10 Ways to Use Laundry Detergent

I am delighted to be one of twenty bloggers featured in Arm & Hammer's Switch & Save Challenge. For the last four months, I've been testing several Arm & Hammer products and sharing my experiences with you.

When we got our fancy new washer and dryer last month, some of our laundry detergent became obsolete. The new machines require high efficiency laundry soap, and some of the Arm & Hammer Power Gel that we'd received to review was not.

Do you know what that high efficiency thing means, by the way? The HE detergents produce lower suds, appropriate for front loading, high efficiency washing machines.

The high suds formula will gunk up your washing machine, so don't think you can just use less of your old soap in your new washing machine. It doesn't work that way. Use some of the following suggestions instead.

I'm too frugal to just throw the detergent away, so I came up with some ways to use it around the house.

1. All purpose cleaner. Mix 1 quart of warm water (that's 32 ounces) with ¼ cup of detergent. Pour it into a squirt bottle and use on most surfaces. Of course, always test it in an inconspicuous place if the surface is fragile.
2. Carpet cleaner. If your detergent is scented, like Arm & Hammer's Power Gel, you can add it to the steam cleaner when you scrub your carpets. Your carpets will smell great for weeks.
3. Mop the floor. Along the same line, mop your tile or linoleum floor using a mixture of 1 cup of detergent to one gallon of hot water. Like your carpet, the floor will smell great for a while.
4. Hand washing. Mix ½ cup of detergent with ½ cup of warm water. If you like your hand soap thicker, use less water. Pour the mixture into a pump bottle to use for hand-washing.
5. Wash and soak dishes. Put the detergent in a pump bottle (dilute it with an equal amount of water if it's too thick). A few drops will be enough to to a dishpan full of dishes. If your dishes need soaking because the gunk is really stuck on, a squirt or two in a dishpan full of hot water should do the trick in a few hours.
6. Pretreat stains. So you don't want to put this detergent in your washer, but why not use it to remove stains? Mix ½ cup or with ½ cup of warm water and put it in a spray bottle. Spritz stains with the mixture and launder as soon as possible.
7. Clean the porch, patio, and outside furniture. Combine equal parts of warm water and detergent. Use this solution and a scrub brush to clean your patio furniture, picnic table, even the porch floor.
8. Wash your car. As long as your detergent doesn't contain bleach, you can use it to wash your car. Mix ½ cup of detergent and  ½ cup of dish washing soap in a gallon or two of water. Use a soft cloth or chamois to clean the exterior and interior of your car. You can also use this solution to clean the floor mats and upholstery with a soft brush.
9. Make bubbles. Mix two cups of warm water (distilled works best) with about three tablespoons of detergent, and blow bubbles! For longer lasting, prettier bubbles, add two teaspoons of glycerin or corn syrup.
10. Donate it. This isn't a use per se, but there are a lot of charities and non-profits who would love to receive your half-used bottle of detergent. Think about kennels, animal shelters, churches, even day care centers. Almost any organization that does laundry will appreciate your donation.

Have you seen the rest of my 10 Uses For… series?

This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co., Inc, the maker of Arm & Hammer branded products. Church & Dwight Co., Inc is compensating me to try different products. All opinions are my own.