Okay, so I’ve been needing to get more laundry detergent, and I’m always looking for ways to save a few bucks. I saw this giant 5-gallon bucket of Tide washing powder and thought, “Why not?” I mean, it’s gotta be cheaper in the long run, right?
First thing I did was clear out some space under my laundry room sink. This thing is HUGE. It’s like, industrial-sized. I definitely underestimated how much space it would take up. I had to move some cleaning supplies around, and even then, it was a tight squeeze.
Getting the Lid Off
- Attempt 1: Brute Force – Yeah, that didn’t work. I tried just pulling on the lid, but it wouldn’t budge. It’s sealed on there pretty good.
- Attempt 2: Screwdriver Leverage – I grabbed a flathead screwdriver and tried to pry the lid off. I managed to get it under the edge a bit, but I was worried about bending the plastic too much. I felt like I was going to break the lid, or worse, stab myself.
- Attempt 3: The Rubber Mallet – Finally, I remembered my trusty rubber mallet. I gave the edges of the lid a few good whacks, working my way around the circumference. Success! The lid popped off, and I didn’t break anything (including myself).
Once I got the lid off, I needed a way to actually use the powder. Dumping it straight from the bucket into the washing machine seemed like a recipe for disaster (and a huge mess). So, I grabbed an old, smaller detergent container that I had saved.
I carefully scooped the powder from the 5-gallon bucket into the smaller container. It was a little awkward, and I definitely spilled some, but it wasn’t too bad. I just used a small dustpan and brush to clean up the powder that I lost. Now I have a manageable amount of detergent ready to go, and a HUGE supply waiting in reserve.
Honestly, I’m pretty happy with this. It was a bit of a workout getting it all set up, but I think it’ll be worth it in the long run. Plus, I feel kinda prepared, like I could do laundry for a small army now. If anybody needs some washing powder, you know who to call!
