DIY Laundry Helpers That Beat Store-Bought Add-Ins

That’s the real beauty of simple household solutions. They’re not flashy, they don’t come in neon-colored packaging, and they rarely promise miracles.

When a handful of ordinary ingredients can do the same job as an entire shelf of specialty products, that's the kind of laundry helper I'm happy to use. New Africa/Shutterstock

Walk down the laundry aisle at any grocery store or supermarket and you might think washing clothes requires an entire chemistry lab.

There are scent boosters, fabric softeners, color catchers, wrinkle releasers, stain fighters, brighteners, whiteners, odor removers and at least six products claiming to make towels “fluffier than ever.” It’s impressive. It’s also mostly unnecessary.