What can you use in a washing machine instead of detergent?

Author: Margarett Stamm  |  Last update: Saturday, October 18, 2025

What is a good substitute for laundry detergent?

Baking soda,washing soda,borax ,lemon juice ,white vinegar,fabric softener,a small amount of dish soap. take your pick.

What to use in a washing machine if there is no detergent?

What can you use if you've run out of laundry detergent?

Can I use dish soap if I'm out of laundry detergent?

Yes, you can use dish washing liquid as a substitute for laundry detergent. I've been experimenting with cost-cutting measures for the last six months, and one of the biggest money savers I've come across is replacing laundry detergent with dish liquid.

Can You Use Dish Soap in the Washer? (+Some better alternatives)

How to wash laundry without detergent?

Can I use regular bar soap as laundry detergent?

Grate bars of soap with a cheese grater. Mix baking soda, soda crystals and soap flakes together in food processor until very fine. If there are a lot of large pebble sized bits of soap I find they stay on your clothes through the wash.

Can I use Dawn in my washing machine?

Though dish soap is great as a stain pretreatment option, it's not meant for direct use in a laundry washing machine. That's because dish soaps are uniquely formulated to break up grease and stuck-on food particles with foamy suds—something you don't want to happen in your washing machine.

How to make homemade laundry detergent?

Can I use body wash as laundry detergent?

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.

Can I wash my clothes with shampoo?

If you're out of detergent or in a bind, you can definitely hand wash your clothes using shampoo. Just fill a sink or bucket with cold water and add 1 teaspoon of shampoo. Then, put 1-2 pieces of clothing in the water and let them soak for 5 minutes, maybe 10 if they're super dirty.

What happens if I don't use HE detergent in my washer?

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.

What works the same as laundry detergent?

What can I use instead of detergent in my washing machine?

Can I use vinegar as laundry detergent?

Using vinegar in the wash shouldn't be an everyday thing for every load. Using it daily can damage the washing machine, especially the rubber parts, and repeated use could damage delicate fabrics. Limit use to an as-needed basis, after clothes have dulled or as residue begins to build up.

Is it OK to make your own laundry detergent?

In fact, homemade laundry detergent can ruin clothing, pose environmental and health risks, and even damage your washing machine, among other consequences.

Can I use baking soda as laundry detergent?

The Watch-outs of Adding Vinegar and Baking Soda to Your Laundry. Although vinegar and baking soda are safe to use in both regular and HE washing machines, they are considerably less efficient than high-performance laundry detergents at delivering an outstanding and odorless clean.

What can you use if you run out of laundry detergent?

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.

Can I use dish soap instead of laundry detergent?

A: No, it's not a good idea. Dishwashing detergent has enzymes and chemicals to dissolve the 3 components of food: fat, carbohydrates and proteins. They will eat away the fabric, especially natural fibers like cotton.

Can you use Dawn if you run out of laundry detergent?

Yes, you can do laundry with dish soap in a pinch—just don't do it often. If you're desperate to do laundry and have no detergent, you can use a very small amount of liquid dish soap like Dawn to wash your clothes (just a few drops, and definitely no more than about 3 teaspoons (15 mL).

How to make your own liquid laundry detergent?

Can I do laundry without detergent?

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.

Can I use dial soap for laundry?

08 Jan Dial Soap In Your Laundry!

I almost grabbed that block of cheddar and took a bite! Except…it's a Gold Bar of Dial soap, not cheese! But, what a great idea. I already knew that the Dial Gold Bar soap works wonders on cutting grease, but my wife took this idea to the next level — grating it for use IN your wash!