How to Make Homemade Oxyclean

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 29, 2021

Have a tough mess that is not cleaning up with regular soap and water? Instead of purchasing harsh commercial cleaners, make your own version of “OxyClean” to handle the job. You can make homemade cleaner using a few typical household products, a funnel, and an empty squirt bottle. You can also make it as a laundry booster as well.

Ingredients

Pre-Wash Treatment OxyClean^{[1]
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2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) water
1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) 3% hydrogen peroxide
1 tablespoon (13.8 grams) washing soda

Laundry Booster OxyClean^{[2]
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½ cup (110 grams) washing soda
½ cup (120 milliliters) 3% hydrogen peroxide

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Making and Using Pre-Wash Treatment OxyClean

1
Pour the water, hydrogen peroxide, and washing soda into a spray bottle. If you need to, use a funnel to help guide the ingredients into the bottle. Homemade OxyClean does not last a long time. It loses it's effectiveness after 6 hours. Because of this, it's better to make small batches at a time.^{[3]
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Research source} If you'd like to make a larger batch, use the following proportions:^{[4]
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- 2 parts water
- 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 1 part washing soda
2
Close the spray bottle and shake it to mix. Don't worry if the washing soda does not completely dissolve. It will still be effective.^{[5]
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3
Spray the mixture onto the stain. Homemade OxyClean works best on fresh stains. If the stained garment has been through the dryer, the stains will be difficult to remove.^{[6]
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4
Let the mixture soak for at least 20 minutes. It will need to soak for 2 hours for tough stains and overnight for extra stubborn stains.^{[7]
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5
Wash the clothes according to the tag. Do not wash out the homemade OxyClean. Simply toss the clothes into the washer. If the stain remains after washing, try to remove it again. If you put a stained garment into a dryer, the heat will set the stain.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Making and Using Laundry Booster OxyClean

1
Turn on the washing machine and let the basin fill ¼ to ½ of the way. Do not add your clothes or detergents just yet. Try to use hot water, if your clothes can handle it.^{[8]
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Research source} Avoid using hot water if the how-to-wash tags caution against it.
2
Add the washing soda, hydrogen peroxide, and your usual laundry detergent. Stir the ingredients together with a wooden spoon or your hand.^{[9]
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Research source} If you have sensitive skin, consider wearing a pair of rubber gloves so that the solution doesn't irritate you.
3
Let the washer fill to the desired level, then add your clothes. Make sure that the washing soda and detergent are completely dissolved first.
4
Wash the clothes according to your machine's instructions. Once the cycle is done, take the clothes out and inspect them for stains. If you need to, reapply a stain-removable treatment, and wash the clothes again. If you put stained clothes into a dryer, the heat will set the stain.

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Community Q&A

Question

What is washing soda, in what forms (solid, powder, liquid, etc.) is it commonly found, where would one find it, and are there other terms or brand names that might be more familiar?

Community Answer

Washing soda is a powder, chemically similar to baking soda but much more powerful (and caustic, so be careful). It is sold as a laundry booster under brands like Arm & Hammer and can be found in the laundry aisle. Not all laundry boosters are washing soda, so make sure the box says "washing soda" on it.