How to Use Baking Soda in Laundry
This household staple brightens and whitens laundry and enhances the effectiveness of wash day staples like laundry detergent and chlorine bleach.
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is an alkali that slightly raises the pH of water. This inexpensive household staple has many uses, including a leavening agent in baking and a mild abrasive to remove stains from hard surfaces, as well as some amazing laundry applications.
To use baking soda in the wash, put it directly into the machine's drum; Do not add baking soda to the washer's built-in dispenser. It's best to avoid using baking soda as part of the washer's wash cycle, as it can leave a residue that will make clothing and household items such as sheets and towels feel stiff. Ahead, you'll find eight ways to use baking soda in laundry.
1. Pretreat Stains Two Ways
Baking soda can be used to remove stains before washing. For most stains, apply a paste made by mixing baking soda with water until it is a thick but spreadable paste. Gently rub the paste into the stain and let it work for 20-30 minutes before washing (discard the paste before putting the garment in the washer). But for stains caused by oil and grease, omit the paste and apply the dry baking soda straight on the stain. After 8 to 12 hours of undisturbed sitting, the grease will gradually come out of the fabric.
2. Increase Chlorine Bleach and Detergent Efficacy
Due to its alkaline nature, baking soda can help make chlorine bleach and laundry detergent more effective, enabling you to use less of these items while still getting the same level of clean. To improve the performance of the chlorine bleach or laundry detergent, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the load.
3. A Calm Substitute for Chlorine Bleach
If you prefer to avoid using chlorine bleach altogether, baking soda is a good option for whitening clothes when washing. Use 1/2 cup of baking soda between washes to whiten white and light-colored clothing and household items such as sheets and towels.
4. Remove Crayon or Ink Stains
A common laundry room accident is a stray crayon, pen or marker going into the wash and leaving stains, not only on the clothes, but also on the wash drum. When this happens, re-wash the stain load with 1 cup of baking soda, using the highest water temperature the stained item can withstand. Clothing stains can be eliminated with the use of baking soda, which also cleans the drum and gets rid of crayons and pen smears that could otherwise migrate to the subsequent wash cycle.
5. Acid Neutralization for Odor and Stain Removal
Baking soda's alkalinity can be used to eliminate odors and stains brought on by acidic substances. Most foul odors, including urine and vomit, are acidic; Washing items with baking soda can help neutralize those acids, eliminating associated odors. And, if an acidic substance, such as drain cleaner or battery acid, stains an item of clothing, baking soda can be used to quickly neutralize it, preventing damage to the fabric. Before washing, first remove the discoloration by running cold water over it and then dabbing it with baking soda.
6. Divide Up Overflowing Suds for Simpler Cleaning
Although it happens less frequently, a laundry room with an overflowing washer can occur. If this has happened to you, you'll be glad to know this simple trick. If you see water pouring from the washer, turn off the machine first, then pour in baking soda, which will break the bubbles and absorb some of the water, making cleaning faster and easier.
7. Soften Water
If you live in an area with hard water, the alkalinity of baking soda can help soften the water used for washing clothes. Untreated hard water can make clothes look muddy, but using 1/2 cup of baking soda in the wash will reduce the effects of high mineral content on your laundry, leaving it looking cleaner and brighter.
8. Clean an Iron
An iron soleplate can develop mineral deposits over time that will affect its performance, especially if you live in an area with hard water and use the iron's steam setting frequently. Use a baking soda paste to remove mineral deposits from an iron; The mild abrasive properties of baking soda can remove build-up from products such as starch or sizing and gradually remove scorch marks. Make sure the iron is completely cool before applying a small amount of baking soda paste to a dry cloth, wipe off any build-up, then wipe with a clean, damp cloth.
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