We found some surprising additions that can get rid of tough stains, boost your detergent’s performance, and make your life brighter. Read on to know what you should add to your laundry.
1. Lemon juice
A lemon’s organic bleaching magic will brighten your cotton undergarments and remove rust, plus leave them smelling lemony fresh. Just stick to whites when adding lemon juice, since it may bleach some colors.
Pro tip: You can also spot-treat stains with lemon. For the best results, you should blot the stain with the juice rather than rubbing it in.
2. Salt
Salt is not a laundry booster, per se, but it can be effective in removing certain stains. How the salt should be used, however, depends on the type of stain. Clothing with blood stains, for example, should be soaked in cold, salt-filled water. If you have a grease stain, on the other hand, cover it with salt, let it absorb the grease, and then brush it away before laundering. Salt is also “commonly touted as an effective delivery vehicle for natural scents—usually essential oils—to the laundry.
3. Baking soda
You open a box of baking soda to freshen the fridge, so why not add it to the wash to help deodorize your clothes and assorted laundry items? Baking soda is a natural, economical, and safe laundry booster. Simply sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda into the wash when you add your laundry detergent at the beginning of the wash cycle.
4. Mouthwash
Imagine if your gym socks could smell as fresh as your breath after you rinse with mouthwash. It’s possible! Just toss a cup of sugarless, alcohol-based mouthwash into the regular wash cycle to rid your gym apparel of bacteria and gunk. Or you can add 1/2 cup of mouthwash to the rinse mode. Plus, mouthwash is also a great way to get the drum of your washing machine clean.
5. Vinegar
Vinegar is a great laundry booster. You should use it during the rinse cycle since it removes the residue of dissolved things and detergents that may be left suspended in the water between the wash and spin cycle. Pour 1/2 cup into the fabric softener compartment right before the last rinse cycle.
6. Essential oils
Essential oils offer a chemical-free way to fight bacteria, mold, and mildew. Add a few drops of lavender, tea tree, or your favorite scent with vinegar or your detergent to prevent mildew buildup and create a bespoke laundry scent. However, essential oils are an expensive way to add scent to your wash, so you may instead want to lightly spray your clothes with the oil after the wash instead of adding it to the wash.
7. Rubbing alcohol
Sponging alcohol on ink stains and pen marks is a great way to target and remove them. Let the solution penetrate the area until you can no longer see the stain, then rinse and wash the item with your regular detergent.
8. Dish soap
Looking to get rid of stubborn grease or oil stains? Head to your kitchen. You can put a tiny drop of regular old dish soap onto the stain before you toss it in the wash. It will target the stain and help your detergent do what it needs to do.