A surprisingly simple way to wash with less detergent using vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and lemon

There is a surprisingly simple fix.

A lot of people in Germany wash their clothes far more often than the fabrics can comfortably handle. That doesn’t just hit the environment and your wallet; it also dulls colours and makes materials wear out sooner. With a handful of inexpensive kitchen staples, you can replace part of your usual detergent - and in some situations you can even do without it altogether.

Why we often wash too much

In day-to-day life, plenty of items end up in the machine despite still being perfectly wearable: jeans after one evening on the sofa, jumpers after a day at the office, towels after a single use. Every wash cycle stresses the fibres and gradually rinses out the colour pigments.

Textile experts therefore recommend airing clothes out rather than washing them on autopilot. This is especially beneficial for delicate materials such as wool, silk or modern performance fibres. When a wash really is necessary, lightly soiled laundry often comes up clean with hot water plus a few simple household ingredients.

"Washing less and using targeted household remedies protects colours, fibres - and your wallet."

These kitchen staples really help with dirt and odours

Vinegar: degreaser, descaler and odour neutraliser

Vinegar is a long-standing favourite for laundry care - for good reason. It breaks down limescale, neutralises smells and helps rinse detergent residues out of fabric.

• How to use: Pour about 50–100 ml of clear household vinegar into the fabric softener compartment.
• What it does: Clothes feel softer, colours look fresher, and musty odours fade.
• Best for: Towels, sports kit, bed linen.

With very delicate fabrics, use vinegar sparingly. For normal cotton it’s generally fine - and, as a bonus, repeated use can also help descale the washing machine over time.

Bicarbonate of soda: support against sweat and stale smells

Bicarbonate of soda (often found in the baking aisle) is odour-neutralising and mildly grease-cutting. It can be particularly useful for sportswear and heavily sweaty tops.

• How to use: Add 1–2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda directly into the drum with the laundry.
• What it does: Reduces odours and boosts cleaning performance when you’re using less detergent.
• Best for: Gym clothes, socks, everyday laundry.

It won’t replace a full detergent for heavily soiled workwear, but for normal daily loads it can noticeably reduce how much detergent you need.

Baking powder: a brightener for dull whites

Baking powder contains bicarbonate of soda plus other components that have a mild bleaching effect. That makes it particularly suitable for whites that have gone grey or slightly yellow.

Add one to two sachets of baking powder directly into the drum with white laundry, along with only a small amount of detergent - that’s often enough to visibly reduce a grey haze. Avoid using it on coloured items with strong, deep tones, as it can make colours appear lighter.

Lemon: a freshness boost for light fabrics

The acid in lemon works like a gentle bleach and leaves textiles smelling fresh.

• How to use: Put the juice of half a lemon in the detergent drawer, or soak items in a bowl of hot water before washing.
• What it does: Helps soften light stains on pale fabrics and removes odours.
• Best for: Light-coloured blouses, white T‑shirts, curtains.

On dark or very brightly coloured clothes, test lemon juice carefully and only in small areas to avoid any unwanted colour changes.

How much detergent can you realistically save?

Washing with no detergent at all can work in certain situations - for example, with lightly worn pieces that have no visible stains. If you use the kitchen helpers above, you can often reduce the dosage significantly.

Type of laundry	Recommended combination	Detergent saving
Lightly soiled everyday laundry	Half the usual detergent + 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda	Up to 50%
Towels with no stains	Only 1/3 of the usual detergent + 100 ml vinegar	About 70%
Sportswear	Half the usual detergent + 1–2 tbsp bicarbonate of soda	Up to 50%
Greyed whites	Small amount of detergent + 1–2 sachets baking powder	30–40%

For heavily soiled children’s clothes, oily workwear, or textiles with blood and grass stains, conventional detergent still makes sense. In those cases, kitchen ingredients can support the wash, but not replace it.

How to keep colours looking stronger for longer

Choose the right temperature

Many people wash out of habit at 40°C even though 30°C is often enough. Lower temperatures are gentler on colours and usually require less detergent. Modern machines and detergents are designed to clean reliably even at 20°C or 30°C - particularly when paired with bicarbonate of soda or vinegar.

Less friction, less damage

The fuller the drum, the more the textiles rub against each other. That roughens fibres and causes pigments to wash out faster.

• For delicate or very colourful clothing, fill the drum only up to around two thirds.
• Turn garments inside out to protect the outer surface.
• Use quick programmes only when the items are genuinely lightly soiled.

If you also use small amounts of vinegar or lemon juice, you can help prevent residues from building up and stop colours from looking dull.

Risks and limitations of household remedies

As useful as food-based ingredients can be in the utility room, a few points are worth keeping in mind:

• Vinegar: Fine in normal quantities, but consistently overdoing it can damage hoses and seals.
• Lemon: Use cautiously on dark fabrics, as it can slightly lighten them.
• Bicarbonate of soda and baking powder: Use sparingly on high-tech performance textiles (outdoor jackets, membrane fabrics) and follow the care label.

If you have sensitive skin or allergies, start by testing these detergent alternatives on a small load. Some people react differently to changed residues than they expect.

Practical everyday examples

A realistic situation: your gym bag reeks and you’re almost out of detergent. In that case, a short programme at 30°C is often enough, with a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda added straight into the drum and a splash of vinegar in the softener compartment. In many cases, the smell disappears completely.

Or the classic: white T‑shirts look grey, and pricey specialist detergents promise a lot - and cost accordingly. Two sachets of baking powder plus a detergent dose reduced to one third often produces a more visible result than yet another chemical cocktail from the chemist.

"Many kitchen ingredients aren’t just an emergency fix, but a long-term addition to normal laundry care."

Why making the switch is worth it

Washing with vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and lemon doesn’t only save money. Far fewer chemicals end up in wastewater, your detergent supplies last longer, and many clothes stay bright and wearable instead of ending up in the bin after a year.

Over time, a smarter washing routine can even change what happens in your wardrobe: when favourite pieces stay looking good for longer, you buy replacements less often. That eases pressure on the household budget - and on the environment as well.

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