Wondering how to deodorize clothes without bleach, harsh detergents, or antibacterial laundry sprays?

It is absolutely possible, and pretty simple.

From sweat to mildew, perfume to smoke, we’ve got you covered with these five safe solutions for deodorizing clothes naturally.

1. Vinegar

Plain distilled white vinegar is a low-tox laundry powerhouse, acting as a natural stain remover, fabric softener, bleach alternative, descaler, and deodorizer.

The natural acetic acid in vinegar works to break down stains, dissolve soap residue, and naturally eliminate odors.

Vinegar can work on all types of odors and is safe for most fabrics, except for silk. It can be used on wool, but we recommend a diluted version to avoid breaking down fibers. 

How To Use Vinegar To Deodorize Clothes

There are several ways to use vinegar to deodorize clothes, including:

1. As A Pretreatment

For localized odors, like sweat or stains, spray undiluted vinegar directly onto the affected area and let it dwell 15 minutes to several hours, then launder as usual.

If you’re concerned that undiluted vinegar may be too strong, dilute it 50:50 with water.

2. As A Soak

For stubborn odors or clothes left in a gym bag, consider soaking the clothes in a basin or sinkful of water with half to one cup of distilled white vinegar.

Let soak several hours or overnight and launder as usual.

3. In The Washing Machine

Often, the addition of vinegar to the rinse cycle is all you need to remove odors and freshen your clothes.

Add half to one cup of undiluted vinegar to your rinse cycle (typically the bleach cup), and launder as usual.

Pro tip: Use vinegar in your wash rinse cycle every time you clean your gym clothes to prevent sweat and body odor smells.

Learn more about vinegar for cleaning in: 12 Ways To Use Vinegar In Your Home

2. Baking Soda 

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is one of nature’s safest and best-known natural deodorizers.

This gentle, natural cleaner acts as a stain remover, deodorizer, fabric softener, scouring agent, and bleach alternative, and can work wonders on nearly any type of clothing odor, including shoes.

Unlike vinegar, it does not contain acetic acid and has no smell, making it suitable for individuals with lung conditions and for use around babies and children.

How To Use Baking Soda To Deodorize Clothes

Baking soda is incredibly versatile and can be used directly on fabric, as a soaking agent, or added in the washing machine during the washing cycle.

It works because of its high alkalinity, which helps dissolve stains, neutralize odors, and eliminate them naturally.

Baking soda’s high pH is generally beneficial for cleaning and deodorizing most fabrics. However, it can cause damage to silk, wool, and cashmere if used too frequently.

Here’s how to use it.

1. As A Pretreatment

You can apply baking soda directly to neutralize localized odors, like sweat stains and smells.

Just sprinkle it on, gently work in with your fingertips (use a brush to remove deodorant residue), and let dwell for 15-30 minutes.

Launder as usual.

2. As An Odor-Absorbing Packet For Shoes

Baking soda pouches or packets are an excellent low-tox solution for stinky tennis shoes.

To make one, simply pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into cheesecloth, a thin rag, or an old sock and tie with a string or a twist tie to create a pouch.

Pop it in the shoes, let sit for 24-48 hours, and you’re done.

If the shoes still smell, try sunning them for several hours, and repeat the baking soda pouch trick.

3. As A Soak

For non-localized odors, try a baking soda soak.

Add 1 cup of baking soda to approximately 4 cups of warm water in a basin, sink, or large bowl and stir to dissolve (increase the amount depending on the volume needed using this 1:4 ratio of baking soda to water).

Soak clothing for several hours, or overnight, and launder as usual, adding a cup of baking soda or vinegar (one or the other, if you combine them, they’ll neutralize) to the washer.

4. In The Washing Machine

Baking soda can be added directly to your washing machine with your favorite detergent (preferably a human-safe formula, like Branch Basics Laundry Detergent) to help neutralize odors while it softens your clothes.

Just add 1 cup to the drum and launder as usual.

You can also add baking soda to your washing machine’s soaking cycle to kill two birds with one stone.

Pro tip: Use vinegar in your wash every time you clean your gym clothes to prevent sweat and body odor smells.

Discover more about the power of baking soda in: Cleaning With Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate): 12 Surprising Uses

3. Sunlight

Sunlight is one of the best, no-cost tools for naturally deodorizing fabrics.

It’s safe for any type of fabric, requires no special equipment, and can work as a stand-alone deodorizer or in conjunction with the other methods listed here.

Here are some tips for using sunlight to deodorize your clothes:

• Check the weather before you sun your clothes! Seems obvious, but it’s still a good idea 
  
• Turn colored fabrics inside out to prevent fading 
  
• Shake clothing out before bringing it indoors
  
• Use sunning as a final step after deodorizing with vinegar, baking soda, or other natural methods. Even if there’s a bit of lingering odor, the sun will usually take care of any lingering smells
• Note that some odors, like perfumes, smoke, or heavy fragrance, will take multiple sunnings to diminish completely, but don’t give up! 

As mentioned previously, you don’t need any special equipment for sunning. Patio furniture, fences, and playsets all work great.

There are also various permanent or temporary clotheslines and drying racks you can buy to make things easier, although they aren’t necessary for this purpose.

Get more tips in: Sunning: How to Take Advantage Of The Summer Sun by Outgassing (AKA Offgassing)

4. Branch Basics Laundry Detergent

A heavy-duty laundry detergent is essential for deodorizing clothes. Yet, finding a human-safe, low-tox, environmentally friendly brand can be a challenge.

Enter Branch Basics Laundry Detergent, an all-in-one plant- and mineral-based laundry detergent with natural enzymes that cleans, removes stains, deodorizes, brightens, and freshens with just one scoop.

Our laundry detergent is perfect for deodorizing clothes, stripping clothes, and everyday laundering, and works great in cold, warm, or hot water.

The secret is the combination of gentle plant-derived surfactants with dirt-lifting minerals, such as sodium percarbonate (powdered peroxide), and natural enzymes to lift protein, starch, and oil stains.

This plant-powered formula works amazingly with no need for sulfates, optical brighteners, bleach, ammonia, harsh surfactants, phosphates, ethoxylates, harmful preservatives, harmful VOCs or SVOCs, or dyes.

How To Use

Add one scoop of Branch Basics Laundry Detergent to your washing machine and run the desired cycle.

For tough deodorizing jobs, pre-soak clothing in Branch Basics Laundry Detergent for 30 minutes to several hours before laundering.

Get your Branch Basics Laundry Detergent here or in Branch Basics Ultimate Starter Kit.

5. Branch Basics Laundry + Oxygen Boost 

If you prefer a liquid laundry detergent and/or are sensitive to enzymes, Branch Basics Laundry Solution plus Oxygen Boost is ideal for removing odors from clothing.

Like Branch Basics Laundry Detergent, Branch Basics Laundry Solution utilizes the power of plant-derived surfactants plus minerals to lift stains, clean, and freshen clothes effectively.

For removing odors, we recommend combining it with Branch Basics Oxygen Boost, a two-ingredient mineral-based powder of sodium percarbonate (powdered peroxide) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which is an effective stain remover, scouring agent, bleach alternative, and soaking agent.

Together, these products effectively remove odors from clothing without the need for other inputs, like vinegar or baking soda.

How To Use

Branch Basics Laundry Solution is ultra-gentle and safe for all types of fabrics. 

Oxygen Boost is safe for most types of fabrics, with a few caveats:

• Do not use on silk, cashmere, or wool
  
• Take care when applying Oxygen Boost directly to fabrics, as it may discolor them, especially if left on for extended periods. This is not a problem when used on white or colorfast garments or for soaking
  

1. As A Pretreatment

Use Branch Basics Laundry Solution or Branch Basics All Purpose directly on localized odors as you would for a stain; apply, agitate, rinse, then launder as usual.

Oxygen Boost can also be used as a pretreatment combined with Branch Basics Laundry Solution or All-Purpose.

To use, wet the area and apply a small amount of laundry or All-Purpose. Add Oxygen Boost, spray with another squirt of All-Purpose or water to wet.

Gently agitate by rubbing fabric together or with a brush, and let dwell 15 to 30 minutes before laundering as usual.

2. As A Soak

Add one scoop of Branch Basics Oxygen Boost to a large basin, sink, or bowlful of water and stir to dissolve. Soak the affected item for 30 minutes to several hours (overnight is fine), then launder as usual.

3. In the Washing Machine

Add one capful of Branch Basics Laundry Solution with one scoop of Oxygen Boost to your washer, and launder as usual.

Related reading: Comparing Branch Basics Laundry Detergent Vs. Laundry Dilution: What’s The Difference?

Deodorizing Tips 

Although it may take a little effort, most smells will come out of clothing using the methods above.

Here are some additional tips to deodorize clothes naturally.

1. Pretreat Odors

Pretreatment is essential for strong odors or those that have sat and permeated the fabric over time.

Examples would be clothing washed in fragranced laundry detergent, clothes left in a gym bag or a damp place, or clothes sprayed with perfume.

You can pretreat with vinegar, baking soda, or Branch Basics products using the instructions above.

Note, it is essential to pre-treat and remove gasoline stains or odors before washing and drying. 

If not, the gasoline could contaminate your washer and  flammable gas could combust in the dryer, resulting in a fire or even death.

2. Avoid letting wet clothes sit around

We’ve all experienced that mildewy sour smell from clothes that have sat too long in the washing machine.

The obvious solution is to remove them from the dryer or onto the clothesline as quickly as possible.

When you can’t, try to plan ahead by using your washer’s delayed wash setting, or at least opening the door of the washing machine until you can move clothing to the dryer.

Related reading: Why Your Clothes Still Smell After Washing And How To Fix It

3. Detox Your Washing Machine

Although it may seem counterintuitive, washing machines need regular cleaning to keep your clothes smelling fresh.

Fortunately, most washers have a self-clean cycle you can run once a month using vinegar instead of toxic bleach.

If your washer still smells after self-cleaning or if you’re trying to get heavy fragrance out of your washer, see How To Clean And Detoxify Your Washer And Dryer for more tips.

4. Wash Your Laundry In Smaller Loads

When deodorizing clothes, be sure to wash them in smaller loads.

This allows more efficient use of detergents and laundry boosters as well as better water circulation, all of which will help remove odors.

Toss the Toxins with Branch Basics

Stinky clothes may be unpleasant, but the right products make them easy to remedy naturally.

All Branch Basics laundry products are powerful enough to clean, freshen, brighten, and deodorize clothes without harsh ingredients.

Whether you choose our new Branch Basics Laundry Detergent or the classic Branch Basics Laundry Solution plus Oxygen Boost, you can relax knowing they are free from sulfates, optical brighteners, bleach, ammonia, harsh surfactants, phosphates, ethoxylates, harmful preservatives, harmful VOCs or SVOCs, or dyes.

No need to sacrifice efficacy for safety and quality!

Click here to shop Branch Basics Laundry products.

For more natural laundry tips, see:

• The Top 7+ Natural & Reliable Laundry Stain Removers
  
• Our Guide To Laundry Sustainability
  
• The Power Of Sodium Percarbonate For Laundry
  
• Laundry Bleach Alternatives: 7 Human-Safe and Environmentally Safe Options
  
• Human-Safe Laundry Stripping With Branch Basics