The Laundry Hack That Has People Putting 7UP In Their Washer, But Should You?

When trying to get clothes as clean as possible, some of us may turn to unconventional laundry hacks to get messes like grease splatters or lipstick stains out of our laundry. There are many laundry hacks that are a waste of time, but perhaps the biggest one involves using a clear soda like 7UP. This hack has been making the rounds online, and it promises that dumping a can of 7UP or Sprite into a load of laundry together with your regular laundry detergent will help to degrease your clothes and make them look new again. 

While this hack sounds like it just might work, you absolutely should not try it, as it could end up costing you big time. Put simply, using 7UP or any other soda product in your washing machine is a terrible idea. File this away with the other popular TikTok laundry hacks to avoid at all costs — because generally speaking, you should stick with products specifically made for your washing machine.

The idea behind this hack is that using 7UP ostensibly works on greasy or oily stains because it contains citric acid, which can indeed help to break down oil molecules. Supposedly, 7UP is an inexpensive way to introduce citric acid into your load of laundry, and once it does its job breaking down those oily stains, the laundry detergent will have an easier time removing them. Whoever dreamed up this idea, though, disregarded one important piece of information — that 7UP contains other ingredients, at least one of which belongs nowhere near a washing machine.

This ingredient is high-fructose corn syrup, which is used in a wide variety of food and beverage products as a sweetener. While most of these ingredients in 7UP will not impact your washing machine, high-fructose corn syrup can do some serious damage. This ingredient can create a sticky residue that collects in your washing machine's hoses, leading to foul odors and even appliance failure.

Not only can you potentially damage your washing machine if you use 7UP in it, but you may also damage your clothing. Your clothes may become discolored or the fabric might deteriorate if 7UP is used to wash them, even though this "hack" calls for detergent to be used as well.

If you're having a hard time getting out your toughest laundry stains, especially oily and greasy ones, skip the 7UP — there are other common household items that will be much more useful. Fresh lemon juice contains more citric acid than 7UP and none of the high-fructose corn syrup. Simply wet the stain and pour the juice directly on it; after leaving it on for an hour, wash the clothing with your regular detergent.

You can also try using baking soda to work stubborn stains out of your clothing. Use two tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of water to make a paste, then rub it gently into the stain. Let it sit for an hour, then brush away the excess paste and launder as usual.

If you try either of these methods, it's important to test it on an out-of-the-way area before using it on a stain to ensure that it won't fade or discolor your clothing. Also, avoid using any home laundry hacks on delicate fabrics like silk, wool, or cashmere. Garments made of materials like these usually have specific laundering instructions that should be followed to avoid damaging the material.