Can You Use Shampoo To Wash Clothes?

Have you ever been in this sticky situation: You have a short trip or business trip and you need to wash a few things. Or you are running out of laundry detergent but have some clothes that need to be washed urgently. What should you use to replace washing powder at this time? Scroll down this article to understand more about this unconventional method.

Can You Use Shampoo To Wash Clothes?

In case there is no other option, shampoo can be used as laundry soap. The detergent inside the shampoo is strong enough to be able to remove the above stains and also gentle enough to not harm the clothes. They can also leave a mild, fragrant scent to clothes.

How To Use Shampoo To Wash Clothes With A Washing Machine?

We do not support the idea of ​​using a washing machine to wash clothes with shampoo.

Why is that? As shampoo generates a huge quantity of bubbles, which is an exhausting and time-consuming task to get rid of.

Therefore, that makes your cleaning process too long. The longer the discharge cycle, the greater the power consumption. And as a result, you will have a higher than usual electricity bill at the end of the month.

And sometimes, unfortunately, your washing machine cannot entirely remove bubbles, leaving clothes unable to clean completely. Not only residue is left on clothes but also stains.

In particular, if you use a front load washing machine, it will be more prone to damage because these machines are only suitable for specially designed, low-foaming detergents. As a result, you may have to pay an arm and a leg for repairs.

In case you use a low foam shampoo, you can use this method. Simply replace laundry soap with some shampoo in the soap tray. Then put the dirty clothes in the drum and choose the normal washing mode.

How To Wash Clothes By Hand With Shampoo

The shampoo will work as the liquid laundry detergent, rinsing grease, oil, and almost all stains out of your clothing.

Moreover, with some clothes made of silk, wool, etc., due to their hair-like texture, even the manufacturers suggest you should use shampoo to avoid ruining the fabric texture.

So, in emergent cases when you have no other choices left, picking out a mild shampoo, such as baby shampoo, is the ultimate choice.

How to do:

Step 1: Mix shampoo with clean water to form a washing liquid mixture.

The amount of shampoo you use depends on the clothes’ volume. For every extra 8 pounds of garments, you might need an additional teaspoon of shampoo.

To keep your clothes safe, remember the following:

– Use cold water to keep the color of clothes.

– Choose mild shampoo or baby shampoo for washing. Stay away from shampoos that contain colorants, 2-in-1 shampoos that contain conditioner because it will produce unwanted results such as residue, color splash, ….

Step 2: Put the clothes into the water and let them soak for a couple of minutes.

Remember to let the entire piece be soaked in water for up to 5 minutes for the soap mixture to penetrate the garment. However, the heavily soiled clothes might need a longer time, for around 10 minutes.

You can wash 4-5 small clothing items such as underwear at once. But for a pair of trousers or a T-shirt, wash one item only.

Step 3: Massage the soapy water into the clothing fibers of the fabric at the most soiled parts. For example, pay attention to the underarm of a shirt.

Step 4:  Rinse the clothes with cold water, wring it out gently and let it dry naturally.

How To Use Shampoo To Treat Stains On The Spot.

Step 1: Remove stains as much as possible,

For stains that penetrate clothes such as tea, coffee, sauce,… you need to wash them under running water

For stains on clothes such as peanut butter, chewing gum, … you need to remove them before washing.

Step 2: Put a drop of shampoo on the stain.

Put a drop to a few drops on stains, then rub them off with water.

Repeat a few times until the stain fades or disappears

Step 3: Wash and dry as usual.

Disadvantages Of Using Shampoo To Wash Clothes 

Since shampoo is not a specialized washing agent, it may not meet the user’s wishes as below:

– Cannot have a perfect cleaning effect like specialized cleaners.

– May cause color fading of clothes due to the absence of color protectants.

– May leave soap residue after drying

Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we will answer some common questions that we received from several individuals worldwide. Hopefully, they can solve your problems as well.

How Much Shampoo Should I Use For Washing?

As the shampoo is made up of many foaming agents, a teaspoon of it is enough for a standard bathroom sink with plenty of fluids. You can add a bit more for a bigger load of clothing or a larger sink.

Do All Types Of Shampoo Work?

Most shampoo brings the same effective result, except for purple shampoo for bleached hair and the one with a combination shampoo and conditioner and.

But since you hand wash it, it is more sensible to choose a gentle shampoo for babies instead of adult shampoo.

Is There Any Other Alternative For Laundry Detergent?

If you run short of laundry detergent and do not have gentle shampoo, there are still some other substitute methods.

For laundry hacks, you can use baking soda, white vinegar, body wash gels, lemon juice, bar soap, vodka, borax, etc.

The Bottom Line

If you have neither time nor choices, shampoo is a great quick fix when you run out of detergent. But remember that you only should use shampoo for hand washing, never using the laundry machine if you don’t want to get in trouble.

It is also the end of our article. Hope you have enjoyed it and learned something new.

Thank you for reading.