Laundry detergent is a powerful cleaning agent. But did you know that it can do much more than just clean your clothes? The stuff can be multifunctional in your household. For example, you can use both the liquid and powder version for your drain, oven or car. We have listed seven things that you can clean with laundry detergent.

1.  Unclogging the drain

Is your drain clogged up? Don’t call a plumber just yet; try this trick first. Pour about 60 millilitres of laundry detergent into the sink and then (slowly) pour a litre of boiling water down the drain. The hot water and the liquid detergent work together to flush out the blockage. That saves you another visit from the plumber.

2. Making all-purpose cleaner

It is also perfectly fine to use laundry detergent to make all-purpose cleaner. To do this, mix 80 millilitres of bleach, 4.5 litres of water and a teaspoon of laundry detergent together. It works surprisingly well on walls, in the bathroom and on almost any other surface in the house.

3. Removing stains

When you think about it, it makes sense that the same stain-fighting properties that help clean your clothes, also work on upholstery and carpet. Apply powder detergent to a stain and rub it gently with a wet cloth to work the detergent into the stain. Wait five minutes, then wipe off the excess powder and repeat until the stain is gone.

4. Washing the car

Laundry detergent is ideal for cleaning the outside of the car. It removes dirt with ease. Makes sure to dilute the detergent fist. Just one tablespoon of laundry detergent per bucket of water should be enough. A solution that is too concentrated could damage the paintwork of your car, which is something we want to avoid! Of course, you can also use laundry detergent for the interior of the car, as described above.

5. Cleaning the floor

The cleaning enzymes in laundry detergent are great to remove dirt from floors. Fill your mop bucket with hot water and a teaspoon of laundry detergent. Just a little bit of detergent goes a long way. Make sure to squeeze as much out of your mop as you can while you’re cleaning. If your mop is too wet, you’ll leave streaks on the floor.

6. Oven racks

Do you have greasy racks in your oven? Laundry detergent is the solution! Place the greasy racks in a bathtub or large tub and fill the tub with hot water until the racks are submerged. Add 180 millilitres of laundry detergent and leave it to soak overnight. Then, scrub away the grease and the dirt with a sponge or a soft brush and tada… your oven racks are sparkling clean again

7. Pre-treating stains

Stubborn stains, such as grass and blood, can be pre-treated with laundry detergent. In fact, some say it works better than using a separate pre-treatment product. Pour a liquid detergent directly onto the stain. Gently rub the fabric together or use a toothbrush with soft hair to rub the detergent into the fibres of the garment, going in circular motions. Then, wash the garment as usual, and the stains are gone!

Thanks to Tips & Tricks for these tips!