Towels go through a lot every day. From drying wet hands and bodies to cleaning up kitchen messes, they quickly collect moisture, body oils, soap residue, and bacteria. That's why washing them properly is essential—not only to keep them looking fresh but also to maintain their absorbency and hygiene.
Recently, many people have started replacing traditional laundry detergents with natural alternatives like baking soda. Praised for its odor-fighting abilities, affordability, and eco-friendly reputation, baking soda has become a popular household cleaning staple. But can it really clean towels on its own?
To find out, I washed my towels using only baking soda for two weeks. Here's what happened, what worked well, what didn't, and what laundry experts actually recommend.
Why I Decided to Skip Laundry Detergent
Like many people, I wanted to simplify my laundry routine while reducing the number of chemicals used around my home.
Baking soda appealed to me because it:
Is inexpensive
Helps neutralize odors
Naturally softens water
Leaves no artificial fragrances
Is environmentally friendly
Many online cleaning enthusiasts claim it can replace detergent entirely. I wanted to see whether those claims held up in everyday use.
How I Conducted the Experiment
For two weeks, every towel load was washed using:
1 cup baking soda
Warm water wash cycle
Medium-heat dryer
No laundry detergent.
No fabric softener.
No scent boosters.
The towels included:
Bath towels
Hand towels
Kitchen towels
I continued using the towels normally between washes to create realistic laundry conditions.
The First Wash: My Initial Impressions
The first thing I noticed was the complete absence of the familiar "fresh laundry" fragrance.
Unlike commercial detergents, baking soda has almost no scent after washing.
Instead, the towels simply smelled...neutral.
Surprisingly, they still felt clean.
They also seemed to rinse exceptionally well, leaving very little residue behind.
Were the Towels Actually Clean?
For lightly used towels, the answer was mostly yes.
Bath towels and hand towels came out looking fresh and free of visible dirt.
However, the results changed when washing heavily soiled items.
Kitchen towels with:
Cooking grease
Food stains
Oils
Coffee spills
didn't come out quite as clean as they normally would with detergent.
This makes sense because baking soda is excellent at deodorizing, but it doesn't contain the surfactants and enzymes found in modern laundry detergents that break down grease and proteins.
The Biggest Surprise: Goodbye Musty Smells
One of the most impressive results was how well baking soda handled odors.
Towels often develop a musty smell because detergent residue and trapped moisture create an environment where odor-causing bacteria thrive.
After two weeks:
Towels smelled noticeably fresher.
The musty odor disappeared.
There was no lingering mildew smell.
Instead of smelling perfumed, the towels simply smelled clean.
Did Baking Soda Make Towels Softer?
Yes—but differently than fabric softener.
Instead of leaving a coated, silky feeling, the towels felt:
Fluffier
More natural
Less stiff
They also remained very absorbent.
Fabric softeners can sometimes reduce absorbency because they leave behind a waxy coating.
Baking soda doesn't create that problem.
What About Stains?
This is where baking soda struggled.
It handled everyday dirt reasonably well but wasn't particularly effective against tougher stains, including:
Makeup
Grease
Foundation
Old yellow discoloration
Food stains
Those marks remained noticeable after washing.
For stain removal, baking soda works better as part of a larger cleaning routine rather than as the only laundry product.
Did It Affect My Washing Machine?
Unexpectedly, yes—in a positive way.
Because baking soda helps dissolve mineral deposits and detergent residue, I noticed:
A cleaner washing machine drum
Less soap buildup
Reduced odors inside the washer
Many people already use baking soda as part of regular washing machine maintenance for this reason.
Was It Cheaper?
Absolutely.
Over two weeks I used roughly:
5 pounds of baking soda
Cost:
Approximately $2–3, depending on local prices.
Compared with many premium laundry detergents, that's a noticeable savings.
However, lower cost also comes with fewer cleaning ingredients.
What Laundry Experts Actually Say
Most laundry professionals recommend using baking soda as a laundry booster, not a complete detergent replacement.
Why?
Laundry detergents contain specialized ingredients that baking soda lacks, including:
Surfactants that lift oils from fabric
Enzymes that remove protein-based stains
Ingredients designed to suspend dirt in water until it rinses away
Baking soda offers several benefits:
Neutralizes odors
Softens hard water
Helps reduce detergent residue
Brightens fabrics over time
But by itself, it doesn't provide the complete cleaning performance needed for heavily soiled laundry.
The Best Way to Use Baking Soda
Rather than replacing detergent completely, consider adding baking soda to your regular laundry routine.
A common approach is:
Use your normal amount of detergent.
Add ½ cup baking soda directly into the washer drum.
This combination may help:
Remove odors
Brighten towels
Improve detergent performance
Keep towels fluffy
Additional Tips for Keeping Towels Fresh
If your towels have lost their softness or developed persistent odors:
Wash towels separately from clothing.
Avoid using too much detergent.
Skip excessive fabric softener.
Dry towels completely before folding.
Clean your washing machine regularly.
Wash towels every three to four uses.
These habits often make a bigger difference than changing detergents alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can baking soda replace laundry detergent?
For lightly soiled laundry, it may provide acceptable results. However, it generally doesn't clean as effectively as detergent, especially for greasy or heavily stained fabrics.
Does baking soda remove odors?
Yes. One of baking soda's biggest strengths is its ability to neutralize unpleasant odors rather than simply masking them.
Will baking soda damage towels?
No. Used in normal amounts, baking soda is generally safe for most washable towels and may even help remove detergent buildup over time.
Can baking soda whiten towels?
It may help brighten fabrics by removing residue and odors, but it is not a bleach substitute and won't dramatically whiten stained towels.
Should baking soda be combined with detergent?
Yes. Many laundry experts recommend using baking soda alongside detergent to improve odor control and water softness while still benefiting from the detergent's cleaning power.
Final Thoughts
After two weeks, baking soda proved to be an excellent natural deodorizer and water softener, leaving towels fresh, fluffy, and free from musty odors. However, it wasn't as effective at removing grease, heavy stains, or deeply embedded soils as traditional laundry detergent.
For everyday towel maintenance, baking soda can be a valuable addition to your laundry routine. But for the best balance of cleanliness, odor removal, and fabric care, using it alongside a quality detergent is likely the most effective approach. It offers an affordable, eco-friendly way to improve your laundry results without sacrificing the deep cleaning power needed to keep towels truly fresh.
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