How do you wash clothes without Tide?

You can wash clothes without Tide detergent by using alternatives like laundry borax, baking soda, or even soap nuts.

Here's a more detailed look at how to wash clothes without Tide:

Alternatives to Tide

Several readily available products can be used in place of Tide or other commercial laundry detergents.

Laundry Borax: Borax is a natural mineral that helps boost the cleaning power of your wash. It also softens water, which can improve detergent performance overall.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is a mild alkali that can help to remove odors and brighten clothes. It also acts as a water softener.
Soap Nuts: These are dried fruit shells that contain saponins, a natural surfactant that cleans clothes.

Here's how to use the alternatives mentioned above:

1. Laundry Borax or Baking Soda:

Dosage: Use about 1 cup of borax or baking soda per normal load of laundry. You can adjust the amount depending on the size of the load and the level of soil.
Application: Place the borax or baking soda directly into the washer drum before adding clothes and water. This helps ensure even distribution.
Pre-treating Stains: For heavily soiled areas or stains, pre-treat with a stain remover or a paste of borax/baking soda and water before washing.
Water Temperature: Use the warmest water temperature recommended for the garments you are washing. Hotter water generally cleans better, but always check the care label to prevent damage.

2. Soap Nuts:

Preparation: Place 4-6 soap nuts in a small muslin bag (usually included when you purchase them).
Washing: Add the bag of soap nuts to the washer drum with your clothes. You can reuse the same soap nuts for multiple loads (typically 4-6 washes) until they become soft and gray.
Water Temperature: Soap nuts work well in all water temperatures.
Drying: Remove the bag of soap nuts after washing and dry your clothes as usual.

Water Hardness: If you have hard water, you might need to use a larger amount of borax or baking soda to achieve optimal cleaning.
Scent: Borax and baking soda are odorless, so if you prefer a scented wash, consider adding a few drops of essential oil to the rinse cycle or using scented dryer sheets. Soap nuts have a very mild, natural scent.
Heavily Soiled Clothes: For heavily soiled clothes, consider pre-soaking them in a solution of borax or baking soda and water before washing.
Testing: Always test any new cleaning method on a small, inconspicuous area of the garment first to ensure it doesn't cause any damage or discoloration.

Using these alternatives provides effective cleaning without relying on Tide or other commercial detergents.