Written by Erin Huffstetler – The Spruce
Liquid Soap
Shampoo makes an excellent liquid hand soap, and it’s loads cheaper than any soap refill that you can buy. Just fill your soap dispenser about a third of the way with shampoo; fill the rest of the space with water, and give the dispenser a good shake to combine everything.
Have a foaming soap dispenser? You can use shampoo to make your own foaming soap refill, too. Just dilute the shampoo even further.
- Also try: Add baking soda to a bottle of shampoo to create your own mechanic’s/gardener’s soap.
Shaving Cream
Cross shaving cream off of your shopping list for good. A squirt of shampoo works just as well, and will never leave those nasty rust stains on your tub.
- Tip: Mix shampoo and conditioner together (or use a two-in-one) to give your skin an extra boost of moisture.
Body Wash
Save some cash and cut down on the number of bottles in your shower by using shampoo in place of your body wash. It will lather up beautifully and leave you smelling great. You can also add a capful of shampoo to your bath water in place of bubble bath or mix some salt or sugar into your shampoo to create your very own body scrub.
Hand Wash Laundry Detergent
Laundry Stain Remover
Blast away your toughest laundry stains with a squirt of shampoo. It works especially well on oil and blood stains. Just work a bit of shampoo into the spot; let it sit for a little while, and rinse clean. Repeat if necessary.
Carpet/Upolstery Stain Spot Treatment
Work a small amount of shampoo into any carpet or upholstery stain. Then, simply dab the spot with a damp rag until the stain lifts. If you’re worried about colorfastness, test this trick out in an inconspicuous area first.
Kitchen Degreaser
Use shampoo to remove grease buildup from your kitchen counters, walls, and appliances. Just apply a small amount of shampoo to a wet rag. Work it into the area that you wish to clean, and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse clean, and all that grease should be gone.
- Tip: Boost the effectiveness of the shampoo by adding a bit of baking soda. It’ll act as a scouring powder and get that grease off even faster.
Floor Cleaner
Make your own mopping solution by adding a capful of shampoo to a bucket of warm water. It’ll do a great job on your linoleum or ceramic tile floors.
Bathroom Cleaner
Shampoo is designed to cut through oil and hair product build-up, so it works great on soap scum, too. Use it to clean your tub or shower, and you’ll drastically reduce your scrub time. Just apply shampoo with a rag, let it sit for a bit and rinse clean. That’s really all there is to it.
Have hairspray build-up on your bathroom walls? Some shampoo will remove that, too
Bubble Solution
Keep the kids entertained by making bubble solution from diluted shampoo. It works just as well as store-bought, and costs way less.
