It’s a fact: stains happen, shoes start to smell over time and your whites get yellow. And the longer they’re left untreated, the harder they are to remove.
WATCH: Joh and Adam give an old laundry a fresh makeover
If you’ve got a whole basket of laundry to do, try tackling all the different problems with one product: bicarb soda. The versatile household item that we all have in our pantry can do more than help cakes rise.
10 expert tips and uses for bi-carb soda in the laundry
1. Use as a stain remover
Use bi-carb paste to aid in the removal of greasy food splatters and marks like butter, margarine and cooking oil. Leave the paste on for 30 minutes and then soak in detergent.
To make bi-carb paste: combine 3 parts of bi-carb soda with 1 part water. Adjust for your desired consistency.
2. Eliminate smells
Reduce the smell of dirty laundry by generously sprinkling bi-carb into your laundry hamper.
3. Deodorise your shoes
Sprinkle a small amount of dry bi-carb into your shoes to absorb smells. But remember to shake out any residue well before wearing.
4. Freshen new towels
Wash new towels with ½ cup of bi-carb, it will help to increase the fluffiness.
5. Boost your laundry detergent’s effectiveness
Add ½ cup of bi-carb with your usual washing detergent, this can improve the overall performance of your detergent.
6. Deodorise your wardrobe
Keep a small box or jar of dry bi-carb in your wardrobe to absorb any musty smells.
7. Whiten whites
Add 2 tablespoons of bi-carb to your regular liquid laundry detergent to refresh whites and reduce yellowing.
8. Banish sweat stains
Remove sweat patches and odours from your clothing using the paste recipe above. Just rub a liberal amount of the paste onto stained fabric before washing.
9. Freshen sheets
The next time you wash your sheets, add a ½ cup of bi-carb to the laundry rinse cycle to give your bed linen a breezy freshness.
10. Clean musty beach towels
After a trip to the pool or beach, get your soiled towels smelling super fresh again by adding
½ cup of bi-carb to the rinse cycle.
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