To make a homemade OxiClean, mix 1 cup of warm water, 12 12 cup of washing soda, and 12 12 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide. This powerful oxygen bleach safely brightens whites and removes tough stains without the harshness of chlorine bleach.
7 Alternatives That Work Just as Well as OxiClean
OxiClean’s primary active ingredient is sodium percarbonate, a dry compound of natural washing soda (sodium carbonate) and hydrogen peroxide. When dissolved in water, it releases oxygen bubbles that safely and naturally break down organic stains, lift away dirt, and brighten colors.
To make a powerful DIY stain remover mimicking OxiClean's brightening power with Dawn, mix 1 part Blue Dawn dish soap, 2 parts hydrogen peroxide, and 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda to form a paste. Apply it to stains, let it sit for 1 hour, and wash.
No, Borax and OxiClean are completely different products. While both are popular laundry boosters, they have different chemical compositions and primary uses.
Many Amish households use standard, commercially available detergents like Tide or Gain, as they often shop at the same local supermarkets and bulk stores as non-Amish communities. However, many others prefer to live sustainably and avoid harsh chemicals by using simple, natural, and highly effective DIY detergents.
No, Borax and baking soda are not the same thing. While they both look like white powders and are used for household cleaning, they are chemically distinct and cannot always be used interchangeably.
Yes, you can easily make your own DIY version of OxiClean at home using common household items like hydrogen peroxide, washing soda, and baking soda. These homemade alternatives are incredibly effective at brightening whites and lifting tough stains without the harshness of chlorine bleach.
Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover Laundry Spray is a non-toxic, biodegradable formula. Its active cleaning agents include:
When creating a cleaning solution for tile floors using ½ cup of baking soda and a bucket of warm water, essential oils can be included to give the mixture a nice scent." But, there's another benefit to using your favorite essential oil to leave behind a better smell after mopping.
The active ingredient in OxiClean is sodium percarbonate (a form of oxygen bleach). Any commercial oxygen brightener with sodium percarbonate will work the same way.
No, OxiClean is not just baking soda. While they are both used for cleaning, they have different chemical makeups and functions:
The least toxic laundry detergents avoid harsh synthetics, petrochemicals, optical brighteners, and artificial fragrances. Top recommendations include:
Combined, they make an amazing cleaning paste or spray (depending on how you mix it) that tackles tough stains, odors, and mold / mildew 🙌 SPRAY: 1 bottle hydrogen peroxide 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp dish soap (Blue Dawn is the best) Mix together in a squirt bottle and get to it.
Revive dingy whites by soaking the garments in an overnight bath of hot water and oxygen bleach (like OxiClean) or a mixture of 12one-half12 cup baking soda and 12one-half12 cup hydrogen peroxide. Afterward, wash the clothes on a hot cycle with your regular detergent, and let them air dry in the direct sun.
Homemade OxiClean with only 3 ingredients What you need: 1 cup warm water 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide 1/2 cup baking soda Dissolve baking soda in warm water, add the hydrogen peroxide and mix. Store in glass jar/spray bottle. You can use this to spot clean or add 1/4 cup to your washing machine.
The Best Way to Remove Stains from Clothes
For store-bought dedicated stain removers, OxiClean MaxForce Laundry Stain Remover Spray is a great option, as well as Grandma's Secret Spot Remover Laundry Spray and Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray, which are ideal for on-the-go messes.
Oprah’s favorite spot remover is the Stingray Spot Remover. She named it her "favorite gift" of the year after a costume designer successfully used it to remove a melted chocolate stain from her white pants backstage at a Broadway show.
OxiClean is generally considered non-toxic and eco-friendly when used as directed, but its active alkaline ingredients make the concentrated formulas strong irritants. It breaks down into water, oxygen, and natural soda ash, leaving behind no harmful environmental byproducts.
Make an effective, budget-friendly OxiClean alternative at home using simple household staples: 3% hydrogen peroxide and washing soda (sodium carbonate). These ingredients mimic the active oxygen-bleaching power of OxiClean for a fraction of the cost, handling stains, brightening whites, and tackling odors.
The OxiClean™ formulation is a combination of ingredients, the key ingredient being sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, surfactants and polymer. Combined, these ingredients work together to remove the toughest stains.
You can make a highly effective, natural OxiClean alternative at home using common pantry items. This DIY version relies on the brightening power of oxygen to safely lift stains and odors.
Never mix borax with chlorine bleach, as the combination can produce toxic, dangerous fumes. Additionally, avoid mixing it with vinegar for general cleaning; while it won't create dangerous fumes, mixing a base (borax) with an acid (vinegar) neutralizes both, canceling out their cleaning power.
In the old days, borax was a multi-purpose "miracle" mineral. Its primary use was as a heavy-duty laundry booster, water softener, and household cleaner. Beyond chores, it was used as a metalworking flux, a food and meat preservative, and an ingredient in ancient medicines, pottery glazes, and glassblowing.