Washing without detergent: kitchen foods for the washing machine

Simple kitchen staples, however, can take the place of conventional detergent in the washing machine.

Anyone who repeatedly washes colourful shirts, jeans or sportswear at high temperatures with lots of detergent will know the issue: colours lose their vibrancy, fabric looks dull and garments feel worn even when they are still relatively new. A few everyday foods can lift dirt and odours without placing needless strain on textiles, while also being kinder to both your budget and the environment.

Why we often wash too much

Many people put clothes straight into the laundry basket by default, even when they have only been worn briefly. Tops, trousers and jumpers in particular can often simply be aired instead. Every machine wash exposes garments to mechanical wear, changes in temperature and chemicals, all of which can fade colours and make fibres more fragile.

Experts therefore advise asking yourself honestly before every wash: Does the item actually smell unpleasant? Are there any visible marks? Or is washing it simply a habit? Those questions alone can reduce how often you wash, allowing you to use household remedies more selectively when you do.

The fewer full washes you do with conventional detergent, the longer colours stay bright and fabrics remain durable – and kitchen ingredients can make a surprisingly big difference.

Which foods can help in the washing machine

Vinegar for tackling odours and limescale

Household vinegar – ideally clear table vinegar or diluted vinegar essence – is a genuinely versatile option. It neutralises unpleasant smells and helps dissolve limescale deposits in the machine.

• Removing odours: Add around 50–100 ml of vinegar to the fabric-softener compartment.
• Replacing fabric conditioner: Vinegar leaves fibres feeling softer without coating them.
• Maintaining the machine: It can help loosen detergent residue and limescale.

Vinegar is particularly useful for towels, sportswear and kitchen laundry, where freshness matters more than an intense fragrance. Use it sparingly on delicate fabrics or wool, as vinegar may gradually damage fibres over time.

Baking powder for dull whites and stains

Baking powder contains bicarbonate of soda and has a mildly alkaline reaction. This can help with greying and light stains.

• Put one or two sachets directly into the drum.
• It is well suited to greyed T-shirts, underwear or white socks.
• It helps reduce odours, especially sweat marks around the underarms.

Baking powder has a slight brightening effect, so it is sensible to test it on an inconspicuous area before using it on coloured laundry with particularly vivid shades.

Bicarbonate of soda as an odour neutraliser

Pure bicarbonate of soda from the kitchen works in a similar way to baking powder, but without additional raising agents. In the washing machine, it absorbs odours and can lessen traces of sweat.

Add one or two teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda directly to the drum. It is especially useful for sportswear, trainer insoles or shirts exposed to heavy perspiration.

Lemon for refreshing white laundry

Lemon juice has a mild bleaching action and can remove yellowing, for example from curtains or white T-shirts. It also leaves a fresh scent.

• Squeeze the juice of one or two lemons into a glass of water.
• Pour the mixture into the detergent compartment.
• Alternatively, place lemon slices in a cotton bag and put it in the drum.

Citrus fruits should be used very cautiously on coloured laundry, as strong acid may affect the colours.

How to wash without conventional detergent

It is not always possible to manage without detergent altogether, especially with heavily soiled children's clothes or workwear. But for lightly soiled everyday laundry, or items that merely have a slightly musty smell, water, temperature and household remedies are often enough.

Step-by-step guide

1. Sort the laundry by colour and fabric type.
2. Choose only lightly soiled items, and treat stains locally beforehand, for example with a little gall soap or household soap.
3. Select a 30 or 40 degree programme; use a delicate or gentle cycle for sensitive fabrics.
4. Depending on what is needed, add a measured amount of vinegar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda or lemon to the drum or drawer.
5. Take the washing out as soon as the programme ends and dry it thoroughly, preferably in the air.

After trying this a few times, you will quickly find that plenty of laundry comes out clean and fresh-smelling without any conventional detergent being used.

When household remedies reach their limits

Kitchen cupboard remedies are not enough for grease stains, engine oil, heavily caked-on dirt or hygiene-sensitive textiles such as baby vests, underwear and cleaning cloths. In these cases, use a standard or hygiene detergent, together with higher temperatures if necessary.

Health comes first: if laundry is heavily contaminated with germs because of illness, it is best to use tested products that reliably reduce bacteria and viruses. Household remedies can be helpful additions, but they do not replace a disinfecting effect in these situations.

Benefits for the environment, your budget and textiles

Using less detergent does not only protect clothing; it also reduces environmental impact. Fewer chemicals enter wastewater, less packaging is needed, and the machine develops limescale more slowly.

Measure	Environmental benefit	Benefit for clothing
Less detergent	Fewer surfactants in wastewater	Gentler on fibres, less fading
Vinegar instead of fabric conditioner	No cocktail of fragrances in the water	Less residue on the skin
Baking powder / bicarbonate of soda	Often more biodegradable	Helps with odours and reduces greying

Over time, households can noticeably cut their spending on detergent this way. Families doing several loads a week in particular are likely to notice the difference in their wallets.

Common mistakes when washing with household remedies

If you use foods in the washing machine, keep a few points in mind to prevent problems:

• Avoid overdosing: Too much vinegar may damage seals, while too much baking powder can foam up.
• Check direct contact: Treat delicate fabrics such as silk, wool or viscose with great care.
• Do not neglect machine care: Despite using vinegar, run an empty 60-degree cycle from time to time to reduce germs.
• Do not experiment with high-fat foods: Oil, butter and milk do not belong in the drum, as they make dirt worse.

Everyday examples in practice

A typical example is a T-shirt worn for a day in the office: there are no visible stains, only a faint smell under the arms. In this case, a short cycle with a little vinegar in the fabric-softener compartment and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in the drum is enough. The shirt comes out fresh, without requiring a full detergent.

Another example is lightly greyed white socks. Add two sachets of baking powder directly with the washing and select a 40-degree programme. The colour will often look a little brighter again, while the grey cast is reduced.

What terms such as “greying” and “microfibre damage” mean

Textile-care professionals use “greying” to describe pale fabrics that no longer look properly bright, instead appearing dull and dirty despite having just been washed. It is often caused by soap residue and tiny dirt particles becoming lodged in the fibres. Baking powder and bicarbonate of soda can help loosen these deposits.

“Microfibre damage” refers to tiny breaks in fibres caused by excessive temperatures, intense friction and chemicals. As a result, fabrics pill, meaning they develop small bobbles, feel rough or lose their shape. Using less aggressive detergents and household remedies can slow this type of damage.

How household remedies can be combined effectively

If you do not want to give up detergent completely, you can combine the two: use a much smaller amount of mild detergent alongside vinegar or bicarbonate of soda. This reduces overall consumption while maintaining cleaning performance.

One practical combination is half a measuring cap of liquid detergent for coloureds, a splash of vinegar in the fabric-softener compartment and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with the laundry. In many cases, that is enough to keep everyday clothes hygienic and free from odours, without harsh cleaning cocktails.