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Can You Put Baking Soda in Washing Machine? (Answered)

Who doesn’t need a washing machine these days, right? It has become a must-have item in our day-to-day life. With a washing machine, we can wash our clothes in a matter of minutes.

That being said, you might be wondering if you can use baking soda in the washing machine instead of detergent. You might also wonder how effectively baking soda can wash your clothes in the washer. Let’s find out all your queries about putting baking soda in the washing machine.

Using baking soda in washing machine:

You can use baking soda in a washing machine to effectively remove dirt and grime from the clothes. However, you should not put the baking soda in the detergent dispenser. You should sprinkle the baking soda in the empty washer tub and then place the clothes to wash them properly.

You can put baking soda on your washing machine to clean the rough and stubborn stains and dirt from your clothes. It will help you to get rid of the grimes quite effectively.

That being said, you should not put the baking soda in the detergent dispenser directly. You can put it in an empty tub before putting on the clothes. This is because if you put baking soda directly into the detergent dispenser, it can clog the dispenser and make the washer malfunction.

If you put an adequate amount of baking soda on your washing machine, you will be able to get rid of the dirt from your clothes. It can be used to deodorize mildly soiled items. However, if your clothes are very dirty and soiled, you should add soap with detergent to improve their ability to wash and deodorize it.

The baking soda will not harm the washing machine or clothes. In fact, it will get rid of the odor and dirt in the washing machine. You can also use it to remove stains and dirt from your clothes. In addition, you can also clean the exterior of the washing machine using baking soda.

In addition, baking soda, a naturally occurring mineral, is less harmful to the environment than manufactured fabric softeners that contain perfumes to cover odors. Baking soda can be used safely, unlike synthetic fabric softeners that might affect the fire-retardant finishes on children’s pajamas.

There are numerous reasons why you can use baking soda in the washer. You can use it to clean both the clothes and the washing machine itself. Let’s take a look in detail at why you can use baking soda in the washer.

To sanitize new baby clothes:

Most baby clothes come with chemical finishes such as sizing and scratches. Washing brand-new baby garments in the washing machine with a mixture of a half-cup of baking soda and a light detergent will remove these elements. After washing the clothes, you should make sure there is no detergent or baking soda on the clothes.

To remove odor from the clothes:

Since baking soda is alkaline and neutralizes acids, you can use baking soda to effectively remove odor from the clothes. It is a great way to get rid of unpleasant odors like sweat, pee, and vomit. You can add baking soda to the washing machine’s tub to get rid of the odor from the clothes.

Boost bleach and detergent performance:

You can put baking soda in the washing machine to boost the performance of the detergent and bleach. To maintain the pH level in the water, add 1/2 cup of baking soda for every 1/2 cup of bleach, and be sure to apply the bleach at the appropriate time. This will help the bleach work more efficiently to eliminate bacteria and remove dirt.

To make the fabrics soft:

Baking soda prevents the washing machines’ water from becoming too acidic by regulating the pH level. By adding ½ cup of baking soda, you can make the fabrics of your house softer.

How much baking soda do I put in my washing machine with laundry?

You should not put more than ½ cup of baking soda in your washing machine with your laundry. However, you should make sure that you put the baking soda directly into the washer tub and not into the detergent dispenser. This is because the detergent dispenser is not made to handle and pass the baking soda which is slightly heavier than detergent.

Detergents can function more efficiently and eliminate more bacteria by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to each load of laundry. You should put baking soda on the washer tub of the unit. By using baking soda and water as a pre-soak for strong odor issues such as underarm perspiration or ambient scents like cigarette smoke.

Tips to use baking soda in laundry in the washing machine:

To get the best outcome, you should use the baking soda in the laundry in the washing machine in the right way. Here are some tips for you to use baking soda in the washer correctly.

Pre-soak the clothes:

If you want to get rid of the odor from your clothes, you can pre-soak them in baking soda solution before putting it into the washer tub. This gives the baking soda time to start working hard on eliminating strong odors from your clothes. It is effective for cleaning sweaty, musty, or smoky-smelling clothing, and towels.

Use cold water:

You should use cold water to wash delicate and colorful clothes with baking soda and detergent powder. This is because if you use hot or warm water with baking soda your clothes can get wrinkled and lint can come off them.

Start a load of washer:

Put your used clothes, dirty, and pre-soaked laundry in the washing machine. Put detergent powder in the detergent dispenser as usual. Start the wash cycle so that the water in the machine starts to fill up. Before continuing, let it finish filling.

Add ½ cup of baking soda:

After loading the washer with your dirty clothes you should add ½ cup of baking soda directly into the washer tub. By doing so, you can make sure that the baking soda dissolves perfectly in the water. After doing so, finish the wash cycle as usual.

Using baking soda to clean your top load or front load washer:

Along with clothes, you can use baking soda to clean the top load or front load washers. You can quite easily and effortlessly use baking soda to clean the washing machines. The baking soda will quite easily and effectively remove the stains, dirt, and odors from the top load and front load washer.

Let’s find out how you can use baking soda to clean your front load and top load washing machine.

Put baking soda in the washer tub to clean the interior:

You can use baking soda in the washer tub to clean it properly. After putting the baking soda inside the tub you should scrub the tub manually using a brush. After that, you should start a wash cycle without putting any clothes in it to properly clean and rinse the whole tub automatically. 

Use baking soda in the washer to remove the odor:

You can use baking soda in both the front and top load washer to remove odors from it. To remove the odor and bad smell from the tubs of the washer, you should add baking soda to the tub with water. After mixing baking soda with water, you should close the washer’s door and let it stay overnight. Baking soda will absorb all the unpleasant smells from your washing machine’s tub quite effectively.

Use baking soda to clean the exterior parts:

Baking soda is alkaline, so it can clean different items and surfaces quite well. So, with baking soda, you can clean both the interior and exterior of the top load and front load washing machines.

To clean the exterior of the washer, you should make a solution of baking soda and water. Then you should take a cloth and rinse it in the solution and clean the external parts of the washer properly. While cleaning the exterior parts of the washer, you should make sure that the unit is unplugged.

Final Thoughts

You can use baking soda in the washing machine to clean and remove stains from the clothes. You can also use it to get rid of any bad smell from your clothes. Washing the clothes with baking soda and detergent will also make the fabrics softer and smoother.