It happens to everyone—you’re busy, it’s laundry day and you suddenly discover you’re without a needed laundry cleaning product. Never fear. If you don’t have the time to hit the store, we’ve got recipes for DIY laundry detergent, homemade stain remover and fabric softener you can assemble at a moment’s notice.

Speedy Homemade Stain Remover

Whether you’re trying to keep your kid’s clothing clean or you’ve just spilled salsa on shirt, giving your clothes a little TLC can be the difference between workwear and the rag bag.

The good news is if you’ve got spills and stains that you want gone, you can create homemade stain remover on the spot.

  • One tablespoon Dawn® dishwashing liquid
  • Two tablespoons hydrogen peroxide
  • One tablespoon baking soda

Mix the ingredients together and use a toothbrush to scrub the mixture into the stain. Let it sit for one-hour, then launder as usual.

Bonus: This remover frequently works on old stains you may have missed. If you have a garment you think is a lost cause, give this a try before saying goodbye.

DIY Laundry Detergent

When you have piles of laundry to do and no time to go to the store, running out of detergent can feel like an emergency. Luckily, you likely already have all the ingredients on hand to make your own DIY laundry detergent:

  • 1 bar of soap
  • 1 cup of washing soda
  • 1 cup of Borax

Grate soap with a hand grater or food processor, then gently mix it with the washing soda and Borax. Voila—you’re ready to wash. Each load will require only 1 to 2 tablespoons.

Missing a key ingredient? Never fear:

  • Borax: Take a look through your kid’s crafting supplies—Borax is a frequent ingredient in making slime.
  • Washing soda: Head to your kitchen and pull out the baking soda. Spread a cup full in a shallow pan and bake it in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

Fast Homemade Fabric Softener

You’re just about to run a load when you lift the bottle and realize—you’re out of fabric softener. Not a problem.

If you need a solution this second, new tennis balls straight from the can will do the trick. Just drop them in the dryer when you add a load and the balls will do the rest.

If you prefer liquid fabric softener, a few ingredients from your bathroom and kitchen will keep your clothing comfy:

  • Three cups of hot water
  • One cup of hair conditioner
  • Three cups of white vinegar

Mix the ingredients together and store them in a container—perhaps the fabric softener container that just betrayed you by being empty?
Use the same amount of homemade fabric softener you normally would—and take a look at our fabric softener alternatives blog for more helpful substitutes.

Laundry Crisis Averted

When you’ve got piles of laundry that need to be washed, a lack of cleaning supplies can feel like a crisis. Luckily, a few simple ingredients (and a machine designed to last 25 years) can ensure all your problems come out in the wash with the help of DIY laundry detergent, fabric softener and stain remover.