I've run out of washing powder: what to do?

Laundry detergents are almost always sold in large packages, so users don’t have to think about purchasing a new batch of household chemicals for months. This is a big plus, but there is also a minus in large packages - they always end unexpectedly. If this happened in broad daylight, then there is nothing to worry about, because you can just go to the store and buy a new detergent. But what should you do if you run out of washing powder at a time when new ones can no longer be found, but things need to be washed here and now? Let's look at possible replacement products that you can use.

Dishwashing liquid

In this section, we examine not only ordinary liquid gels for manual dishwashing, but also tablet detergents for dishwashers. They are often used as a replacement for classic washing powder. However, there is no need to rush - first carefully read the composition of the product and only then add it to the SM powder receptacle. You should pay attention to aggressive components that can ruin clothes and fragile household appliances. Also make sure that there is no chlorine in household chemicals, as it can ruin colored laundry.

Most often, dishwashing detergents do not contain chlorine or other aggressive components, but you still need to check this.

The main advantage of this replacement is the ability to effectively remove grease and stubborn stains. But there are also disadvantages to dishwashing detergents - they foam very strongly, which is why foam can begin to creep out of all the cracks of the “home assistant” during the working cycle.

That's why you need to add one teaspoon of gel or even less product for washing so as not to damage the equipment. This does not apply to dishwasher tablets, as they will not produce much foam.

Baby shampoo

If you suddenly run out of laundry detergent, you can consider baby shampoo, which has low foaming properties, as an alternative. To effectively wash things with it you need to add only 10 milliliters per 1 kilogram of dirty clothes. The product can be used for clothing made from any material, but it is best suited for wool items, which will become soft and fluffy after the working cycle.

However, it is worth remembering that baby shampoo is less easily washed out of clothes, so regardless of the selected program, you will then have to run an additional rinse mode. You can replace baby shampoo with shower gel, but it foams much more, so the dosage should be different.

Gel soap

If you don’t know what to replace washing powder with, then regular liquid hand soap can still come to the rescue. It will not be able to remove old stains, stubborn dirt and other serious dirt, but it will help refresh things, make them soft and pleasant to the touch. Therefore, this soap can only be used for daily washing on fast cycles.

Usually this product foams very well, so you should wash with it carefully. Add no more than one teaspoon per working cycle so that nothing interferes with the operation of the machine.

Let's make our own product

Finally, you can make your own detergent if there are no other alternative options, or if for some reason they do not suit you. It cannot completely replace washing powder, but it can be used several times until there is no other choice. For production you will need the following:

• 200 grams of ordinary baking soda.
• 200 grams of borax.
• 200 grams of table salt.
• 100 milliliters of wine vinegar.

Gently mix the first three ingredients in a small container, and pour the vinegar into a separate glass and leave nearby for now. What to do with the resulting product?

• For every 2 kilograms of laundry, measure 40 grams of the resulting powder and take 2 teaspoons of wine vinegar.
• Pour the detergent into the main wash compartment.
• Pour vinegar into the rinse aid compartment.
• Load the drum with not too dirty colored items in the amount for which you prepared the detergent.
• Start the work cycle.

This product should not be used to wash white clothes, as well as colored items that shed heavily during washing. The resulting powder can ruin the listed items, so it’s better not to risk it. It is also worth noting that such homemade powder erases much worse than certified store-bought products, but in exceptional cases it can be used.

When you urgently need to wash off stubborn dirt, you can slightly change the recipe by creating a powder for lightly soiled laundry. To do this, you will need only 200 grams of borax and baking soda, which must be mixed in a container with a tight-fitting lid. To wash 2 kilograms of laundry, use a measuring cup to pour 30 grams of the resulting mixture into a glass, add hot water to it and stir the entire contents with a spoon. Then all that remains is to add the product to the powder receptacle and start the desired mode.The mixture is suitable for washing at temperatures from 40 to 60 degrees Celsius.

Now you know that you don’t have to run to the convenience store on a dark night if your house suddenly runs out of laundry detergent. There is something to replace it with, but you shouldn’t overuse it and abandon factory-made household chemicals forever, as they are much more effective than any alternative.

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