6 Tips for Cleaner Clothes

Learn how to turn common household items into washday wonders with these six simple tips.
Laundry Outside on Clothes Line

Laundry Outside on Clothes Line

Clothes are hanging outside on clothes line next to a laundry basket.

Clothes are hanging outside on clothes line next to a laundry basket.

You don't need a lot of fancy products in your laundry room to make your clothes sparkle. Check out these simple tricks for getting your clothes cleaner.

Simple Home Solutions

1. Use natural laundry soap for washing natural fibers such as cotton and silk.

2. Add a half-cup of baking soda to the wash cycle along with your normal detergent to get rid of odors and residues left in clothing.

3. Add a cup of vinegar to your wash to remove any residue left by fabric softeners.

4. Naturally bleach clothes with lemon juice and sunshine. Just add a half-cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle and hang clothes outside to dry.

5. Add a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle to whiten clothes.

6. Make your own laundry starch by mixing two teaspoons of cornstarch with a cup of water. Pour into a spray bottle and have at it.

Next Up

Portable Laundry Room Storage Unit

Turn regular plastic storage bins into laundry room storage units and portable clothes baskets. When clothes are clean, folded and in their proper bin, simply slide out the container and unload fresh laundry in its designated room.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Caribbean Life

9:30am | 8:30c

Caribbean Life

10:30am | 9:30c

Caribbean Life

11am | 10c

Caribbean Life

11:30am | 10:30c

Bahamas Life

12pm | 11c

Bahamas Life

12:30pm | 11:30c

Bahamas Life

1pm | 12c

Bahamas Life

1:30pm | 12:30c

House Hunters

6:30pm | 5:30c

House Hunters

7:30pm | 6:30c
On Tonight
On Tonight

House Hunters

8pm | 7c

House Hunters

8:30pm | 7:30c

House Hunters

9:30pm | 8:30c

House Hunters

10pm | 9c

Curb Appeal

10:30pm | 9:30c

House Hunters

11pm | 10c

House Hunters

11:31pm | 10:31c

House Hunters

12am | 11c

House Hunters

12:30am | 11:30c

House Hunters

1am | 12c

Curb Appeal

1:30am | 12:30c

House Hunters

2:31am | 1:31c

House Hunters

3:30am | 2:30c

About HGTV

HGTV’s expert editors and writers share home decorating, garden and home improvement ideas, inspiration and advice based on our brand’s 30+ years of expertise and experience. We also give you the latest updates on HGTV shows and stars, cleaning tips and shopping recommendations. Learn more about us and our editorial standards.