We’ve all been there. You’ve washed your clothes, but they still have that unpleasant odor. It’s frustrating, right? Well, don’t fret! Baking soda is your friend here. It’ll neutralize those odors and make your laundry smell fresh again. Here’s a simple trick: Just add a cup of baking soda directly to the washing drum before you start the wash cycle. Easy-peasy, right? For more intense odors, you can leave the laundry to soak overnight in a solution of water and a cup of baking soda. Then wash the laundry as usual. Voila!
Natural stain remover
Bicarbonate of soda is also an excellent stain remover. According to a report on zdf.de, the household remedy is said to help with stubborn grease stains in particular. And this is how it works:
- Mix baking soda with a little water until a paste is formed.
- Apply the paste directly to the stain and leave it to work for around 30 minutes.
- Then wash the garment in the washing machine as usual.
Baking soda as a fabric softener substitute
Instead of conventional fabric softeners, which often contain chemicals and fragrances, you can also use baking soda to soften your laundry, according to Focus.de. Simply add a little baking soda to the final rinse instead of fabric softener. The household remedy reduces water hardness and makes your laundry softer and fluffier.
Home remedy for discolored laundry
Some items of clothing are heavily dyed and release color particles during the wash cycle, especially with new textiles. The color released then causes other items of clothing to discolor slightly or come out of the washing machine with irregular stains. Baking soda can help to remove these discolorations, as the washing machine manufacturer Bosch informs on its website: Dissolve a large portion of baking soda in hot water and soak the affected garments overnight. Wash them the next day together with a little baking soda to restore the original colors.
Clean the washing machine with baking soda
Not only your laundry, but also your washing machine itself can benefit from treatment with this household remedy. This is because baking soda removes residues as well as odor-causing bacteria and fungi that can be found in the washing machine. To clean the washing machine thoroughly, Ökotest.de recommends distributing 40 grams of baking soda between the pre-wash and main wash compartments. Another ten grams are added to the drum. Then run the machine without laundry at a minimum of 60 degrees. Used regularly, this helps to keep the machine fresh and clean.
