Dry Cleaning and Laundry Tips

What Else Can You Use Laundry Detergents For?

If you already have a reliable laundry pickup and delivery service in your neighborhood, congratulations. It makes the entire process truly more cost-effective and time-saving in the long run. But don’t throw out those boxes or bottles of laundry detergent just yet. There are a lot of household problems that they can fix surprisingly well. So, save those laundry detergents for the following tasks:

Unclogging Drains

If you have a clogged drain, you can save yourself from a costly plumbing bill by trying this trick. First, pour ¼ cup of liquid laundry detergent down the drain. You then follow it up with a gallon of boiling water. The slippery detergent helps the hot water to melt and flush away the clog.

Removing Stains

This seems like a no-brainer since this is essentially the main task of the laundry detergent. But did you know that you can also use it to remove stains from other items including upholstery and carpets? All you need to do is to apply some powdered detergent to the stain. You then rub it gently with a damp cloth, making sure that the detergent makes its way into the stain. Brush away excess powder and repeat the process until it’s stain-free.

Washing Cars

The first thing to remember here is that if you use too much detergent, you can damage your car’s paint job. That said, around a tablespoon of detergent in a bucket of water should be fine to get rid of the grime and dirt on your car’s exterior.

Degreasing Kitchens

Sometimes, the dishwashing liquid just isn’t enough to deal with the grease that has built up on your stove top or your oven racks. This is where your liquid laundry detergent comes in. Mix water, bleach, and your detergent in a spray bottle and watch how it makes degreasing so much easier. If you’re worried about mixing bleach, here’s Rick Sachleben from the American Chemical Society saying it’s okay to combine bleach with detergent.

Cleaning Oil Spills

Sure, there are oil spill cleaners on the market, but they cost a lot more compared to powdered detergent. By just pouring some powered laundry detergent over the oil spill and leaving it on for a few hours, the oil spill will either be gone or virtually invisible. Don’t forget to clean off the mixture after you’re done. Simply spray it off with water.

Washing Hands

If you’re doing tasks that involve handling a lot of grease or oil or dirt, you may find that the usual hand soap can’t get your hands completely clean. Here, you can mix a teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent with vegetable oil and rub the mixture vigorously, cleaning your hands with it. You can then wash your hands normally with soap and water and you should be good.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Whether you’re mopping the floor or scrubbing tiles in the bathroom, use a mixture of laundry detergent, bleach, and water to make an all-purpose cleaner. It will leave your surfaces looking clean and pristine.

Take Away

Just because you now have a reliable laundry partner, like us, doesn’t mean you should write off your laundry detergents. Make the most of these excellent cleaners by trying these hacks. And if you have more questions about anything related to laundry, feel free to ask us.