Why You Should Think Twice Before Washing Dark Clothes With Baking Soda

Baking soda is a versatile, natural ingredient with many advantages. The alkalinity allows it to effectively neutralize odors and remove stains from fabrics, which makes it a popular laundry room staple. Baking soda also brightens clothing and linens. For this reason, it is often used as an eco-friendly alternative to bleach. While this can work wonders on light-colored fabrics, it may cause dark-colored fabrics to become faded over time. 

As a natural bleaching agent with a high pH level, baking soda may cause the dyes in your dark-colored clothing to break down. Baking soda should also be avoided when washing delicate fabrics, such as silk, wool, or cashmere, as these materials fade faster than synthetic fibers, like polyester. Instead of risking damage to your dark-colored wardrobe essentials by sprinkling them with baking soda, there are several ways you can protect your clothing and still get the same stain-lifting and odor-eliminating benefits.

Although there are different opinions about whether you really need to separate whites and colors in the laundry, doing so is the best way to ensure that your dark garments don't fade and transfer onto your light clothes in the process. A good rule of thumb is to check the care instructions on the labels before throwing them into the machine. If you are mixing colors and whites, opt for a cold cycle. Cold water is the ideal temperature for washing dark-colored clothing to prevent fading and generally protects your garments better than hot water.

Before you wash your darks, ensure that the detergent you're using is bleach free. Some brands sell detergents that are formulated specifically for dark fabrics, such as Woolite Darks Defense(available on Amazon for around $15). Most importantly, choose a detergent that is gentle on fabrics. Laundry soap with harsh chemicals can strip dyes and cause your clothes to fade more quickly. Another pro tip is to turn the clothes inside out so that if color transfer and fading does occur, it won't be noticeable from the outside.

When it's time to start the dryer, set the machine to low heat or "air dry." As we've already established, high heat causes wear and tear faster than cooler temperatures. That's why it's important to reduce the temperature setting on your dryer to avoid stressing out the fabrics and breaking down the dye on dark clothes.