You ran out of laundry detergent and need to wash clothes right now, or you are looking for a long-term replacement because regular detergent irritates your skin, costs too much, or contains ingredients you want to avoid.
The best emergency substitute is baking soda (1/2 cup per load), which cleans lightly soiled clothes and removes odors without leaving residue. According to Apartment Therapy, baking soda is the safest substitute because it is gentle on all fabrics, works in any machine, and does not create excess suds.
- If you need a one-time emergency substitute, baking soda or white vinegar will get you through a load.
- If you want a permanent natural alternative, soap nuts or castile soap replace detergent entirely.
- If you have sensitive skin, unscented alternatives like baking soda, soap nuts, or washing soda avoid the irritants in commercial detergent.
Not all alternatives clean equally well. Some handle lightly soiled clothes and odors, while others tackle stains and heavy dirt. The right choice depends on what you are washing and why you need an alternative.
Here are 10 substitutes ranked by cleaning power.
Emergency Substitutes (Use What You Have)
1. Baking soda
How to use: Add 1/2 cup directly to the drum before starting the cycle.
How well it cleans: Good for light soil and odors, but not strong enough for stains or heavily soiled clothes. According to Branch Basics, baking soda works by raising the pH of the wash water, which helps loosen dirt from fabric fibers.
Safe for: All fabrics, all machine types, HE safe.
2. White vinegar
How to use: Add 1/2 cup to the drum or the fabric softener dispenser.
How well it cleans: Good for odor removal and mild cleaning, because the acetic acid kills bacteria and breaks down light soil. Clothes come out odor-free because the vinegar smell rinses away completely.
Safe for: All fabrics except silk and acetate (the acid can damage these).
3. Borax
How to use: Add 1/2 cup to the drum before loading clothes.
How well it cleans: Good for stains and heavily soiled clothes. According to Reviewed, borax is alkaline (pH 9.1) and works especially well on acidic stains like tomato sauce, coffee, and fruit juice.
Safe for: Most fabrics. Avoid on silk and wool.
4. Liquid dish soap (tiny amount)
How to use: Add 1 to 3 teaspoons (not tablespoons) to the drum. Do not use more or you will have a suds overflow.
How well it cleans: Good for grease stains and general cleaning. According to House Digest, dish soap cuts grease effectively, but even a small amount produces far more suds than laundry detergent.
Safe for: All fabrics, but use extreme caution with the amount. Too much will overflow your machine.
5. Shampoo
How to use: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons to the drum.
How well it cleans: Adequate for a single emergency load because shampoo removes oils from hair, so it handles body oils on clothes reasonably well. Not effective on heavy stains.
Safe for: All fabrics. Rinse well because shampoo can leave residue.
Long-Term Natural Alternatives
6. Soap nuts
How to use: Place 4 to 5 soap nuts in a small cotton bag and toss it in the drum with your clothes. Reuse the same nuts for 5 to 6 loads.
How well it cleans: Good for regular loads. According to Blueland, soap nuts contain natural saponins that create a mild lather when they contact water, cleaning clothes while also acting as a natural fabric softener.
Safe for: All fabrics, all machines, HE safe. Fully biodegradable.
7. Castile soap (liquid)
How to use: Add 1/3 cup of liquid castile soap to the drum. Do not use the detergent drawer because it can leave soap buildup.
How well it cleans: Good general cleaning comparable to mild detergent. According to LoveToKnow, castile soap is plant-based and gentle enough for sensitive skin while still effective on everyday dirt.
Safe for: All fabrics. Avoid in hard water areas because castile soap reacts with minerals and can leave a film on clothes.
8. Washing soda
How to use: Add 1/2 cup to the drum before loading clothes.
How well it cleans: Strong cleaning and stain removal because washing soda (sodium carbonate) is more alkaline than baking soda and cuts through grease and grime more aggressively. It is a common ingredient in commercial detergents.
Safe for: Sturdy fabrics like cotton, linen, and polyester. Too harsh for silk, wool, and delicates.
9. Laundry detergent sheets
How to use: Place one sheet in the drum with your clothes.
How well it cleans: Comparable to liquid or powder detergent. Sheets contain concentrated surfactants that dissolve in water and clean just like traditional detergent.
Safe for: All fabrics, all machines, HE safe. Pre-measured so you cannot overdose.
For a full comparison, see laundry detergent sheets.
10. Lemon juice
How to use: Add 1/2 cup to the drum.
How well it cleans: Mild cleaning with a natural bleaching effect on whites, because the citric acid helps remove light stains and brightens white fabrics. Not strong enough for darks or heavy soil.
Safe for: Whites and light colors. Can lighten dark fabrics, so avoid on darks.
Comparison Table
| Alternative | Cleaning power | Best for | Cost per load | Machine safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baking soda | Light | Odors, light soil | $0.10 | All |
| White vinegar | Light | Odors, bacteria | $0.08 | All |
| Borax | Medium-strong | Stains, heavy soil | $0.12 | All |
| Dish soap (tiny amount) | Medium | Grease stains | $0.05 | All (careful) |
| Shampoo | Light-medium | Emergency only | $0.30 | All |
| Soap nuts | Medium | Everyday loads | $0.07 | All |
| Castile soap | Medium | Sensitive skin | $0.25 | All (not hard water) |
| Washing soda | Strong | Stains, grease | $0.10 | All |
| Detergent sheets | Strong | Everyday loads | $0.20 | All |
| Lemon juice | Light | Whites, brightening | $0.15 | All |
What to Avoid
Bleach alone is not a detergent. Bleach disinfects and whitens but does not remove dirt or oils. Use it as a booster with one of the alternatives above, not as a standalone cleaner.
Body wash and hand soap create too many suds. Like dish soap, a tiny amount might work in a pinch, but these products foam aggressively in a washing machine and can cause overflow.
Dishwasher detergent is not safe for laundry. It contains harsh enzymes designed for high-temperature cleaning that can damage fabrics. For the full explanation, see can dishwasher detergent be used for laundry.
Tips for Using Alternatives
Pre-dissolve powder alternatives in warm water. Baking soda, borax, and washing soda dissolve better if you mix them with warm water before adding to the drum, especially in cold water cycles.
Combine for better results. Baking soda + white vinegar (added separately, not mixed together) gives you both odor removal and mild cleaning in one load. The baking soda goes in the drum at the start, and the vinegar goes in the rinse cycle.
Use warm water when possible. Most alternatives work better in warm water because the higher temperature helps activate the cleaning agents and dissolve solids.
For understanding how much detergent to use in general, see accidentally used too much laundry detergent.
Out of detergent? Use 1/2 cup baking soda for light loads, 1/2 cup borax for stains, or 1/2 cup white vinegar for odors.
For a permanent switch, soap nuts (reusable, $0.07/load) or detergent sheets are the best long-term alternatives.
For comparing detergent formats, see pods vs liquid vs powder laundry detergent.
For mixing different cleaning products safely, see mixing laundry detergent.
Pin this page for the next time you run out of detergent.
12-year nomad, carry-on-only traveler across 5 continents, and creator of Organizing.TV.
I help you pack smaller, stress less, and actually enjoy the packing part of travel.
winora kunselman
Thursday 8th of August 2024
Super article - been looking for that type of info for a long time; however, could you please inform as to amount of lemon juice say for making the soap bombs for toilet cleaning as well as using them in washing machine front loader?