Like vinegar, baking soda is another popular laundry item. It can soften, whiten, and removes stain from fabrics quickly. However, is it totally harmless?
Can baking soda damage clothes? Baking soda doesn’t contain any harmful elements. So, it never damages clothes in normal conditions. However, the irrelevant use of baking soda can fade fabrics, shorten lifespan, ruin dyes, and leave white residues on them.
So, do you want to know more? If it’s a yes, follow me. In this article, I’ll discuss whether baking soda is the ultimate solution for your clothes or not.
Let’s start.
Cons of Using Baking Soda
First of all, baking soda is a versatile cleaning item. It can serve various purposes to satisfy you. However, excessive use of baking soda can be detrimental. Just take a look-
Leave white residue
Baking soda is a wonderful cleaning agent for your garments. However, you should add it to your washer in limited amounts.
When you use too much baking soda, it may leave white residues over the surface. So, you should be careful.
Many people prefer to use this element for their clothes and end up with bleached clothes.
Fade natural fibers
Most people, even you, may prefer to wear silk, wool, and cashmere dresses. They are comfortable to wear and look great.
However, you shouldn’t use baking soda to clean these Keratin-based fabrics. Unlike vinegar, baking soda has a high pH. So, it may fade garments if you use them regularly.
Ruin dye in clothes
I believe some of you may have great attractions towards craft and fashion items. So, you may apply dye to clothes to look great.
But, some dyes may act negatively with high pH items like baking soda. So, how do you wash these awesome dresses? It’s simple. Just use powerful and natural detergent.
For better finishing, you can add distilled white vinegar. However, stay away from using cheap detergents.
Make fabrics rough
Baking soda and vinegar are the two most popular laundry items in every house. Some might prefer to add soda to the final rinse cycle.
However, such behavior isn’t garment-friendly at all. Excessive use of baking soda can make fabrics rigid and stiff overages.
Reduce lifespan
In many parts of the US, hard water is pretty common. Because of that situation, you may face difficulty in ironing and washing garments.
When water is hard enough, it’s safe not to use baking soda. However, if you do so, lifespan of dresses may be shortened.
So, you may understand the cons of excessive using baking soda for laundry. But, you can use sufficient amounts for any cloth. Sensible use of it can-
- Remove bad odors from garments perfectly.
- Soften fabrics naturally
- Boost detergent and bleach performance
- Keep your iron clean
- Control excessive suds
Is Baking Soda Enough to Wash Clothes?
Washing fabrics can be hard sometimes. Using detergent can’t always offer you the best possible results. Sometimes you may run out of detergent, and situations become frustrating for you.
In such situations, you might want to use dish washing powder. However, you can solve this problem easily. Just use a half cup of baking soda to regular loads of your laundry. It works perfectly for both hand washing and machine washing garments.
After washing, you may notice whitened and stain-free clothes. By the way, does baking soda contain any harsh elements? The answer is straight no. So, you’re always welcome to use it. But, use it sensibly instead of roughly.
Baking Soda on Black Clothes
Discolored black clothes can be frustrating for you. So, you should be careful while handling these garments.
Luckily, baking soda can solve this problem easily. This powerful cleaning agent can work on both white and colored fabrics.
Simply add half a cup of baking soda after you fill washer with clothes. Avoid pouring it into washer’s automatic dispenser. Instead, throw it on the clothes directly. Now, simply wash those items.
This soda acts as non-chlorine bleach. Unlike chlorine bleach, it brightens black clothes without hurting them.
Like baking soda, the following items work better on black clothes.
- Distilled white vinegar
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Black tea or coffee
For more protection of your black clothes-
- Wash them with cold water.
- Turn dresses inside out before washing.
- Use a gentle cycle of your washer.
Wash Clothes With Vinegar and Baking Soda
Both vinegar and baking soda work great against stains and odors. So, using any of them can ensure soft and whitened fabrics.
But, you shouldn’t apply vinegar and baking soda together to your clothes. Both of these items have different pH levels. While vinegar is a low pH item, baking soda has a high pH. So, they may neutralize the effect of each other when applying together on dresses.
Does Baking Soda Whiten Clothes?
First of all, baking soda is a renowned odor and stain-removing powder. However, you can use it to whiten your clothes too.
For whitening garments, most of you might choose chlorine bleach. But, this item isn’t perfect on every garment.
In contrast, baking soda is the best solution for any fabric. Add half a cup of baking soda to your washer and wash clothes normally.
To remove stains, prepare a thick paste of baking soda and water. Now, apply it to garments.
Interestingly, you can use baking soda with bleach too. Some users complain about odd smells after using bleach. Baking soda can eliminate this smell and ensure the perfect clothes for you.
Can Baking Soda Ruin Your Washing Machine?
Generally, baking soda doesn’t ruin washer. You can use it for any washer– front loader, top loader, and HE washer.
Since it’s a dry product, you should throw it on clothes directly. If you put it in the automatic dispenser, it may be clogged.
Lastly, many washers have Aluminum inside. So, regular and excessive use of baking soda can ruin this element in the long run. However, you can use it sufficiently. As a rule of thumb, half a cup is enough for regular loads.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use if I have no laundry detergent?
If you don’t have laundry detergent, you have many options to choose from. Search your home and use any of the following-
- Baking soda
- Distilled white vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Prepare homemade detergent
- Oxygen bleach
- Vodka
- Borax
Lastly, never use-
- Lysol
- Chlorine-based bleach
- Body wash
- Dishwashing liquid
- Shampoo
- Cheap laundry detergent
Conclusion
Finding the best solution for clothes can be challenging. Sometimes, cheap detergent and bleach can ruin tenderness and make garments stiff.
Surprisingly, baking soda can save you from many hassles. Just add it to washer and wash normally. Even, you don’t have to add detergent or vinegar. Only baking soda is perfect.
However, don’t be emotional! Use smaller amounts of it, provided that it’s a powerful cleansing.
So, that’s it for today. But, don’t forget to share your feelings in the comment below.
Goodbye!
