8 Unexpected Things You Can Clean, Scrub, and Soak With OxiClean

updated Oct 14, 2020
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Credit: Joe Lingeman

OxiClean is a homekeeping staple, as far as I’m concerned. I love it because it can be used on colors as well as to whiten my whites, and I don’t have to worry about those dreaded bleach splatters that would ruin my family’s garments for good. What may not be as widely known, though, is that OxiClean (its main active ingredient is sodium percarbonate) can be used on more than just laundry.

Here are some tried and true ways to expand your use of OxiClean beyond the laundry stain soak you’ve come to know and love.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Remove labels from jars

Want to reuse your glass condiment jars or get stubborn labels off of your new dinnerware? OxiClean’s got you. Fill your sink with hot water and add a scoop of OxiClean. Add your labeled items and let them soak. Within the hour, you’ll see most labels floating on the surface of the water. It’s like magic.

Read more: How to Remove Labels from Jars With OxiClean

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Clean grout in the kitchen or bathroom

Grout cleaning is a chore, but OxiClean makes it less of a pain. Make a paste of water and OxiClean powder and use an old cleaning toothbrush (or a detail cleaning brush) to apply it to the grout’s surface. Let it sit for at least ten minutes and then rinse with a wet sponge. Be sure to wear gloves; prolonged contact with OxiClean can irritate your skin.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Deodorize stinky sports equipment

Not only can OxiClean help dissolve stains in uniforms, but it can be used to get odors out of sports gear like helmets, baseball caps, or shin guards. Fill a bucket with cold water and OxiClean (about half a cup of OxiClean per gallon of water). Wait until OxiClean dissolves. (Alternately, you can dissolve OxiClean in hot water and wait until it cools before you add your equipment.) Soak your equipment and rinse thoroughly with clean, cold water.

Soak your shower curtain liner

Your plastic shower curtain liner isn’t as hard to clean as you think. OxiClean can melt away soap scum, slimy bacteria, and mildew. Make a soaking solution of OxiClean and water (again, half a cup of OxiClean per gallon of water), let your liner soak for about 15 minutes, and scrub any stubborn areas by rubbing the liner against itself. Rinse with cool, clean, water and re-hang to allow it to drip dry.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Treat carpet and upholstery stains

Spot test in an inconspicuous area to make sure OxiClean won’t damage the fabric. Remove as much of the stain as possible by blotting with a light-colored, clean, dry cloth. Mix a solution of one tablespoon of OxiClean per cup of water in a squeeze bottle. Saturate the stain and blot with another clean cloth. Repeat until the stain disappears. Rinse with clean water.

Remove deck and patio stains

If your patio or deck has some unsightly marks, it could mean that mildew is starting to take hold. Make an OxiClean solution in a spray bottle (in a ratio of one tablespoon per cup of OxiClean) and liberally spray the affected area. Let the solution sit for about half an hour, re-spraying if it starts to dry. Then scrub with a brush and rinse with a garden hose.

Credit: Joe Lingeman

Refresh your trash and recycling bin

No question your trash and recycling receptacles could use a scrub-down. Make your one cup per gallon OxiClean solution and apply with a cloth or scrub brush. You could also pour the solution directly into your trash can. Scrub as needed and rinse with clean water. (Make sure to rinse any metal components immediately.)

Soak your range hood

Make a soaking solution (half a cup of OxiClean per gallon of water) in a bucket or the sink, making sure that your water is hot. Soak your range hood for at least a minute and rinse with clean water. It’s so much easier than spraying and scrubbing.