Can You Use Oxiclean Powder As Detergent?

OxiClean manufactures stain removers in powdered form. It’s easy to get convinced that the stain removers are laundry detergents or have the capacity to act as laundry detergents, from mere inspection of the scoops you take out from the packaging! 

But can you actually use oxiclean stain removing powder as a substitute for laundry detergent? Would it work? And is it advised?

OxiClean powder is a stain remover, and so should never be made to shoulder the tasks of a laundry detergent, because they both have different build up. Stain removers contain very powerful ingredients that can banish stains and soiling on clothes, while at the same, can weaken fibers on clothes there by damaging the integrity of the fabric, when used with the intention of serving as a replacement for laundry detergent.

Don’t get me wrong, some detergents actually contain stain removers too, for example, the ones from the Tide and Persil brand. But the concentration of those is nowhere what you’ll find in an actual stain remover, which is why it does a better job at removing stains on clothes than laundry detergents. 

Because of this fact, detergents can actually be used consistently for an extended period of time before their degrading action in clothes begins to surface, and this period usually correlates with the expected decay or expiry period of the cloth too. And so consumers are pretty okay with this deal! 

But here’s the bottom line when it comes to using stain remover as detergents: If you ever happen to run out of laundry detergent, and you reach for the cupboard to grab a bottle of bleach but quickly realize it’s not there, don’t hesitate to fall back to stain removers like Oxiclean powder for a “one time cleaning”.

Never use it consistently, it will break down the fabric much faster! 

Additionally, do not expect a cleaning that matches what you’ll get using a laundry detergent, because a stain remover doesn’t have the necessary ingredients and technology to remove soiling efficiently, and that’s why it’s always mandated to precede its use with a wash cycle using a quality laundry detergent.

How best to use oxiclean powder

OxiClean is an excellent stain remover, and if you want to use it for that purpose, you have a wide variety of stains to tackle, because of the multifaceted functionality of the powder. 

But let’s stick to the laundry, what stains can you actually use the powder for? OxiClean powder can remove many types of stains from blood stains to grease, oil, food, grass, fruit and drink spills and even ink stains.

OxiClean is also very good at removing stains that have aged, and therefore settled deep into the fibers. 

Before using OxiClean on your fabrics however, you have to test for colorfastness and safety, so you don’t end up tampering with your clothes color or integrity!  

Doing the spot test is easy; create a concentrated solution of water and the powder and apply it to an inconspicuous area of the cloth, like seam or hem. Let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse and dry. Check for color loss or damage! 

If nothing happened, you’re free to proceed with the rest of the instructions.

To use OxiClean as a pre-treatment prior to washing, create a solution of the powder with water according to the product instructions, then soak the clothes in this solution for 1 to 6 hours depending on the spread of the soil and also the age of the stain. 

After that, launder with warm water using a standard laundry detergent, preferably an OxiClean detergent, and if you so wish, you can add a small scoop of the stain remover into the washing machine for enhanced cleaning.

If you wish to just remove stains without pre-soaking them, then simply add a scoop of OxiClean stain remover to the washing machine drum, then add the detergent in before you add the laundry. This typically works for stains that are not set-in or simply, fresh stains.

In a high-efficiency washer, you want to put the stain remover into the drum first and then add your laundry before putting the detergent into the detergent dispenser and then run a cycle.

OxiClean powder isn’t just good for getting stains out of clothing, it can also tackle stains on rugs and carpets, furniture, upholstery and even beddings.

Can you use bleach as a detergent?

There can be times when you’ve run completely out of laundry detergent and you’re looking for alternatives to do the laundry at home. 

In this case you can actually turn your face to products like bleach and baking soda. Even though they’re not formulated with the kind of ingredients you’ll find in a laundry detergent, they do have their own way of managing stains and soiling which can benefit your laundry in desperate times.

When using bleach as a replacement for laundry detergent, use it as a presoak agent. Make a solution of it and water based on the product label, and then soak the clothes in. Let sit for the recommended amount of time, preferably 10 minutes, then launder using warm water and a small quantity of bleach. 

If the clothes aren’t soiled up pretty bad to begin with, then you should have a very decent cleaning.

What can you use instead of laundry detergent

You can use dish soap

Dish soap is one of the best alternatives for laundry detergents when washing by hand. It will produce suds, too many for that matter, but not what handwashing cannot manage. 

In the washer however, things get a bit complicated. Suds form and impede washing. They also manage to hide inside the nooks and crannies of the machine therefore serving as breeding ground for bacteria and mold, depending on who came first. Suds in the washer can also cause overflowing and streaking on clothes! 

In the same light, you can use hand soap’s body washes and shampoos to wash clothes by hand. But just like dish soap, you must avoid putting them in the washing machine especially in front loaders.

Final Thoughts

OxiClean powder is not recommended to be used as a substitute for laundry detergent. Stain removers and laundry detergents work differently, even though they may have functionalities that cross paths! 

To get the best type or cleaning without compromising the integrity of your fabric, avoid using stain removers to do the job of your laundry detergents!