How do I know if I have too much laundry detergent?
The first sign that you're using too much detergent will show up in your clothes. Stiff, starchy, scratchy clothes—instead of the expected soft and fresh results—mean that there were too many soap suds in your washing machine during the cycle.
Washing machine smells bad: too many suds can leave a residue in the washer that breeds smelly bacteria and mold. Clothing is dull and spotted: excess detergent won't properly rinse out of clothing, leaving behind spots and making clothes appear dull. Clothes may also feel itchy when you wear them.
How much detergent should I use? As a general rule of thumb, you should only use about a tablespoon of laundry detergent per regular load size. (The measuring cup that comes with your liquid laundry detergent is about 10 times larger than the actual amount of laundry soap needed.)
Some laundry detergent bottles will recommend more than two tablespoons, but don't be fooled—there's no reason to use extra. Two tablespoons of detergent is more than enough for an effective clean on bigger loads that weigh 12 pounds or more. For average loads around eight pounds, you need even less.
Too much detergent also creates a surplus of suds that can prevent your garments from rubbing against one another (which helps release trapped dirt from your clothes), according to Tide's website. Though it seems counterintuitive, the more detergent you use past a certain point, the dirtier your clothes become.
For machines that auto-dispense detergent, they typically use between 0.75 and 1.5 ounces per 8-pound load, based on four brands we looked at. The amount of detergent you need depends on many factors, but overuse is so common that you should probably use less than you think you need.
Use only one pre-measured packet per load. For heavily-soiled clothes, pre-soak or spot treat stains with a bit of liquid detergent rather than add extra detergent to the entire load.
Using too little or too much detergent often leads to poor laundry results. Whether it's the washer you're using or the size of the load, not all laundry is created equal, so it's important to get the right dosing for your wash. For example, take a high efficiency (HE) washing machines.
Normal capacity: Use 1/2 cup per load. Large capacity: Use 3/4 to 1 cup per load. For front-loading machines: Use 1/3 cup per load. Add detergent before adding clothes.
Most brands of concentrated HE detergent will show the level of concentration on the bottle. However, if the detergent bottle does not give the concentration, it can be easily calculated. Just divide the package size in fluid ounces by the number of loads.
What is a full cap of laundry detergent?
On the back of the laundry detergent bottle, the directions and diagram say to fill the cap to the line marked #1 (about 1.5 ounces) for a normal load of laundry.
For a regular load of laundry, one pod is enough. When doing an extra-large load with enough clothes to fill a front-loading washer that holds up to 20 pounds, use two pods. Laundry detergent pods work best in standard top load washers and high-efficiency top-loading and front-loading washers.
A capful usually measures 35 ml in laundry liquid, but it can be as little as 30 ml or 40 ml. Look closely inside the caps of the bottles and see where the lines are within them, so you'll know how much liquid to use depending on the specific size of your load.
If you have a regular top-loading machine, it's best to fill your washer with water first, then add your detergent, then add your clothes. This helps evenly distribute the detergent in the water before it hits your clothes. Remember that the nicer you are to your washer and dryer the longer they'll last.
In most machines, the compartment for washing powder (or other detergents) is marked “II” or “2”. This is likely to be the compartment you use the most. If you are using a pre-wash cycle, any pre-wash detergent you are using will go in the compartment marked “I” or “1”.
Normal capacity: Use 1/2 cup per load. Large capacity: Use 3/4 to 1 cup per load. For front-loading machines: Use 1/3 cup per load.
Powdered detergent needs to dissolve before it starts to work; while the drawer may not dispense the powder until later in the wash cycle, putting it straight in the drum allows it to dissolve earlier in the cycle. For the best results, always follow the directions on the label of your chosen washing powder.
Once the garments are submerged, allow them to soak in the solution for 15 to 60 minutes, depending on how visibly dirty the fabric is.
You can use powdered laundry detergent pretty much identically to how you'd use a liquid laundry detergent. If you're using a top loading washing machine, just pour your powdered detergent directly into the laundry drum before adding your clothes.
As long as you're not using bleach, don't add clothing after the water (a pain, because clothes can float). Instead, use this order to distribute detergent best: clothes, then water, then soap. This isn't necessarily a blunder.
