From using it to eliminate hard water stains and fridge odours to understanding how to make white clothes whiter with baking soda, this article will provide expert advice from housekeeping experts.
So read on – your laundry routine just got a lot fresher!
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering how to use baking soda for whitening clothes, you’re not alone… White clothing can be difficult to wash and keep bright, but it’s an even greater challenge when factoring in common stain causes such as sweat, spaghetti, and general dinginess.
Make your clothes look sparkling white in a matter of moments!
First things first, bicarbonate of soda and baking soda are the same thing.
Rather than using caustics or optical brighteners, learning how to whiten clothes without bleach can absolutely be done – with the right ingredients and techniques! Just like using a teaspoon of salt to enhance the flavour of your favourite dish, baking soda is a gentle yet effective substance for making white clothes look their best.
How Effective is Baking Soda for Whitening Clothes?
For those who want a gentler, more natural alternative to bleach when it comes to whitening their clothes, baking soda can be a great solution. Baking soda is effective at removing dirt and unwanted oxidation on white fabric, but needs to be used with care.
For instance, although it may be tempting to mix baking soda with bleach, this could lead to unpredictable results that could damage the fabric.
What are the extraordinary capabilities of baking soda?
Cost-effective and environmentally friendly
Baking soda is one of the safest, most cost-effective, and environmentally friendly products for making whites whiter. It is non-toxic, safe to use on most fabrics, and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that may be damaging to your clothes.
The inexpensive way to keep your clothes looking their best
It is also inexpensive compared to other whitening products and can be used alone or in combination with detergent and other cleaning agents.
Not to mention, it won’t damage the fabric like bleach can when used improperly.
Is baking soda the best whitening agent compared to other chemical options?
Baking soda has the power to slightly brighten whites, yet its effect pales in comparison to chlorine-based products due to chemical reactions that are fundamentally distinct.
Furthermore, you should never mix baking soda with other bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide or chlorine because the two chemicals will react and produce an unpleasant smell.
What Are The Steps To Make White Clothes Whiter With Baking Soda?
While many people think using bleach is the only way to whiten clothes, making a simple solution from water and baking soda is actually easier and just as effective.
You might want to try it first on a small item of clothing like a sock or handkerchief before doing your whole laundry load for the best results.
- Preparing A Solution – Fill up your washing machine drum or sink with enough warm water for the item you plan on whitening, add one cup of baking soda for every gallon of water and mix it until dissolved.
- Soaking – Soak whites in the solution overnight, then remove them and let air dry.
- Washing – After letting the items dry, launder them as usual in your washing machine using detergent.
- Drying – Depending on the type of fabric, you can either air dry or machine dry
How to use baking soda as a whitening agent ?
Whitening clothes using the washing machine – Tips For Using Baking Soda In Laundry
To use baking soda as a whitening agent, mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Gently rub the paste onto the fabric and let it sit for 15 minutes.
Then, rinse with cold water before washing as usual in your washing machine.
What to do if you don’t have a washing machine?
If you don’t have a washing machine, you can use the same mixture to hand-wash the clothing item.
Fill a bucket or sink with cold water and add the baking soda mixture. Soak for 15 minutes, rinse with cold water, and lay flat to dry.
Once you know how to use baking soda for whitening clothes, it can be an easy and affordable way to brighten up your whites!
With these simple tips, you’ll be able to enjoy bright whites in no time!
Precautionary Tips on how to use baking soda for whitening clothes
When using baking soda to whiten white fabric, there are a few practices that can help prevent the fabric from getting damaged or discoloured:
• Test a small patch of fabric before using the baking soda mixture on the entire item.
• Use cold water to rinse the clothing after applying the baking soda mixture, and lay it flat to dry.
• Avoid leaving the baking soda mixture on the fabric for too long, as this can cause discolouration.
Following these steps along with advice from experts on how to get the best results when using baking soda will help you make your whites brighter than ever before in no time!
Wecasa has many cleaning tips and tutorials for ironing clothes like a pro 😉
Related reading: How to remove iron burn marks from clothes
