If your washing comes out looking clean but still smells faintly damp, or your white towels in an Islington flat never seem properly bright, bicarb of soda can help. Used properly, it's a simple laundry add-on that freshens fabrics, supports your normal detergent, and helps keep the machine itself from developing that stale, closed-door smell.
Table of Contents
- Why Bicarb of Soda Is Your Laundry's Secret Weapon
- Using Bicarb of Soda for Fresher Brighter Clothes
- Deep Cleaning Your Washing Machine with Bicarb of Soda
- The Essential Do's and Don'ts for Using Bicarb of Soda
- Bicarb of Soda for End of Tenancy and Deep Cleans
- Your Bicarb of Soda Questions Answered
Why Bicarb of Soda Is Your Laundry's Secret Weapon
In London homes, laundry problems are often small but persistent. A gym top that still smells after a wash. Towels that pick up a heavy, slightly sour note in a compact bathroom. School shirts that look clean enough, but not crisp and bright. You see it in family houses in Wandsworth and in smaller Canary Wharf flats where airflow isn't always ideal.
Bicarb of soda is one of those old cupboard staples that still earns its place. Not because it does everything. It doesn't. But because it handles a few specific jobs very well when you use it for the right reason.
The main strength is odour control. It helps take the edge off trapped smells in towels, sportswear and everyday laundry that's been sitting in a basket a bit too long. That matters in busy households where loads get washed late in the evening and dried indoors.
Its second job is supporting a brighter-looking wash. In practice, that means it can help your detergent work more cleanly, especially on loads that seem dull rather than heavily stained.
Practical rule: Think of bicarb of soda as a helper, not a miracle product. It improves problem loads, but it won't replace a proper detergent or fix ingrained grime on its own.
The third use is often the most overlooked. It can freshen the machine itself. If your drum smells musty, or the rubber seal feels slimy, adding bicarb to your cleaning routine can make a noticeable difference over time.
That's why cleaners still keep it in mind alongside modern products. It suits homes that prefer simpler options, and it pairs well with routines built around eco-friendly cleaning methods rather than harsh, perfumed products.
Using Bicarb of Soda for Fresher Brighter Clothes
For laundry, the trick is to use bicarb of soda with some discipline. Too little and you won't notice much. Too much and you may end up chasing powdery residue around the drum or on darker fabrics.
Modern appliance guidance says bicarbonate of soda is generally safe in washing machines at about half a cup per load, added directly to the washer tub rather than the dispenser, where it may clog the drawer. The same guidance positions it as an additive that can help deodorise and brighten, not a full replacement for detergent, as noted in Maytag's laundry guidance on baking soda use.
For stubborn odours
Here, bicarb of soda earns its keep.
Use it for:
- Towels that smell stale: Common in homes where towels dry slowly on rails or indoor racks.
- Sportswear and gym kit: Especially synthetic fabrics that hold onto body odour after commuting or workouts.
- Tea towels and cleaning cloths: They often smell unpleasant before they look dirty.
A simple routine works well:
- Put the laundry into the drum as normal.
- Add your usual detergent in its usual place.
- Add about half a cup of bicarb of soda straight into the drum with the washing.
- Run the appropriate cycle for the fabric.
If the load is only lightly scented with detergent but still smells “off” once dry, bicarb is often the better fix than adding more fragrance. Perfume covers. Bicarb helps freshen.
Some laundry doesn't need more scent. It needs less residue and better odour control.
As a detergent booster
London hard water can leave fabrics looking flat. Not filthy. Just tired. Bicarb of soda can help when the issue is dullness rather than deep staining.
It works best on:
- White cottons: Bed linen, pillowcases, hand towels.
- Everyday mixed washes: Loads that come out clean but don't feel especially fresh.
- Repeated-use items: School uniform basics, work shirts, washcloths.
This isn't the same as bleaching. It won't transform badly stained fabric into spotless white. What it can do is support a cleaner-looking finish when your regular detergent is doing most of the work already.
A useful way to consider the matter is:
| Laundry problem | What bicarb can do | What it can't do |
|---|---|---|
| Lingering odour | Help freshen fabrics | Repair mildew-damaged fibres |
| Dull whites | Support a brighter wash | Replace stain remover |
| Everyday loads | Boost the wash routine | Replace detergent on dirty laundry |
Where to put it in the machine
This is the part many people get wrong.
Put bicarb of soda directly into the drum or tub. Don't tip it into the detergent drawer. Powder can gather there, and on some machines it may clog the dispenser.
That applies whether you have:
- A front-loading machine in a London flat: Add it into the drum before or with the laundry.
- A top-loading machine: Add it into the tub where the wash takes place.
If you're trying bicarb of soda in a washing machine for the first time, start with a standard load of towels or bedding rather than a delicate mixed wash. It's easier to judge the result, and you'll quickly see whether freshness is the issue you're solving.
Deep Cleaning Your Washing Machine with Bicarb of Soda
A washing machine can make laundry smell worse when the machine itself needs attention. That happens more often than people think, especially in homes that rely on cooler washes, keep the door closed between loads, or don't always empty the drum straight away.
In practical terms, you're usually dealing with build-up around three areas: the drum, the rubber seal, and the detergent drawer. If one of them smells sour, the whole machine can transfer that smell back onto clean clothes.
Run a maintenance wash
A hot empty cycle with bicarb is a straightforward maintenance job.
Use this approach when:
- The drum smells musty
- Fresh laundry picks up a stale smell
- You've been running lots of cooler washes
- The machine hasn't had a proper clean in a while
Follow these steps:
- Empty the machine fully.
- Add bicarb of soda directly into the drum.
- Run a hot cycle with no laundry inside.
- When the cycle ends, open the door and let the drum dry out.
This won't solve every mechanical or drainage problem, but it does help with ordinary odours and light residue. For a more detailed hygiene-focused routine, BacteriaFAQ offers washing machine guidance that's useful if you're trying to work through a more stubborn smell.
Scrub the parts people miss
The seal and drawer often tell the full story.
Make a simple paste with bicarb of soda and a small amount of water, then use a cloth or soft brush to work over:
- The rubber door seal
- The edge of the drum opening
- The detergent drawer
- The drawer recess
These areas collect residue. In smaller London flats with less ventilation, that residue stays damp for longer and starts to smell.
Cleaner's note: If the drum seems fine but clothes still smell odd, check the seal first. That hidden fold is often the culprit.
After scrubbing, wipe away loosened grime with a damp cloth and leave the door and drawer open so the machine dries properly. That drying step matters more than people realise.
If you want to see the process in action, this walkthrough is a helpful visual reference:
For a full-property standard, the washing machine is only one part of the job. A proper deep clean checklist for the whole home usually includes overlooked areas like seals, kickboards, extractor fans, skirting boards and inside cupboards too.
The Essential Do's and Don'ts for Using Bicarb of Soda
Used properly, bicarb is low-fuss and effective. Used carelessly, it becomes one more thing to clean up.
What to do
Keep the basics tight and simple.
- Use it as an add-on: Bicarb works best alongside your normal detergent, not instead of it.
- Add it to the drum: This helps it dissolve where the wash happens and avoids dispenser build-up.
- Use it for odour-led problems: Towels, sports kit, cloths and stale-smelling bedding respond better than heavily soiled workwear.
- Treat machine care as routine: A maintenance clean is easier than trying to rescue a badly neglected washer.
- Be cautious with delicates: For silk, wool, embellished items or anything you'd normally hand-wash with care, patch test first or skip it.
What to avoid
These are the mistakes that cause most frustration.
- Don't overdo the powder: More isn't better. Excess can leave residue, especially on darker loads.
- Don't expect it to replace stain treatment: Grease, make-up, ingrained food marks and set-in marks usually need proper pre-treatment.
- Don't rely on it for every fabric: Delicate fibres can react differently, and some finishes don't appreciate experimentation.
- Don't ignore the machine condition: If the seal, drawer or filter area is dirty, fresh laundry may still come out smelling wrong.
Bicarb and vinegar in the same load
This bit of advice gets repeated constantly, and it's usually misunderstood.
If you mix bicarb of soda and vinegar together in the same wash at the same time, they react with each other. You get fizz, which looks active, but the cleaning effect you wanted from each product is reduced because they neutralise one another.
That means the dramatic bubbling isn't the goal. It's mostly theatre.
A more sensible approach is to use them separately for separate jobs. If you use bicarb in the wash, keep any vinegar use apart rather than pouring both into one phase and hoping for extra power.
Bubbling doesn't always mean better cleaning. In laundry, it often means the ingredients are busy cancelling each other out.
Bicarb on its own is enough for the jobs it does well. Keep the method boring, and it usually works better.
Bicarb of Soda for End of Tenancy and Deep Cleans
When someone is moving out of a London rental, the washing machine often gets left until the end. Then the tenant opens the door, spots residue around the seal, notices the drawer is grimy, and realises the appliance doesn't look ready for an inventory checkout after all.
That matters more than many people expect. In end of tenancy cleaning, small overlooked details can make a property feel neglected. A clean oven matters. So do bathroom tiles, skirting boards, inside cupboards, and yes, the washing machine.
Why landlords and tenants notice the machine
A clean washer signals that the home has been properly prepared.
For tenants in places like Battersea, Clapham or Greenwich, that can help the property present better at checkout. For landlords and letting agents, it makes handover smoother for incoming tenants. No one wants the first wash in a new place to smell of someone else's detergent build-up.
The same logic applies across the rest of the property. If you're working through a move-out list room by room, practical guides such as these professional tips for tile grout cleaning are useful because they focus on the sort of detail that gets noticed during inspections.
Where DIY helps and where it doesn't
A bicarb clean is a sensible DIY step when the machine only needs freshening. It's especially useful if you've already handled the obvious areas and just want the appliance to feel clean, dry and neutral before keys are returned.
It won't fix everything, though.
If the property also has grease on the extractor fan, limescale in the bathroom, dust on skirting boards, marks inside cupboards, crumbs behind appliances and build-up inside the oven, the washing machine becomes one item on a much longer list. That's when a structured move-out plan matters, particularly if deposit return is on your mind. It's worth understanding the wider end of tenancy cleaning rules and expectations in the UK before the final clean.
In real move-out situations, the best results usually come from combining small DIY wins with a realistic view of what still needs professional attention.
Your Bicarb of Soda Questions Answered
A few questions come up again and again, especially from people trying bicarb of soda in a washing machine for the first time.
Can I use it on any fabric
No. It's better to think of it as suitable for many everyday wash loads, not all textiles without exception.
Cottons, towels, bedding and ordinary mixed laundry are usually the safest place to use it. For wool, silk, delicate knits, embellished pieces or anything with a special finish, be cautious. Patch test where sensible, and if the item is expensive or sentimental, don't experiment.
Why is there white residue after the wash
That usually points to overuse or poor dissolving.
Try:
- Using less bicarb next time
- Running an extra rinse
- Avoiding overloaded drums
- Checking whether the machine itself needs cleaning
Dark fabrics show residue more clearly, so if you've gone too heavy-handed, that's where you'll notice it first.
Can I use baking powder instead
No. Baking powder isn't the same thing and isn't what you want in a washing machine.
Bicarb of soda is the product used for this job. Baking powder contains extra ingredients intended for baking, not laundry or appliance care. Keep it out of the drum.
If you'd rather leave laundry-room deep cleaning, move-out prep, or regular housekeeping to a professional, London House Cleaners makes it easy to book online across London within the M25. Whether you need a one-off deep clean, end of tenancy help, or a reliable weekly cleaner, you can arrange a vetted, insured service with clear pricing and a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
