Laundry detergent is a staple in every home – but it might surprise you to know that it has more uses than just washing your clothes. We love a good hack, and so we were curious to find out… what else can you use laundry detergent for?

Here are some genius tips which can save you both time and money.

1. Unclog a Drain

Before you call the plumber or use corrosive chemicals, it’s worthwhile trying this: pour 1/4 cup of Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Liquid down your sink, then slowly pour a kettle full of boiling water down after it. The hot water and slippery detergent often works together to flush the clog right out.

If you use a septic tank don’t worry - our Sensitive Laundry liquid is suitable for grey water and septic systems (which can’t be said about some drain cleaners!).

2. Upholstery Stain Remover

It makes sense that the same stain-fighting properties that help clean your clothes, can work on upholstery and carpet. Apply powdered laundry detergent – like Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Powder- to the stain, then rub gently with a damp cloth to work the detergent into the stain. Wait five minutes, then brush away the excess and repeat.

Disclaimer: follow manufacturer’s cleaning directions and always patch test on a small unseen area first.

3. Clean Oven Racks

To clean greasy oven racks, place them in the bathtub or large plastic tub and fill with hot water until the racks are submerged. Add 3/4 cup of Bosisto’s Power+ or Sensitive Laundry Liquid and let it sit overnight.

Then, scrub away the grease and grime with a sponge or soft-bristled brush. You can also do this with our Supreme+ Dishwasher Capsules!

4. Pretreat Stains

Want to save on laundry prewash? ‘Enzymatic stains’ like grass and blood can be pretreated with normal laundry detergent, rather than a separate product.

First, pour liquid detergent directly onto the stain. Gently rub the fabric together, or use a soft-bristled toothbrush in a circular motion to help work the detergent into the garment’s fibers. Then wash the garment as usual. For particularly bad stains you can even soak using normal detergent, too! We recommend Power+ Laundry Liquid for this one.

Note: Not suitable for Woollens, delicates or silk. Always check the care label and follow manufacturer’s guidelines.

5. Banish Soap Scum

Do you have stubborn soap scum marks around your bathtub or sink? If you’ve run out of our Bathroom Cleaner, here’s a great DIY soap scum fighter you can try using laundry detergent.

Mix Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Powder with enough water to make a thick, spreadable paste. Scrub this into the soap scum using firm pressure in circles or back and forth. Leave to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing off with hot water.

6. Clean Toys

Kid’s toys get a lot of “love” and can quickly get filthy and grimy. But it’s not ideal to use harsh cleaners, especially when they’re in close contact with children’s sensitive skin.

Laundry detergent to the rescue! For washable, hard plastic toys (make sure there’s no electronics) fill up the bathtub with warm water and add half a cup of Bosisto’s Sensitive Laundry Liquid. Let toys soak, then scrub, rinse and dry.

For wooden toys use a cloth and take a little of the bath mixture to dab and clean. Soft toys and comforters can usually be machine washed on a delicate cycle (check manufacturer’s directions) using our Sensitive Laundry Liquid or Sensitive Laundry Capsules.

All fresh and clean, no nasties!

SHOP BOSISTO’S LAUNDRY