegar and apply to the affected area.

Leave to soak in for a while (20 to 30 minutes) before washing in the usual way with an added cup of baking soda to complete the treatment.

#8. Terry Nappy Cleaner & Deodoriser

If you’re not a lover of disposable nappies and you prefer using terry toweling nappies, (let’s be honest disposable nappies are wasteful and could eventually lead to an environmental disaster. So maybe you should be using terry nappies) this one’s a real game changer.

To deodorise and clean your terry nappies and restore them to their white glory days, soak them overnight in a bucket of water to which two cups of baking soda have been added.

The next day, when you wash them using your regular detergent and wash cycle, you won’t need to add as much detergent or use such a hot wash to get them clean. The smells will be gone and the stains as well.

#9. Pillow Freshener

It can be difficult during wet, winter (or summer) months to air pillows outdoors. This can lead to them getting a bit, well, smelly. A good way to deal with this, especially when there’s no chance of airing them outdoors, is to sprinkle baking soda all over the pillow.

Leave for an hour or so so that the baking soda can absorb all of the bad smells before vacuuming it away, taking the smell with it. Think of it as a spa day for your pillow, it’s time to detox.

#10 Mattress Freshener

If the mattress in your spare room hasn’t been used for a while and is starting to smell a bit musty, just sprinkle some baking soda all over it before making the bed up with fresh bedding.

Who knew a sprinkle of baking soda could give your mattress a second chance at life?

#11. Removing Grease Stains

Grease stains can be amongst the most difficult to deal with but baking soda comes to the rescue once more. When your favourite shirt moonlights as a napkin, baking soda is here to save the day.

Just mix up a paste of two parts baking soda and one part cream of tartar mixed with a little water. Then just rub the paste into the grease stain gently before washing in the usual way.

But Wait, There’s More…

There you have 11 amazing baking soda laundry hacks which will definitely make your life easier. That’s 11 ways baking soda proves it’s not just for cakes and biscuits.

Who knew one humble powder could do so much? But that’s not all, here are a few more. Because when it comes to baking soda, the party never stops;

Iron Soleplate Cleaner

Over time, the soleplate on your iron can become dirty and stained. Burned fabric can be the problem but the most common cause is limescale deposits from the hard water in your area.

However, this can be removed quite easily once the iron has been unplugged and allowed to cool down. All you need to do is mix up a paste consisting of baking soda and water.

Apply to the soleplate of the iron and leave for 30 to 40 minutes. Then simply wipe away using a soft damp cloth. Think of it as exfoliation, but for your iron. Even appliances deserve a glow up.

Wardrobe Refresher

Sometimes wooden wardrobes and cupboards get that “woody” smell. If you want to eliminate the smell simply sprinkle baking soda in the bottom and cover it with lining paper.

Or place an open container of baking soda in the bottom, but don’t forget it’s there, you don’t want a baking soda spillage disaster!

Vacuum Cleaner Deodoriser

Have you noticed that your vacuum leaves a smell reminiscent of a wet dog? If your vacuum leaves a bad smell behind long before the bag needs emptying or replacing, freshen it up with a sprinkle of our old friend, baking soda.

The baking soda will absorb any bad smells from your vacuum and if you were to mix baking soda with a few drops of your favourite essential oils before adding it to the vacuum, your home will smell fresh and clean. Who knew your vacuum could double as a portable air freshener?

Swim Bag Deodoriser

A swim bag is an essential bit of kit if you swim regularly, but it can get a bit whiffy over time. Your swim bag doesn’t need to smell like a wet seal. Enter baking soda, the unsung hero of poolside hygiene.

Simply empty the swim bag and sprinkle some baking soda into the bag. It will soak up any bad smells leaving your swim bag smelling fresh again.

Shoe Deodoriser

Nothing smells quite as bad as smelly shoes, especially sports shoes and trainers. The trouble is your feet sweat and all of that sweat stays behind in the shoe where it breeds bacteria and that’s what causes the smell.

To neutralise that foul smell simply sprinkle baking soda and leave overnight. The following day, shake the baking soda (and the smell) out of the shoes.

Baking soda: fighting stinky shoes one sprinkle at a time. Your feet (and your nose) will thank you.

Suede & Fabric Scuff Remover

If you have suede or fabric furnishings or shoes and they get scuffed, you can remove dirt and grease using, you guessed it, baking soda. Just sprinkle some baking soda onto the affected area and gently brush the stain away.

Before applying baking soda check in an inconspicuous area first to check it’s not going to damage the fabric.

Your Turn

So, what are you waiting for? Grab that trusty tub of baking soda from your cupboard, roll up your sleeves, and let the magic begin. Whether you’re battling stubborn stains, funky odours, or mattresses that have seen better days, baking soda is your ultimate wingman.

Got a favourite baking soda hack of your own? Share it in the comments, we’re all about expanding the baking soda hall of fame! And don’t forget to share this with your socials, there are loads of people online that need to hear this!

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