5 Laundry detergent hacks you never knew about

last updated 28 April 2022

That bottle of laundry detergent or washing powder isn't just good at cleaning your clothes. The powerful cleaning agent can be used in a host of laundry detergent hacks to get your home sparkling.

We have rounded up five of our favourite hacks to try out at home.

Laundry detergent hacks

1.Unclog a drain

a white kitchen sing with 2 mixer taps on a kitchen isalnd with a vase of flowers and a chopping board with fresh bread

Rather than forking out on an expensive drain unblocker, try shifting the block with liquid laundry detergent. Pour 59 ml of laundry detergent down you sink, followed by a lot of boiling water – roughly 4.5 litres.

The hot water and detergent should work together to dislodge any clogs and flush them out.

2.All-purpose cleaner

This hack was made famous by the Go Clean Co cleaning company on Instagram. It uses powdered laundry detergent to make an all-purpose cleaning solution.

Mix 80 ml of bleach, one teaspoon of powdered laundry detergent, and 4.5 litres of water in a bucket. The solution can be used on walls and bathroom surfaces.

However, do be careful when mixing cleaning products, especially bleach.

3.Stain remover

neutral living room with fabric corner sofa, a coffee table with tea tray and art on the walls

We know that laundry detergent is great for tackling clothing stains. So, it only makes sense that it would be perfect for tackling stains on upholstery and carpet.

Apply powdered laundry detergent to a stain. Work the detergent gently into the stain using a damp cloth. Wait five minutes and brush away any excess detergent. Repeat until the stain goes.

4.Floor Cleaner

Laundry detergent makes a perfect floor cleaner. The cleaning enzymes will quickly get to work on any mucky floors. Plus your home will smell incredible when you're done.

Add just one teaspoon of laundry detergent to a bucket of hot water and start mopping.

A metal bucket and mop on the floor of a room with a wooden stool and ironing board

5.Clean oven racks

If you are struggling to tackle greasy oven racks give them the laundry detergent treatment. Place the racks in a bathtub or large bin and fill with hot water.

Add 177ml of laundry detergent and leave it to sit overnight. In the morning use a sponge or brush to scrub away the remaining grease.

Who knew that bottle of laundry detergent could be so handy?

Rebecca Knight has been the Deputy Editor on the Ideal Home Website since 2022. She graduated with a Masters degree in magazine journalism from City, University of London in 2018, before starting her journalism career as a staff writer on women's weekly magazines. She fell into the world of homes and interiors after joining the Ideal Home website team in 2019 as a Digital Writer. In 2020 she moved into position of Homes News Editor working across Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc, Real Homes, Gardeningetc and Ideal Home covering everything from the latest viral cleaning hack to the next big interior trend.