A common mistake when it comes to doing the laundry is using too much, or too little, detergent. Too much can mean that the detergent isn't fully rinsed from the clothes and could create a bad odour, while too little could mean that your clothes aren't being cleaned properly.
Excess detergent can cling to your garments and encourage bacteria growth, leading to a mildewy odor. To eradicate this issue, always measure your detergent before you add it to your load. You'll likely need less than you think.
In addition to trapping dirt and building up over time, using too much laundry detergent can cause numerous problems for your clothes. As detergent builds up, it can leave behind an invisible layer of film that can trap dirt and hard water minerals, giving clothes a dingy or faded appearance.
Damp clothing and dirty clothing that is packed together without proper airflow are breeding grounds for nasty-smelling bacteria, mildew or mold —all of which can contribute to bad odors that linger after the wash. To combat this, make sure your dirty clothes are dry before tossing them in a basket.
Signs you're using too much laundry detergent
If you think you may be getting a little detergent-happy with your laundry, take a look at a just-washed load. If your wet clothes feel a little slimy, sticky, or soapy, you're probably sensing detergent residue. It's a telltale sign you're using too much product.
Too much detergent is actually harmful to your garments, but we'll get to that in a second. Per the usual 8 pound load of laundry, the amount of detergent needed to clean clothes is only one tablespoon. Double that for loads weighing in at 12 pounds or more. Reduce it for the days when you're hand washing.
The optimum amount of 2X liquid laundry detergent for a high-efficiency washer is two teaspoons; 4X liquid laundry detergent: one teaspoon; 10X liquid laundry detergent: 1/4 teaspoon for a 12-pound load of laundry. If you have soft water in your area, use even less.
Clothes often smell after they have been dried incorrectly or left in the washing machine for too long, or in other words - when they are left damp. During the summer, there are more opportunities for this: "If possible, try to identify what causes your clothes to stink in the first place.
Laundry That's Wet for Too Long
If your laundry isn't dried quickly and thoroughly, it creates a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. These can lead to a sour smell that's hard to ignore.
Wet clothes are left in the washing machine for too long. You used too much laundry detergent. Detergent residue will smell over time.
In the GHI's detergent tests, powdered laundry detergent almost always out-performs liquids and gels when it comes to stain removal. But it also comes down to personal preference and your budget.
Even though Tide Laundry Pods recommend to use between 1 to up to 3 depending on your load size, most loads of laundry actually get a decent clean with just 1 pod. Using more than that is just overkill.
It may be coming from your clothes. You can try washing them again, but once mildew smells penetrate the fabric, it usually takes more than a regular wash cycle to remove them. This is a serious problem since mildew smells aren't only unpleasant, they wreak havoc on your sinuses and allergies.
Damp clothes in dark places many times leads to mold or mildew issues, which causes that musty, sour smell. Be certain your clothes are completely dry before putting them away.
Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and deodoriser, so your clothes will be smelling fresh again when you take them out. 3. Another natural cleaning option is to add a sprinkle of baking soda before running your clothes through a wash cycle on the hottest setting should do the trick.
The source of smelly dry cleaning can be traced to a chemical called perchloroethylene, otherwise referred to as “perc.” Perc is a laundering solvent that has been used in dry cleaning since the 1940s and is still the most commonly found chemical in traditional dry cleaning businesses.
Liquid detergents tend to be more effective on greasy or oily stains. However, it's easy to use too much per load in your washing machine. Powdered detergents are typically the least expensive and very effective on mud stains or ground-in dirt. If you use cold water to wash clothes, powder may not dissolve completely.
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.
How much HE detergent should you use? When using HE detergent in a regular washer, you'll need about 1/4 cup for a normal-sized load. There might be fewer suds, but you'll still get a good clean. For a normal-sized load in a high-efficiency washing machine, the recommended HE detergent amount is usually 2 tablespoons.
Some of the signs that you've used too much detergent in a load of laundry include: When the laundry comes out of the washer, it feels slimy or sticky. “Clean” and dried laundry feels crunchy or scratchy and is uncomfortable to wear. Colored clothes or linens are dull or faded.
If you're not measuring or don't know how much you're using, you're probably using too much. The two-tablespoons rule applies to high-efficiency and standard top-loading washers.
Laundry pods are the best laundry detergent to use if you frequently wash smaller loads. They aren't the best laundry detergent to use when washing big loads and heavily soiled clothes.