It always pays to be thrifty! And at times like these when it’s sometimes hard to leave the house, finding new ways to use common household items is more than just an optional, occasionally fun pursuit — it’s a must! So with that in mind, we wanted to give you some insight on how you can use your extra laundry detergent to clean other items around the house! Here are six other ideas you can use:
#1: Carpet Cleaner
We all spill our drinks from time to time, but that doesn’t mean you’ve always got some carpet cleaner on hand. If you’re in a pinch with a dirty or stained carpet, try diluting equal parts detergent and water, and then use that solution with a carpet cleaning machine or steamer!
#2: Emergency Hand Soap
Everyone’s washing their hands more these days (hopefully), which means it’s sometimes hard to get to the store when the hand soap is still on the shelves. If you find yourself low and can’t get your hands on a replacement, try equal parts water and detergent as a replacement. This is also great for cleaning your hands after a long day of repainting bedrooms or other DIY chores!
#3: All-Purpose Cleaner
All-purpose cleaner is another one of those items we all use, so don’t despair if you run out! You can actually make a ton of DIY APC with just 1/4 cup of detergent plus 5 gallons of warm water. You’ll have APC for months.
#4: Wrinkle release
No matter how hard we try, there’s always a few clothes that seem to wrinkle in the laundry.For a bit of extra wrinkle release with that oh-so-freshly-washed scent, try one teaspoon of detergent diluted in a spray bottle with water. Spray it on your wrinkled clothes for a quick wrinkle release.
#5: Weed Killer
Looking for a weed killer, but don’t want to chance it with store-bought chemical solutions? Try laundry detergent! Just sprinkle some powdered detergent around the weeds you want to kill, and then rinse with water once you see results (a few days, most likely).
#6: Backup Drain Cleaner
Out of drain cleaner but don’t have time to run to the store? Try pouring 1/4 cup of detergent directly down the drain instead. Just like a regular drain cleaner, you’ll need to wait a bit (30 minutes at least), then rinse with hot water. It may not be as clear as the results from a tried and true drain cleaner, but it can work in a pinch.
