Can You Mix Baking Soda and Laundry Detergent?

Some household hacks sound like myths, like the idea that adding baking soda to your laundry detergent actually can help improve performance, especially on tough loads. But in this case, there’s real science behind the claim. From balancing pH to neutralizing odors, baking soda can help your detergent work better, especially on tough loads. 

What Happens When You Mix Baking Soda and Laundry Detergent?

Not all homemade cleaning recipes are a great idea, but this one's simple and practical. In short, you get a cleaning boost. Baking soda is a mild alkaline substance that raises the water’s pH slightly, so when added to laundry detergent, it can help soften water, allowing the detergent’s surfactants to work more seamlessly. Baking soda also neutralizes acidic odors, meaning sweat or food smells break down more easily. The combination can tackle heavy soils, reduce lingering smells, and leave your clothes fresher without needing more detergent or harsh chemicals. Just don’t overdo it; a half-cup per load is plenty since too much powdery residue could build up.

5 Benefits of Using Baking Soda in Laundry

• Helps neutralize acidic odors for fresher laundry
• Softens hard water, improving detergent performance
• Helps maintain a more balanced pH in the wash cycle
• Can gently boost stain removal on organic soils
• Acts as a mild deodorizer for both clothes and your machine

How To Use Baking Soda With Laundry Detergent

Using baking soda with laundry detergent is straightforward. Simply sprinkle about half a cup of baking soda directly into the drum before loading your laundry, then add your regular laundry detergent (or one of Freddie’s convenient detergent sheets) as usual. If you have especially hard water or heavily soiled items, you can increase to three-quarters of a cup, but generally, less is more. This approach helps the detergent work better while gently tackling odors. 

Don’t put the baking soda in the detergent drawer, as it may clump and clog your washer. Pouring it into the drum is simpler and avoids residue issues. Baking soda works best with cool or warm water cycles, so you can pair it with cold-wash, dissolving detergents like Freddie’s dermatologist-tested sheets. These laundry sheets boast an ingredients list free of bleach, phosphates, brighteners, parabens, dyes, and 1,4-dioxane, without the worry of lumps or leftover powder.

Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Detergent Support Stain Removal

Vinegar Contains Acetic Acid for Odor and Residue Removal

White vinegar is a gentle acid that breaks down residues from soap, sweat, and minerals left behind by hard water. Its acidity helps lift lingering smells and freshens fabrics, especially towels or gym clothes. Because it helps dissolve detergent build-up, it’s also useful for restoring fabric softness.

Baking Soda Neutralizes Odors and Balances Laundry pH

Baking soda is a weak alkaline compound, meaning it balances the wash water's overall pH, making it slightly less acidic. This helps neutralize odors caused by sweat or bacteria and improves the performance of your detergent by softening the water and making surfactants more active.

Laundry Detergents Combine Surfactants and Enzymes To Break Down Soil

Laundry detergents use a mix of surfactants, which grab dirt and oils and lift them away from fabric, and enzymes, helping to break down organic stains like food or blood. When you add baking soda to the mix, these ingredients can work well in softened water, leaving your clothes cleaner with less scrubbing.

Why pH Balance Affects Stain Removal in Laundry Cycles

You might be surprised how important pH is in laundry. Many stains—sweat, food, even mud—are acidic by nature, and because baking soda gently raises the pH, making the wash environment slightly alkaline, it helps break those stains apart. In slightly alkaline water, detergents work more efficiently, surfactants expand their cleaning action, and enzymes perform better on organic matter. 

On the other end of the acidity spectrum, adding vinegar to a rinse cycle lowers the pH, which can help preserve fabric softness and minimize detergent buildup. Together, these shifts help your clothes rinse thoroughly and feel cleaner and fresher without harsh additives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Safe To Use Baking Soda in Laundry?

Yes, in moderate amounts, baking soda is generally safe for most fabrics and modern washing machines. It’s non-toxic, gentle on the skin, and environmentally friendly when used in normal quantities. As long as you don’t overload each wash with too much powder, you’ll be fine. Half a cup per load is a good starting point.

How Much Baking Soda Should I Add to My Laundry Detergent?

Half a cup is usually enough. If you have especially stinky loads, like sweaty sports uniforms or pet bedding, you might bump up to three-quarters of a cup. Always put it in the drum, not the detergent tray, to avoid clogging.

Baking Soda Supports Cleaning Performance and pH Balance

It might sound like something out of your grandmother's wacky book of old wives' tales, but there's solid science behind this. Baking soda is a simple, budget-friendly laundry booster that complements modern detergents by balancing the pH of your wash, deodorizing naturally, and even supporting stain-fighting enzymes so they work harder. 

With a smart detergent like Freddie’s dermatologist-tested laundry sheets that dissolve quickly in cold or warm water, you get a fuss-free way to keep your clothes fresh and clean without plastic jugs or messy measuring cups. Small additions like baking soda can increase the power of your laundry routine, save you money, and help you feel more confident about what’s touching your skin.