Bicarbonate of Soda: The Under-£1 Trick for Musty Laundry

That jumper pulled from the wardrobe may look perfectly clean, yet its smell tells a different story: a damp, slightly chilly note, like the scent left in a towel forgotten in the drum for too long. We have all had that awkward moment of holding a garment close to our face before leaving home, hoping nobody else will notice. The usual reaction is to add extra detergent or spray on fabric freshener. Yet the simplest solution may already be sitting in a kitchen cupboard. A white powder costing only a few pence per use is still valued in some laundry workshops for reviving washing. Its effectiveness is less about a miracle than an old-fashioned household principle. It is worth a try.

A musty smell does not always mean washing has been done badly

A sheet can come out of the machine warm, smell pleasant for an hour, then take on that cellar-like odour again as soon as it is folded. This often happens when laundry is left enclosed while still ever so slightly damp, whether in a basket, cupboard or poorly ventilated bathroom. The fibres then hold onto detergent residue, sebum and moisture: a discreet but welcoming environment for the bacteria behind unpleasant smells. It is not necessarily a matter of poor cleanliness, which is reassuring. A garment may have been washed properly and still retain a stubborn odour. Our noses do not always recognise the distinction.

In many households, the tip is passed down alongside grandmother's bed sheets: add a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda to the drum or pre-wash compartment. For under £1, a packet can cover many washes, particularly when it is used only once laundry starts to smell musty. Around 30 to 50 grams is usually enough for a standard washing machine. In some laundries and dry-cleaning workshops, bicarbonate of soda remains a familiar extra for neutralising odours in water-washable fabrics, although professionals also have access to more technical products and procedures.

Bicarbonate of soda works as a regulator: it helps alter the water's pH and lift some of the odour-causing residue embedded in the fibres. It does not cover the smell with a strong fragrance, which is why it is useful for towels, sportswear and tea towels. Its real purpose is to neutralise, not to perfume. That distinction matters, since heavily scented detergent can make it seem as though the issue has been solved while moisture is still present. Let us be honest: nobody gives their washing machine a full clean every day. Even so, a clean machine can make a considerable difference.

The under-£1 bicarbonate of soda method for fresher-smelling laundry

To try it, put two to three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda straight into the drum before adding the laundry. Place your usual detergent in its drawer, then choose a programme suitable for the fabric, ideally at 40 °C for towels, cotton and sheets that can tolerate it. If the odour is well established, avoid overfilling the machine so that water can move freely between the items. Once the cycle ends, remove the washing immediately. It may seem insignificant, but 30 minutes in a closed drum can be enough to bring back that familiar damp smell.

The most common mistake is putting bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar together in the same place at the same time, in the hope of doubling the result. The fizz is dramatic and almost satisfying, but the two products largely cancel one another out. It is better to keep white vinegar for the rinse, using the fabric-softener compartment, and use bicarbonate of soda in the drum during the wash. Used separately, they can help with rough-feeling or odour-laden laundry. Take care with fragile fabrics, delicate materials and garments marked dry clean only: the care label remains the best guide.

The process is straightforward, but it works best alongside a few practical habits that professionals follow almost automatically.

“A bad smell that returns after washing often points to a drying or machine problem, not merely a detergent problem.”

To stop mustiness settling in again, keep the following in mind:

• leave the door and detergent drawer open after every cycle;
• clean the seal, where stagnant water can easily collect;
• dry larger items without piling them together;
• never put away a towel that still feels cool to the touch.

Air remains the best ally for laundry that keeps smelling clean for longer.

The small routine that prevents washing the same load three times

There is something very practical about this tip: it does not claim to turn a utility room into a hotel; it simply prevents that small morning annoyance when the shirt you planned to wear smells less fresh than expected. Bicarbonate of soda can be kept for rescue washes after a holiday, a damp spell or a machine left forgotten overnight. If the smell still returns, the cause should be sought elsewhere: a clogged filter, a blackened seal, too much detergent, or drying in a room without air circulation. Laundry sometimes speaks before the machine does. A lingering odour is not inevitable, but it is a clue worth listening to.