Adding half a cup of baking soda to the washing machine drum can soften bed sheets, according to cleaning expert and TikTok creator Chantel Mila.
How to soften bed sheets
Chantel recommends adding half a cup of baking soda into the washing machine drum and washing the sheets on a normal cycle.
Baking soda can enhance the effectiveness of detergents, helping to brighten dull whites, and can be used to rid garments of unwanted odours. The natural ingredient helps to soften linen by balancing water pH and removing stiff residues trapped in the fibres.
Why baking soda works
As baking soda is an alkaline mineral, it helps remove hard-water minerals (like calcium and magnesium) that cling to the linen’s fibres and make them feel scratchy. It breaks down old soap, detergents, and fabric softeners so they rinse away cleanly rather than redepositing onto the fabric.
It also helps to balance the pH in the washing machine, especially if you live in an area with hard water. Baking soda works as a natural deodoriser, helping to remove the smells left by sweat, body oils, and dust that has built up on the sheets and mattresses. Its neutralising and absorbent properties help to draw out moisture and other odour-causing particles from the fabric’s fibres.
Expert backing
Experts at Whirlpool explained that adding baking soda to the washing machine can actually help boost the cleaning power of detergent and bleach by regulating pH levels in the wash water.
Whirlpool said: “A half cup of baking soda can make it easier for these products to work harder at removing dirt and stains. You may even find that you can use less detergent and replace bleach with baking soda.”
Rhiannon Masters, interior designer and head of brand at Piglet in Bed, praised baking soda as a cheap method for softening sheets. She told Ideal Home: “If your bedding feels a bit stiff, baking soda can work amazingly. Adding half a cup to your washing machine along with your detergent is an easy hack to break down minerals in hard water. It's also a natural and budget-friendly way to keep your sheets soft and fresh.”
