Don’t Get “Tide” Down: 5
Unexpected Laundry Detergent Uses

You finally found the time to clean the house. You’re on a roll, and just have a few things left to do. But no! You’re out of most of your cleaning solutions because you didn’t think to check your supplies before you started. Now what? 

Then you remembered, you just bought laundry detergent! You grab that big orange, trusty bottle of Tide and start reading the instructions on the back, just in case. But it’s only got instructions for laundry. Time to get creative!

Lucky for you, cleaning with laundry detergent is perfectly safe, and we’ll provide you with some different ways you can use it. So don’t get “Tide” down. Here are five unexpected laundry detergent uses.

Hassle-Free Toy Cleaning

Kids are messy. Germy. Sometimes downright grimy. One thing they’ve always got their hands on is their toys. To prevent the spread of germs and illness, you’ll want to clean those regularly. Instead of using a harsh cleaner like bleach or a wipe, opt to use laundry detergent! This can be done in a bathtub or your sink, depending on how many toys you’re cleaning.

• Separate out any toys that cannot be submerged in water, like toys with batteries.
• Fill your bathtub or sink with warm water. 
• Add Tide detergent. (½ cup of detergent for the tub; 1-2 tablespoons for the sink)
• Let toys soak and walk away!
• Come back when you’ve finished your other chores and drain the tub or sink.
• Rinse, and let dry!

Now you’ve got toys that are both clean and safe!

Unclogging a Slow Drain

Every once in a while, you find yourself with a sink full of water that’s taking forever to drain. Of course, drain cleaner works great, but it’s not a product most of us keep on hand. Use Tide instead! All you need is a little laundry detergent and some hot water.

• Boil a pot of water. 
• Measure ¼ cup of liquid Tide detergent.
• Pour the detergent directly down the drain, without diluting it.
• Let it sit and work on the drain for 3-5 minutes.
• Pour the boiling water down the drain.

The detergent should break up any blockages, and the boiling water will rinse it right down!

Cleaning Hard Floors

Can you use Tide to clean floors? Absolutely! Plus, who doesn’t love the smell of fresh laundry? Use it to mop your hard floors and you can have it all through the house! Gather your mop and bucket, and grab the Tide laundry detergent. 

• Fill your mop bucket with warm water.
• Add one teaspoon of Tide detergent. (Notice we said only a teaspoon. A little bit goes a long way.)
• Use the Tide and water solution to mop away all that dirt.
• Make sure to wring the water from your mop regularly. If you have too much water in your mop head, you’ll leave streaks!
• Put up your feet, and let the floor air dry!

Now all that’s left is to sit back, relax, and smell the fresh clean of Tide!

Stove and Oven Cleaning

Oven cleaner is some harsh stuff! Tide detergent is made to cut through the grease and grime. So ditch the harsh chemicals, and use laundry detergent to clean your stove instead. With this one, we’ll also be mixing in bleach. We know it’s not safe to mix most cleaners, but Tide is made to be safely mixed with bleach, just as you do with your clothes.

Oven Racks

• Start with removing the oven racks and burners if you have removable burners. 
• Lay an old towel across the bottom of your bathtub. This will help to protect your tub from getting scratched or stained by the oven racks.
• Prepare a solution in your tub or sink similar to the one we mentioned for toy cleaning. You can also use a large bin if you don’t want your bathtub occupied that long. As a reminder, it’s warm water and about a ½ cup of detergent.
• Soak the racks and burners overnight.
• After they’ve soaked, scrub with a soft brush or a sponge. 
• Rinse, and let dry.

The Stove Top & Oven

• In a large spray bottle, mix water, 2 teaspoons of detergent, and 1 teaspoon of bleach. The detergent is to cut through grease and grime, while the bleach is meant as a disinfectant.
• Spray the solution onto your surface and let sit for a minute. 
• Use a little elbow grease and a soft sponge or brush to clean the surface.
• Use a scouring pad or hard-bristle brush for any baked-on or hard-to-clean spots inside the oven.
• Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Now, all you need to do is put back those clean oven racks and burners, and you’re good to go!

Removing Stains on Carpets and Upholstery

Just like you can use Tide detergent on different fabrics in the laundry, you can also use Tide detergent on other fabrics throughout your house! 

Carpet Stains

• Grab an empty spray bottle.
• Mix 2-3 tablespoons of laundry detergent with 2-3 tablespoons of Borax. 
• Fill the spray bottle the rest of the way with water.
• Shake the bottle thoroughly to make sure the Borax is fully dissolved.
• Spray the solution onto the carpet stain and scrub gently.
• Let air dry.

Upholstery Stains

• Fill a gallon bucket with water.
• Add ¼ cup of laundry detergent to the gallon bucket and mix thoroughly.
• Use a soft or microfiber cleaning cloth.
• Dip the cloth into the solution, then scrub any stains on your upholstery.
• No need to rinse; just let dry! **For extra amazing results, try wiping down the entire surface of a microfiber piece of furniture!

Tide detergent isn’t just for the washing machine. With a little creativity and outside-the-box thinking, you can find all kinds of uses for laundry detergent. No more are the days where you need a separate cleaner for each area of your home. Just look to Tide or easier yet, call The Maids.