Laundry day doesn’t have to mean buying a separate product for every little problem. Your regular detergent handles most loads just fine, but a few everyday household ingredients can also come in handy for stains, odors, static, and other annoyances.
The laundry detergent market is huge. According to Grand View Research, the global laundry detergent market was valued at USD 185.28 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2024 to 2030. With so many products available, it’s easy to assume that you need a different bottle or spray for every laundry task.
You probably already have some useful laundry helpers sitting in your kitchen or bathroom. Vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, and even club soda can have practical uses in your laundry routine. Some of these tricks are better suited to certain fabrics and stains than others, so always check the care label and test an unfamiliar treatment on a hidden area first.
Here are 13 unexpected ingredients that can come in handy on laundry day.
Vinegar
White vinegar is a popular laundry-room staple, particularly for dealing with detergent residue and odors. Adding about half a cup to the rinse cycle can help remove leftover detergent and leave fabrics feeling less stiff.
Its mild acidity can also help with odors from sweat and damp towels. For a particularly smelly item, dilute vinegar with water and use a small amount as a pre-treatment before washing.
Don’t pour vinegar into the same compartment or load with chlorine bleach. The two should never be mixed because they can create dangerous fumes. Also, check your appliance and garment-care instructions before making vinegar part of your routine.
Related: 16 Surprising Uses for Dryer Sheets That Aren’t Laundry
Baking Soda
Baking soda can give your regular wash a little extra help with odors. Adding about half a cup to a load can help freshen clothes, towels, and other washable fabrics.
It’s particularly useful for items that have picked up musty smells. You can also make a paste with baking soda and a little water and apply it to certain stains before washing.
For heavily soiled laundry, baking soda can work alongside detergent to help lift grime and reduce odors. It is inexpensive, easy to store, and useful for plenty of other household chores, too.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can work as a gentler alternative to chlorine bleach for some white and light-colored laundry. A 3% household solution can help with certain organic stains, including blood and grass.
Before treating clothing, check the care label and test a hidden spot. Hydrogen peroxide can lighten some dyes, so it’s a better choice for whites than brightly colored garments.
Never mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar or other cleaning chemicals. Use it on its own and follow the directions on the product label.
Related: 13 Items You Should Never Store in Your Laundry Room
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice has mild acidic properties that can help with certain stains and odors. It is sometimes used to brighten white fabrics, especially when clothes are exposed to sunlight afterward.
For a small stain, dilute lemon juice with water and test it on an inconspicuous area first. The acidity can affect some dyes and delicate fabrics.
Lemon juice also leaves a fresh citrus scent, which can make it appealing for people who prefer simple household ingredients over heavily scented laundry products.
Salt
Salt has a few old-fashioned laundry uses, though it isn’t a miracle stain remover.
Some people add a small amount of salt when washing new garments in an effort to reduce dye bleeding. It can also be sprinkled over a fresh liquid stain to absorb some moisture before the garment goes into the wash.
Don’t expect salt to restore badly faded clothing or permanently set every type of dye. Still, it’s inexpensive and worth keeping around for basic laundry emergencies.
Aspirin
Aspirin is sometimes suggested as a way to brighten dingy white clothing. The idea comes from its acetylsalicylic acid content, but claims that aspirin dramatically whitens laundry are stronger than the evidence behind them.
If you want to try the method, dissolve uncoated aspirin tablets in warm water and soak a washable white garment before laundering. Test the method on an inconspicuous area first, particularly if the fabric is delicate or has special care instructions.
Don’t use medication on clothing meant for someone with an aspirin allergy without considering the potential for residue, and keep medications away from children and pets.
Related: 12 Genius Hacks to Dry Laundry Fast Indoors — No Dryer Needed!
Coffee or Tea
Coffee and tea can be useful for refreshing the appearance of certain dark-colored fabrics, although this trick requires a little caution.
Strong brewed coffee or black tea can add a subtle brown or black tint to some fabrics. That makes it potentially useful for refreshing dark clothing that has started to look faded.
Test the mixture on a hidden section before treating the entire garment. Natural dyes can produce uneven results, especially on synthetic fabrics, so this isn’t a good experiment for an expensive favorite shirt.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch can give certain clothes a crisper finish, which is why it has long been associated with ironing and pressed garments.
A small amount can be mixed with water and used as a light starch spray on items such as cotton shirts. It can help fabric hold its shape and make ironing easier.
Cornstarch can also absorb fresh grease from fabric. Sprinkle a little over an oil stain, let it sit for a while, then brush it away before washing. Avoid using too much, since leftover starch can build up on clothing.
Aluminum Foil
A ball of aluminum foil is often suggested as a substitute for dryer sheets because it can reduce static cling.
If you want to try it, loosely crumple a sheet of aluminum foil into a ball and place it in the dryer with your clothes. It can be reused for multiple loads until the foil begins to break apart.
This trick won’t soften fabrics or add fragrance the way a dryer sheet does, but some people find it useful for reducing static. Keep the foil away from appliances where the manufacturer’s instructions advise against it.
Dish Soap
Dish soap is made to break down grease, which makes it useful for treating oily stains on washable clothing.
Put a tiny amount directly on the stain, gently work it into the fabric, and rinse before washing according to the garment’s care instructions. This can be handy for cooking oil, butter, salad dressing, and other greasy spills.
Use a very small amount. Dish soap creates a lot of suds, and too much can cause problems inside a washing machine. It’s best used as a spot treatment rather than a replacement for laundry detergent.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is sometimes used as a quick fabric refresher between washes. A small amount diluted with water can be misted lightly onto washable clothing and allowed to air dry.
It may help reduce some odors, but it shouldn’t be treated as a substitute for washing clothes that are dirty or heavily sweaty.
If you’re trying it on clothing, test a hidden section first. Some formulations contain alcohol, fragrance, or other ingredients that may affect certain fabrics.
Hair Conditioner
Hair conditioner has a surprisingly useful place in laundry, particularly for certain delicate fabrics.
A small amount diluted in water can be used when hand-washing wool or other washable garments that have become rough or dry. Conditioner is also sometimes used when trying to relax a slightly shrunken piece of clothing before gently reshaping it.
This isn’t a guaranteed fix for shrinkage, and some fabrics cannot be restored once their fibers have contracted. Check the garment’s care instructions before trying the method.
Club Soda
Club soda is an old standby for fresh spills, especially on clothing and table linens.
If you spill coffee, wine, or another liquid on a washable fabric, blot the area first instead of rubbing it. Then pour or dab a small amount of plain club soda onto the stain and blot again with a clean cloth.
Club soda won’t magically remove every stain, and its carbonation isn’t a substitute for a proper stain remover. Still, it can be useful when you’re dealing with a fresh spill and need something simple right away.
You don’t need a cabinet full of specialty products to deal with every laundry problem. A few inexpensive household ingredients can help with odors, grease, static, and minor stains. Just keep the fabric in mind, follow the care label, and test unfamiliar treatments before using them on an entire garment.
