"II" or main
1 Main wash compartment: Detergent for the main wash, water softener, pre-soaking agent, bleach and stain remover. 2 Softener compartment: Fabric softener (do not fill higher than the line indicated by MAX). 3 Prewash compartment: Detergent for prewash or starch.
Don't put detergent in the fabric softener drawer
For one thing, it would miss the actual wash cycle. Putting detergent in the wrong compartment can also result in detergent residue remaining on the fabric, which can cause skin irritations, according to the IKW.
'If you must use the detergent drawer for liquid detergents, I recommend putting the liquid detergent in the main wash section of the drawer,' says Johanes Godoy, laundry and cleaning expert. 'Look for a flower or II symbol to find this section.
The detergent for the main cycle goes into the slot marked "II" (or 2). This is the most frequently-used slot. The amount of detergent you put in it depends on how dirty your laundry is.
Which tray does the detergent go into? If your laundry is very dirty and needs a pre-wash, put your detergent in the first tray. Add detergent to tray 2 for the main cycle. For a normal wash, put your detergent in tray 2.
The symbols on your washing machine drawer can be confusing. Here's what they typically mean: "II" or main wash symbol: This is where you put washing powder or liquid detergent for the main wash. "I" or pre-wash symbol: Use this compartment if you're running a pre-wash cycle.
As discussed previously, the detergent's job is to help pull away the dirt and grime from the clothing and rinse it out with water. The actual "wearing" out of clothes is more likely due to the rubbing of clothes in the washing machine (i.e. the agitation), not from the detergents themselves.
Most of the time, you will put the detergent directly in the drum. If you use a product like Persil, make sure you use the handy dosing ball to measure the right dose.
Laundry detergent obviously gets dirt and stains out of your clothes, but if you use too much, you wind up creating a new mess. This is a result of detergent residue that hasn't been fully rinsed out, and it can turn your previously soft wardrobe into a crunchy, scratchy, uncomfortable-to-wear load of clothes.
What Should I Do if I Used the Wrong Detergent? If you notice that you accidentally used regular detergent in HE washer, the first thing you should do is cancel the wash. Then, start it again, but only at the spin cycle. Next, follow up with a cycle that is rinse and spin only, in order to remove the suds.
Best: Use up or give away. Rinse out empty container and recycle or dispose of in the garbage depending on your curbside guidelines. Second best: Flush small amounts of unwanted liquid detergent down an inside drain (toilet is best) with plenty of water.
The powder detergent goes into the largest section of the drawer, usually on the left-hand side. If in any doubt, check your washing machine's manual. The liquid softener goes into the partially covered section of the drawer with the flower symbol.
It all depends. If you have an HE front-loading washer, it should have a special compartment in which to pour the detergent. 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.
A dishwasher tablet goes in the detergent compartment on the inside of the dishwasher door – the same place you put powder or liquid detergent.
Washing machines clean clothes in part by allowing clothes to rub against each other; this friction helps work dirt and stains out of fabric. Using too much soap can reduce this friction, which means that your clothes may not get as clean as they would otherwise.
Never pour the detergent on the clothes. Always pour it at the bottom and fill the washer and then add the clothes.
It is much better to do multiple loads than to cram everything into one load and ruin the washer. Put the soap in first: Putting soap on top of the dirty clothes means that only the clothes that have soap on them will get clean.
Soaps are generally more biodegradable and environmentally friendly than detergents. However, they can form a scum in hard water, which can be harmful to aquatic life. Detergents are often less biodegradable and can contain harmful chemicals, but they do not form scum in hard water.
Place the powder in a mesh bag directly in the drum to allow it to dissolve quicker. Always check the instructions on your detergent first to make sure it can be used this way.
Top loader: Dose detergent directly into the drum before adding clothes. Front loader: Add detergent into the detergent drawer.