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.
Do you pour liquid laundry detergent on top of clothes? When adding liquid laundry detergent to the drum of your washing machine, add it in first, followed by the clothes on top. This will help to ensure that it is evenly distributed once you turn the machine on and is not trapped in only one area.
For starters, you want to make sure the laundry soap actually gets on the clothing. "You should put the soap in as the top loader is filling with water, so the soap is disbursed throughout," says Sacha Dunn, founder and CEO of Common Good, a soap and cleaning supply company.
Step 2: Sort by color
Most people know that sorting laundry begins by separating white clothes from dark ones. However, some experts think that you should go even further and organize clothes by shades. Start by putting together a pile of clothes: Whites – no patterns or embroidery.
They probably recommend that so that the detergent has plenty of time to dissolve in the water and avoid staining or discoloring your clothes. The drum that holds your clothes rotates through a larger drum where the wash and rinse water is held.
Then, for best results and maximum color longevity, separate each pile into three smaller piles: white or light clothes, dark clothes, and colors. For patterned items (such as stripes, plaids, polka dots, and florals), sort based on the dominant color.
Most often, the white residue you see on clothes after washing them is detergent or fabric softener that hasn't been thoroughly washed away. This could occur because too much was added to the drum or there are issues with how the cycles run.
Most instructions are to only drop the cap in the wash every couple washes in order to keep the plastic caps from warping at high speeds or temperatures. Apparently, the same is true for the caps of fabric softeners. Detergent caps aren't the only surprising items that can withstand a wash cycle from time to time.
Liquid detergent requires the highest amount – usually two tablespoons, give or take, per load, or two teaspoons if you have a high-efficiency washing machine. With many powder formulas, the recommended amount is about a quarter of a cup.
The only viable alternative is to place the detergent inside the drum. If it's a liquid detergent, pour it inside the drum before loading your clothes. But: If you're using washing powder, put it in a mesh bag and place it in the drum.
High-efficiency front and top-load washers only need around 2 tablespoons of HE detergent per load of clothes because they use so little water.
The right amount: It's typically 1½ ounces for a normal load of laundry. Instead of going by the faint lines of a detergent measuring cup, you can use a shot glass, which is about 1½ ounces, to be more precise. For larger loads or very soiled clothing, use twice as much detergent.