That familiar moment when freshly washed clothes come out of the machine and somehow still smell musty, sweaty, or stale can be frustrating. Adding more detergent isn’t always the answer. In fact, excess detergent can leave residue inside a washer and contribute to odors.
One inexpensive laundry booster that can help is ordinary baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Used appropriately, it can help neutralize odors and freshen washable clothes. Major appliance manufacturers including Maytag and Whirlpool describe baking soda as a useful laundry aid for odors and stains.
But there’s an important distinction: baking soda can help with laundry odors and may freshen a washer, but it isn’t a substitute for the manufacturer’s washer-cleaning cycle.
Why Baking Soda Helps With Smelly Clothes
Baking soda is mildly alkaline and can help neutralize certain acidic odors rather than simply covering them with fragrance.
That’s useful for laundry exposed to:
- Sweat
- Body oils
- Food smells
- Smoke
- Pet odors
- Musty odors
Maytag recommends adding about ½ cup of baking soda to a wash load along with the normal amount of detergent for odor problems.
The result isn’t supposed to smell like perfume. The goal is simply to leave the fabric smelling cleaner and fresher.
The Simple Way to Use Baking Soda in a Wash
For a regular washable load:
- Check the care labels first.
- Add your normal laundry detergent according to the detergent manufacturer’s instructions.
- Add about ½ cup of baking soda to the wash tub.
- Run the cycle appropriate for the clothing.
- Remove the laundry promptly when the cycle finishes.
- Dry the clothes completely before putting them away.
Maytag specifically recommends putting the baking soda in the wash tub rather than relying on the detergent dispenser, while Whirlpool notes that baking soda is generally safe in most washers but advises checking the owner’s manual first.
Don’t Make This Common Mistake
More baking soda isn’t automatically better.
You don’t need to pour an entire box into the washer because a load smells particularly bad. Start with a reasonable amount and let the washing process do its job.
Also, don’t replace your normal detergent with baking soda.
Baking soda is a laundry aid, not a complete detergent.
Detergent is formulated to remove soils and oils from fabric; baking soda can complement that process by helping with odors and freshness.
For Strong Underarm Odor, Treat the Problem Area
If a shirt smells fine everywhere except around the armpits, adding baking soda to the whole load may not be enough.
A baking-soda paste can be useful for localized odor.
Mix equal parts baking soda and water to make a paste. Work a small amount into the affected area, allow it to sit for about 30 minutes, then wash according to the garment’s care instructions.
Maytag recommends this approach for stubborn body odor and advises checking the care label and testing treatments on an inconspicuous area first.
What If the Whole Washer Smells?
This is where the viral “baking soda cleans your washing machine” claim needs a little context.
A washer can develop odors because of:
- Detergent residue
- Soil buildup
- Moisture
- Leaving wet clothes inside
- A dirty dispenser
- A dirty door seal
- Drain or drainage problems
Manufacturers recommend regular washer maintenance rather than relying on baking soda alone. For example, Maytag recommends using the washer’s Clean Washer cycle where available and cleaning the machine regularly.
So if your clothes smell because the washer itself is dirty, simply adding baking soda to every load may only mask part of the problem.
The Better Way to Keep the Washer Fresh
After every load, remove wet clothes as soon as practical.
Then leave the washer door or lid open so the interior can dry.
This is particularly important with front-load machines, where moisture can remain around the door seal. Maytag specifically recommends leaving the door open between loads to allow the interior to dry and help prevent odor-causing buildup.
Also clean the detergent dispenser regularly. Excess detergent can actually contribute to residue buildup, so using more detergent than recommended isn’t a good solution to a smelly washer.
When Baking Soda Isn’t Enough
If your washer has a persistent mildew or sewage-like smell, don’t keep adding more baking soda and hope it disappears.
Check:
- The washer’s cleaning-cycle instructions
- The detergent dispenser
- The rubber door seal on a front-loader
- The drain hose
- Whether wet laundry is being left inside
- Whether the machine is draining properly
Samsung notes that detergent buildup, drainage problems, and leaving wet clothes in the machine can all contribute to unpleasant washer odors.
If your machine has a Clean Washer, Tub Clean, Basket Clean, or similar cycle, use it according to the owner’s manual.
Baking Soda vs. a Washing Machine Cleaner
They’re not really competing products.
Baking soda:
Useful as a laundry booster for odors and freshness.
Washing-machine cleaner:
Designed specifically for cleaning buildup inside the appliance.
Maytag recommends a dedicated washer-cleaning product and the machine’s cleaning cycle for routine deep cleaning, rather than treating baking soda as a complete replacement.
What About Vinegar?
You’ll often see baking soda and vinegar recommended together online.
There’s a problem with that idea: when you mix them, they react with each other and largely neutralize one another.
More importantly, some manufacturers caution against routinely using vinegar inside washing machines because its acidity can affect rubber seals and hoses over time. Maytag specifically recommends manufacturer-approved cleaners instead of vinegar for regular washer maintenance.
If you’re treating clothing with vinegar, follow the garment and appliance instructions and don’t assume that a popular internet combination is automatically safe for your particular washer.
Don’t Forget the Drying Step
A perfectly washed garment can develop a musty smell again if it stays damp for too long.
Move laundry to the dryer or drying area promptly after the wash finishes, and make sure everything is completely dry before storing it.
This matters especially for towels, workout clothing, and heavier fabrics that can retain moisture.
LG notes that microorganisms can contribute to odor when laundry and the washer aren’t adequately maintained, and recommends appropriate washing temperatures and proper use of laundry products.
What About Delicate Fabrics?
Don’t automatically use baking soda on every item in your closet.
For delicate, specialty, or dry-clean-only garments, follow the care label. Whirlpool specifically advises checking clothing-care instructions and notes that delicate fabrics may not be appropriate for baking soda treatments.
If you’re uncertain, a small hidden-area test is a sensible precaution before using a paste directly on fabric.
A Simple Routine for Fresher Laundry
You don’t need to turn laundry day into a chemistry experiment.
For ordinary washable clothes:
Use the recommended amount of detergent + add about ½ cup of baking soda when odor is a concern + wash according to the care label + dry promptly and completely.
Then deal with the washer itself separately if it has developed an odor.
That distinction is important because fresh-smelling clothes and a clean washing machine are related, but they’re not exactly the same problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put baking soda directly in the washing machine?
For most machines, baking soda can be used as a laundry aid, but check your owner’s manual first. Maytag recommends adding it to the wash tub along with the normal detergent.
How much baking soda should I use?
About ½ cup per load is a commonly recommended amount for odor control. Maytag gives this amount in its laundry guidance.
Will baking soda remove sweat smell?
It can help. For persistent underarm odor, pretreating the affected area with a baking-soda-and-water paste before washing can provide additional help.
Can baking soda clean a washing machine?
It may help freshen the washer, but don’t treat it as a replacement for your machine’s recommended cleaning cycle. For deeper maintenance, follow the appliance manufacturer’s instructions.
Should I use baking soda with detergent?
Yes, baking soda can be used as a laundry booster alongside your normal detergent. Don’t use it as a substitute for detergent.
Can I use baking soda in a front-load washer?
Baking soda is generally considered safe in most washing machines, but Whirlpool and Maytag both advise checking the owner’s manual and following the machine’s specific instructions.
The Real Laundry Lesson
Baking soda isn’t a magic cure for every laundry problem, but it can be a surprisingly useful addition when odor is the issue.
The bigger lesson is to use it for what it actually does well: freshening washable clothes and helping neutralize odors, while using your washer’s recommended cleaning procedure to deal with buildup inside the appliance.
And if clothes still smell after washing, don’t simply keep adding more product. Check the bigger picture—the detergent amount, washer condition, load size, drying time, and the fabric itself can all matter.
