6 Ways To Use Baking Soda With Your Laundry

Baking soda is one of the most versatile ingredients known around. Here are six amazingly simple ways to use it with your laundry.

1. Enhance Liquid Detergent

What: Sometime, your liquid detergent may need an extra boost. Baking soda is a cheap and unharmful way of doing just that, as it is particularly effective against greasy stains. You’ll also be saving some detergent in the process.
How: Halve the usual amount of liquid detergent. Add 0.5 oz/15 g to 1 oz/30 g (1 to 2 tablespoons) of baking soda in your washer.
Caution: Do not use on wool and silk.

2. Prewash Clothes

What: If you want to prewash collars, sleeves, as well as treat grease, blood, grass, wine and red fruit stains, try some baking soda first. You’ll be able to dissolve fat and proteins responsible for these stains.
How: Mix 1.5 oz/40 g (4 tablespoons) of baking soda per liter of water. Spray the stains with the mix.
Caution: Do not use on wool and silk.

3. Neutralize Laundry Basket Odors

What: If you have sportswear, underwear or baby clothes in your laundry basket, it can smell up your place pretty fast. Baking soda, thanks to its relatively porous structure, will trap and neutralize these odors.
How: Dust some baking soda on your smelly clothes when you add them to the laundry pile. Leave the baking soda with your clothes when you wash them. It will continue its cleaning and dedorization job.
Caution: Do not use on wool and silk.

4. Remove Smells From Laundry

What: Baking soda completes the rinsing process of your washing machine. The small amount remaining the fibers after drying helps to neutralize odors that may persist.
How: Pour one tablespoon of baking soda in the softener tray of your washing machine.
Caution: Do not use on wool and silk.

5. Sanitize Shoes

What: The porous structure of baking soda allows it to trap and neutralize smells. Its regular use also limits development of fungi in shoes.
How: Sprinkle evenly some baking soda in your shoes (between 1 oz/30 g to 2 oz/6 g per shoe). If necessary, shake the shoes. Leave the baking soda in for at least one night. If you’re planning on storing your shoes for a while, you can leave the baking soda permanently.

6. Treat Baby Clothes

What: Baking soda enhances the action of laundry detergent, and neutralizes the toughest odors (vomit, pee, etc.). It also doesn’t trigger allergies or irritation, which is vital for babies’ delicate skin. The components are naturally present and the body, and isn’t recognized as a foreign substance.
How: Pour a tablespoon of baking soda with your laundry in the washing machine. Halve the amount of washing powder you usually put.
Caution: Do not use on wool and silk.