Household Remedies in the Washing Machine: How to Use Less Detergent

Simple kitchen staples, however, can stand in for conventional products in the washing machine.

Anyone who repeatedly washes colourful T-shirts, jeans or sportswear at high temperatures using plenty of detergent will know the issue: colours lose their vibrancy, fabric looks dull, and clothes feel worn despite still being relatively new. A few everyday food items can tackle dirt and odours without placing unnecessary strain on textiles, while also being kinder to both your budget and the environment.

Why we often wash too much

Many people put garments straight into the laundry basket by habit, even when they have only been worn briefly. Tops, trousers and jumpers in particular can often simply be aired instead. Every machine wash subjects clothes to mechanical stress, temperature changes and chemicals, all of which can fade colours and make fibres more fragile.

Experts therefore advise taking an honest look before every wash: does the item actually smell unpleasant? Are there any visible stains? Or is washing it simply routine? Asking these questions can substantially reduce how often you wash, allowing you to use household remedies more selectively when you do.

“The fewer full conventional washes with detergent you do, the longer colours remain bright and fabrics stay strong – and kitchen ingredients can be surprisingly effective in this respect.”

Which foods can help in the washing machine

Vinegar for odours and limescale

Household vinegar, ideally clear distilled vinegar or diluted vinegar essence, is a genuinely versatile option. It neutralises unpleasant smells and helps loosen limescale deposits in the machine.

• Removing odours: Pour around 50–100 ml of vinegar into the fabric conditioner compartment.
• Replacing fabric conditioner: Vinegar leaves fibres feeling softer without coating them.
• Caring for the machine: It can help break down detergent residues and limescale.

Vinegar is especially useful for towels, sportswear and kitchen laundry, where freshness matters more than a strong fragrance. Use it sparingly on delicate fabrics or wool, as prolonged use may damage fibres slightly.

Baking powder for greying and stains

Baking powder contains bicarbonate of soda and is mildly alkaline. This makes it useful for dull grey discolouration and light stains.

• Add one or two sachets directly to the drum.
• It is ideal for greyed T-shirts, underwear or white socks.
• It can reduce odours, particularly those caused by sweat in the underarm area.

Baking powder has a slight brightening effect, so with purely coloured loads containing very vivid shades, it is sensible to test it first on an inconspicuous area.

Bicarbonate of soda as an odour neutraliser

Pure bicarbonate of soda from the kitchen works in much the same way as baking powder, but without the added raising agents. In the washing machine, it absorbs odours and can lessen traces of perspiration.

Put one or two teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda straight into the drum. It is particularly handy for sportswear, trainer insoles or T-shirts exposed to heavy sweating.

Lemon for refreshing white laundry

Lemon juice has a mild bleaching action and can remove yellowing, for instance from curtains or white T-shirts. It also leaves a fresh scent.

• Mix the juice of one or two lemons with a glass of water.
• Pour the mixture into the detergent drawer.
• Alternatively, place lemon slices in a cotton bag and add it to the drum.

Use citrus fruit very carefully on coloured laundry, as strong acidity can affect dyes.

How to wash without conventional detergent

It is not always possible to manage entirely without detergent, particularly with heavily soiled children’s clothes or workwear. Yet for lightly soiled everyday items, or garments that merely smell a little musty, a combination of water, temperature and household remedies is often sufficient.

Step-by-step guide

1. Separate laundry by colour and material.
2. Choose only lightly soiled items, treating stains locally beforehand if needed, for example with a little gall soap or curd soap.
3. Select a 30 or 40 °C cycle; use a delicate or gentle programme for sensitive fabrics.
4. Depending on what is needed, add a measured amount of vinegar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda or lemon to the drum or the appropriate compartment.
5. Remove laundry as soon as the cycle ends and allow it to dry thoroughly, preferably in the open air.

After trying this a few times, you quickly notice that plenty of laundry comes out clean and fresh-smelling even without conventional detergent.

When household remedies reach their limits

Kitchen-cupboard solutions are not enough for grease stains, engine oil, heavily ingrained dirt or hygiene-sensitive textiles such as baby bodysuits, underwear and cleaning cloths. In these cases, use a full detergent or hygiene detergent, along with higher temperatures where necessary.

Health must come first: if laundry is heavily contaminated with germs due to illness, use tested products that reliably reduce bacteria and viruses. Household remedies can provide support, but they do not replace disinfecting action in these circumstances.

Benefits for the environment, your budget and textiles

Using less detergent eases the burden not only on your clothes but also on the environment. Fewer chemicals enter wastewater, less packaging is required, and the machine develops limescale more slowly.

Measure	Environmental benefit	Benefit for clothes
Less detergent	Fewer surfactants in wastewater	Gentler on fibres, with less fading
Vinegar instead of fabric conditioner	No cocktail of fragrances in the water	Fewer residues against the skin
Baking powder / bicarbonate of soda	Often more readily biodegradable	Helps tackle odours and reduces grey discolouration

Over time, households can noticeably cut their detergent spending this way. Families running several loads each week in particular will feel the difference in their wallets.

Common mistakes when washing with household remedies

When using food items in the machine, keep a few points in mind to avoid problems:

• Avoid overdosing: Too much vinegar can damage seals, while excessive baking powder creates foam.
• Check direct contact: Treat delicate materials such as silk, wool or viscose only with great care.
• Do not neglect machine care: Even when using vinegar, occasionally run an empty 60 °C cycle to reduce germs.
• Do not experiment with fatty foods: Oil, butter and milk do not belong in the drum; they make dirt worse.

Everyday examples

A typical example is a T-shirt worn for a day at the office: there are no visible marks, only a faint odour under the arms. In this case, a short cycle with a little vinegar in the fabric conditioner compartment and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in the drum is enough. The shirt comes out smelling fresh, with no full detergent required.

Another situation involves slightly greyed white socks. Add two sachets of baking powder directly with the wash and choose a 40 °C cycle; the colour will often look a little brighter again, while the grey film is reduced.

What terms such as “grey discolouration” and “microfibre damage” mean

Textile-care specialists use the term “grey discolouration” when pale fabrics no longer look properly bright but instead appear dull and dirty, even after being freshly washed. It is often caused by soap residue and tiny particles of dirt becoming lodged in the fibres. Baking powder and bicarbonate of soda can help release these deposits.

“Microfibre damage” describes tiny breaks in fibres caused by excessively high temperatures, heavy friction and chemicals. As a result, fabrics pill by forming small bobbles, feel rough or become stretched out. Less aggressive detergents and the use of household remedies can slow this type of damage.

How household remedies can be combined effectively

If you do not want to give up detergent completely, you can combine the two: use a much smaller quantity of a mild detergent alongside vinegar or bicarbonate of soda. This reduces overall consumption while keeping cleaning performance consistent.

One practical mix is half a measuring cap of liquid detergent for coloureds, a splash of vinegar in the fabric conditioner compartment, and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda added with the laundry. In many cases, this is enough to keep everyday clothes hygienic and free from odours, without relying on aggressive cleaning cocktails.