One of the best ways to clean the washing machine is using chlorine bleach and distilled white vinegar. Starting the washer on its hottest cycle, allow the drum to fill with water, then add one quart of chlorine bleach to the water before allowing the cycle to complete.
Cleaning a top loader washing machine with vinegar and baking soda. Most top loaders don't have detergent drawers, so you'll have to combine the vinegar and baking soda inside the drum. Use four cups of white or distilled vinegar to clean your top loader.
Although you can wash clothes naturally without using detergents, it doesn't bring a satisfactory output. Hence, you may use soaps, pods, or bleach or also baking soda with lemon to clean clothes if you don't have detergents at home for the time being.
Dish soap can cost much less than laundry detergent and can clean your clothes just as well. However, it's important to keep in mind that you will use a lot less dish liquid than laundry detergent. Adding too much dish soap will cause your washing machine to overflow with bubbles.
As with dishwashing liquid, shampoo can be used to substitute laundry detergent in an emergency. It's great for handwashing and a go-to option if you're traveling and only have a sink at your disposal.
Grated Bar Soap and Borax
Regular bar soap can be grated and combined with Borax to create a very effective laundry detergent alternative. Here's how to do it: Using a butter knife, a spoon or even a cheese grater, grate about a cup of bar soap. Add the grated bar soap to ½ cup of borax and ½ cup of washing soda.
Use a combination of white vinegar and baking soda to naturally clean your washing machine; pour half a cup of baking soda into the drum followed by two cups of vinegar in the detergent dispenser, then run a hot wash cycle. For stubborn grime and odors, consider commercial washing machine cleaners.
Using regular detergent in an HE washer produces too many suds. This could potentially lengthen the wash cycle, affect cleaning action or overflow the machine.
Body Wash. Choose a body wash or hand soap that does not have moisturizers. Only use a very small amount due to an excessive amount of sudsing.
Running your washing machine empty can be particularly beneficial under certain conditions. For instance, if you're transitioning from washing heavy fabrics, like towels, to lighter items, an empty cycle can help prepare the machine and eliminate any residue.
“For removing odors, I would say vinegar.” Some people, however, prefer white vinegar because it's not as harsh as bleach. Unless, of course, your washing machine has been completely neglected, and is now a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, and you want a power cleaner.
Use Laundry Borax or Baking Soda
If you have no detergent at all, use 1 cup of borax or baking soda for a normal load. Pretreat stains before washing and use the warmest water temperature recommended for the garments.
A common combination of DIY washer fluid includes distilled water, rubbing alcohol, and liquid dish soap. In some cases, a few drops of blue food coloring is thrown into the mix to achieve a look that resembles commercial washer fluids.
Probably the most common substitute for detergent is baking soda, as it leaves clothing smelling fresh and works hard to break up stains. Add about a half cup of this traditional baking ingredient straight to your washing machine drum or detergent drawer.
*For best results, use a little less than two teaspoons (9.5 mL) of Dawn® Platinum in a top-loading washing machine—be sure not to use too much, and don't use on delicate fabrics like silk. Spot test with a small drop in a less visible area to make sure the material will not be damaged.
Baking soda can be a beneficial laundry aid as it offers stain removal, odor elimination, fabric softening and detergent boosting potential. It's versatile and eco-friendly, and using a small amount in your wash load may leave your clothing cleaner, fresher and softer.
Using Shampoo to Wash Clothes
Fill your sink with cold or warm water, depending on the garment's care instructions. Then, pour 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of shampoo into the water. Soak the clothes in the water for 5 minutes and then gently work the soapy water into the fabric.