• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Feels Like Home™ logo

  • Shop
    • Christianity Downloads
    • Family Downloads
    • Food & Cooking Downloads
    • Hobbies & Crafts Downloads
    • Learning Downloads
  • Blog
  • Family
    • Parenting
    • Holidays & Celebrations
    • Marriage
    • Kids activities
      • Kids Crafts
      • Christmas Crafts for Toddlers & Preschoolers
      • Christmas Crafts for Kids
      • Christmas Crafts for Tweens & Teens
    • Learning
      • Reading & Writing
      • STEM
  • Faith
    • Bible Study
    • Encouragement
  • Recipes
    • Comfort Food
    • Eating after Bariatric Surgery
    • Gluten-Free
    • Recipes for Foodie Kids
    • Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals
  • Health
    • Mental Health
      • Hobbies & Crafts
      • Self-Care
    • Physical Health
      • Bariatric Surgery
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • SHOP
  • RECIPES
  • FAMILY
  • FAITH
  • HEALTH
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    See More:   Home Management

    Last Modified: May 26, 2022 by Tara Ziegmont 49 Comments

    10 Ways to Use Laundry Detergent

    21FacebookMessenger2PinterestTwitterWhatsAppEmail
    23
    SHARES

    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.

    21FacebookMessenger2PinterestTwitterWhatsAppEmail
    23
    SHARES

    More Home Management

    • 22 Genius Tips To Keep Your Produce Fresh Longer
    • 18 Natural, Organic, & Chemical-Free Tips for a Cleaner Home
    • What It's Like to Be the Child of a Hoarder
    • How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas - 9 Tips for Avoiding Credit Cards this Year

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Tina M says

      September 28, 2011 at 9:35 pm

      Colors in cold.Whites in hot.

      Reply
    2. Tina M says

      September 28, 2011 at 9:35 pm

      Like Feels Like Home on Facebook

      Reply
    3. Tina M says

      September 28, 2011 at 9:36 pm

      Subscribe to Feels Like Home via email

      Reply
    4. Tina M says

      September 28, 2011 at 9:36 pm

      follow you on gfc

      Reply
    5. Tina M says

      September 28, 2011 at 9:37 pm

      http://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/119225052326666240

      Reply
    6. Dee says

      October 01, 2011 at 3:50 pm

      My best laundry tip is to wash with cold water since it doesn't really make a difference and it cuts back on energy costs 🙂

      Reply
    7. Dee says

      October 01, 2011 at 3:50 pm

      rss subscriber 🙂

      Reply
    8. Dee says

      October 01, 2011 at 3:51 pm

      I like you on fb as Dee G

      Reply
    9. Dee says

      October 01, 2011 at 3:51 pm

      I follow via gfc as Dee

      Reply
    10. Dee says

      October 01, 2011 at 3:53 pm

      tweeted 🙂 https://twitter.com/#!/DeeGee13/status/120225632515932160

      Reply
    11. Shanna says

      October 01, 2011 at 7:21 pm

      My best laundry tip is to use vinegar instead of fabric softner. It's cheap, chemical free and doesn't leave any scent behind. (You can also add a drop of an essential oil for fragrance, if desired.)
      stkc79 at gmail dot com

      Reply
    12. Shanna says

      October 01, 2011 at 7:22 pm

      following via gfc!

      Reply
    13. Shanna says

      October 01, 2011 at 7:23 pm

      subscribed to your rss feed!

      Reply
    14. Steph S says

      October 02, 2011 at 8:48 pm

      Treat stains as soon as they happen!

      Reply
    15. Mari says

      October 03, 2011 at 7:48 pm

      I suggest pre-treating stains before they go in the wash.

      Reply
    16. Mari says

      October 03, 2011 at 7:51 pm

      http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyDuckyToo/status/121010337418977280

      Reply
    17. Mari says

      October 03, 2011 at 7:51 pm

      I'm an email subscriber.

      Reply
    18. Mari says

      October 03, 2011 at 7:52 pm

      I follow via google friend connect

      Reply
    19. Mari says

      October 03, 2011 at 7:53 pm

      I'm a FB fan (Mari Doug)

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tara.

    Harrisburg PA mom blogger Tara Ziegmont
    I am passionate about helping women to care for themselves and their families physically, emotionally, and spiritually by making time for what matters most through a combination of delectable recipes, Christian inspiration, and family fun. If you're tired of feeling so weary and uninspired, you're in the right place. I'm so glad you're here!
    Read more about me...

    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram LinkedIn email me subscribe

    Popular Recipes

    • Cheeseburger Soup from Taste of Home
    • Cracker Barrel Copycat Fried Apples
    • Sweet Balsamic Pork Roast in the Instant Pot
    • Couldn't Be Easier Cherry Pie

    Food with an Instant Pot in the background

    AS SEEN ON

    a list of the websites where Tara Ziegmont has been featured

    Popular Bible Studies

    • A Grateful Heart - 2 week printable study
    • 10 Bible Verses on Anger
    • 13 Bible Verses on Disappointment
    • 50 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know
    • 10 Bible Verses to Overcome Worry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    As seen on

    a list of the websites where Tara Ziegmont has been featured

    Contact Tara


    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy.

    Copyright © 2022 Feels Like Home Blog

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    SettingsAccept
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT